Rideshare companies Lyft and Uber continue to increase in popularity in Philadelphia.
However, these vehicles get into accidents just like traditional taxi cabs, leaving passengers and others with serious injuries that warrant immediate medical attention.
Have you been in a Lyft or Uber accident?
If so, you could receive compensation, but you need to take certain steps to protect yourself. In this article, we will walk you through what you need to do.
Obtain Insurance Information from All Vehicles Involved
Injured motorists will need to make a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
If you were a Lyft car accident passenger, then the at-fault driver could be the Lyft driver or another motorist.
Because you probably won’t be able to identify the party at fault at the scene of the accident, you should get insurance information from all motorists involved in the crash.
You can contact them and let the insurers fight over who is at fault.
If you were a driver struck by a Lyft or Uber vehicle, you should also share your insurance with everyone, including the Uber or Lyft car accident passenger.
Contact the Police
A police officer should come out to the scene if there has been any meaningful damage to the vehicles or someone has suffered an injury.
Volunteer to call the police if no one else involved in the accident wants to.
The police officer can come to the scene of the accident and create a police report, which will identify who was involved in the accident. The police officer also might make a preliminary determination of fault.
The insurance company will want a copy of this report. Either get a copy or ask the officer for the report number so you can get one later.
Obtain Evidence about the Collision
Fault will be key in cases like this. The driver who is at fault pays compensation to the injured victims of the accident. For this reason, fault can be hotly contested, and insurance companies might disagree about which motorist is to blame.
If you were a motorist struck by an Uber or Lyft driver, then the fault can make the difference between receiving compensation or receiving no money at all. So you should collect helpful evidence, such as:
- The names of any witnesses to the accident. Get their contact information as well, since your attorney might want to speak to them.
- Pictures of damage to the vehicles. These pictures can show which vehicle struck which.
- Photos of anything that contributed to the accident, such as a malfunctioning stoplight or an obscured stop sign.
- Any statements made by the drivers. If a driver admitted fault, then you will want that information since it can become useful.
If you were an Uber car accident passenger, then the fault is a little less important since, as a passenger, you cannot be to blame.
However, the driver at fault will determine how much insurance is available.
If your Uber or Lyft driver is to blame, then their $1 million insurance policy comes into play.
However, if another driver was to blame, then you might have much less money available to pay out a claim.
Receive Medical Care
The sooner you receive medical treatment, the better your odds of making a full recovery. You should probably go to the hospital or doctor soon after leaving the scene of the accident. Tell the doctor you were involved in a Lyft or Uber car accident and explain any symptoms that you feel. Your doctor can order tests to diagnose any condition.
Also remember to do exactly what your doctor tells you. For example, if your doctor wants you off your feet for three weeks, then stay off your feet. Failing to follow your doctor’s advice could reduce the amount of compensation you receive as an injury victim. It will also impede your recovery.
Hire an Experienced Uber or Lyft Car Accident Attorney in Philadelphia
Both Uber and Lyft have gigantic insurance companies in their corner. These companies will use many different tricks to reduce the amount of compensation they pay out to injured victims. Sometimes, they unfairly deny coverage altogether, leaving injured people high and dry with no ability to cover their losses.
Fight back. You should hire an experienced Uber or Lyft car accident lawyer to look out for your interests. Your attorney can collect evidence and negotiate a solid settlement that covers all your expenses, losses and harms.
Reach out to PhillyLaw today. We are a leading car accident law firm representing the rights of injured victims. You can schedule a completely free case evaluation by calling give us a call or email us. Someone is available 24 hours a day to help you.