Steps to Take After a Lyft or Uber Accident

Most people call a Lyft or Uber when they want a safer choice of transportation. While taking advantage of a rideshare after a few drinks is usually the best choice, accidents are still possible.

It’s important to know what to do to protect your rights after a rideshare accident with either Lyft or Uber:

File a Police Report

Someone should notify the local police of the accident. If neither of the drivers involved in the accident does, you may decide to file a police report. This provides proof of the accident, and it may be necessary to file a claim later. If you’re one of the drivers involved in the accident, your insurance company may require that you file a police report.

Collect Information

Collecting information from the scene of the accident can help you look into the case later and take legal action if necessary. This includes collecting the contact and insurance information of drivers and passengers who may have been involved in the accident. This is also a good time to look for any witnesses and ask for their contact information.

Confirm the Driver’s Status

Confirming the driver’s status, including whether they were actively logged into the app or not, helps you identify where to pursue compensation. For example, if the Lyft or Uber driver were transporting a passenger at the time of the accident, you’ll likely have to pursue compensation through the rideshare company’s insurance carrier. You’ll likely work with their private insurance company if the driver didn’t actively have a passenger in the vehicle.

Notify Your Insurance Company

Many insurance companies require policyholders to notify them if they’re in an accident within a certain time period, regardless of who’s at fault. Be sure to report your car accident.

Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer

Pursuing a car accident claim on its own can be confusing. But, adding in the complexities of a rideshare accident can make the process even more difficult to navigate. Lyft or Uber’s insurance companies may try to deny the claim and push liability off to one another, leaving you with unpaid bills.

Car accidents are never convenient. A car accident with a Lyft or Uber driver can make getting the funds you need even harder.

Recoverable Costs in a Rideshare Accident

If you experience injuries in a car accident with a Lyft or Uber driver, you may be entitled to recoverable damages. New Jersey allows injured drivers and passengers to recover costs like medical bills, lost wages, property damages, and pain and suffering. However, before filing a legal claim, you’ll have to first identify who is at fault.

Determining liability in a car accident case may require further investigation. This is where a car accident lawyer can be helpful. Your lawyer will help you review the details of the accident while uncovering any additional ones that may be available. They’ll call on witnesses to share what information they have.

They’ll also work to ensure you get the compensation you need most to move on after a rideshare car accident. Whether you were injured as a passenger in a Lyft or Uber car accident or you were a driver, a car accident lawyer can help you pursue your case.

Contact a Nutley Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car 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 Birkhold & Maider, LLC represent clients injured because of a car accident in Garfield, Nutley, Teaneck, and throughout New Jersey. Call 973-947-4670 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 189 Franklin Avenue #1 Nutley, NJ 07710, as well as a satellite office in Hamilton, NJ.

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.