5 Things You Need to Do If You’re Involved in a Rideshare Accident
Many people use rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft, or encounter vehicles driving for these services on the road. As a result, some people will eventually become involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle. However, pursuing a claim for compensation for injuries or property damage that occurred in a rideshare accident can be a complicated matter. If you have been in an accident with a rideshare vehicle, here are five steps you should remember to take to protect your rights and interests.
Report the Accident
First, you should report the accident to the authorities. If you or someone else has been badly injured, you can call 911 for emergency medical assistance. However, if no one requires immediate medical attention, you can contact the local police department directly. When you call the police to report a motor vehicle accident, the police will create an accident report. This report is often a critical piece of evidence in auto accident cases.
Document the Accident Scene
If you are physically able and it is safe to do so, you should try to use your cell phone to document details of the accident scene, including things like:
- The positions that the vehicles in the crash came to a rest in
- Damage the vehicles suffered
- Any skid marks or debris in the road
- The road lines and traffic controls at the scene
- The road condition
- Weather, lighting, and traffic conditions at the time of the accident
- Any visible injuries you may have suffered
Photos and videos you take of the accident scene may later be helpful to determine who and what caused the accident.
See a Medical Provider
If you are not taken to the hospital from the accident scene, you should see your primary care physician or another doctor as soon as possible after the accident, even if you don’t think you were seriously injured in the crash. A doctor can examine you and identify any injuries you may have suffered in the crash. It is important to document the injuries you sustained in the rideshare accident as soon as possible. If you wait too long to seek treatment for injuries, the at-fault parties or their insurance companies may try to argue that those injuries did not occur in the accident. Also, you should make sure to follow through on all treatment instructions and recommendations that you are given.
Notify the Rideshare Company
You should also make sure to notify the rideshare company of the accident as soon as possible. Never assume that the rideshare vehicle driver will contact the rideshare company. If you were injured as a passenger in the rideshare vehicle, you can notify the rideshare company of an accident through the mobile application. Anyone in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle can also contact the rideshare company through their service or support email or hotline.
Speak to a Lawyer
Finally, you need to make time to speak to a rideshare accident attorney to discuss your legal rights and options for recovering compensation. A lawyer can help you determine if you are eligible to make a claim against the insurance coverage that rideshare companies are required to have.
Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Rideshare Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a Lyft or Uber accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw Injury Lawyers represent clients injured because of rideshare accidents in Hoboken, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, East Orange, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market St., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, Trenton.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
