What Should I Do Immediately After a Rideshare Accident?

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft provide convenient transportation options for millions of people every day. However, accidents can and do happen, leaving you potentially unsure of the next steps when it comes to reporting, documenting, insurance claims, and legal action. Thankfully, a Sacramento rideshare accident lawyer can help figure out the next steps.

Reporting the Rideshare Accident: Who to Contact

After a rideshare accident, it’s crucial to promptly report what happened to the appropriate parties. You should first notify the rideshare company, either Uber or Lyft, through their app or emergency phone line to make them aware of the incident. Next, the police should be contacted so a formal report can be filed in California, which must be done within 10 days of the accident.

The rideshare company, whether it’s Uber, Lyft, or another company, should be reported to first so they have a formal, documented record of the incident. This helps ensure transparency for all parties involved, including insurance companies. The notification also prompts the rideshare company to suspend the driver’s account while an investigation takes place to review if that individual was following proper protocol.

Contacting the police to file an official report is required by California state law in the event of any motor vehicle accident. There are penalties for failing to report an accident, and the documented facts and findings from law enforcement will be critical for insurance claims and potential lawsuits later on. Testimonies will also be taken from passengers and witnesses while events are still fresh in their minds.

Documenting the Accident and What You Need to Capture

Properly documenting the accident scene and details immediately after a collision will assist later with insurance claims, medical bills, and potential lawsuits. Be sure to capture photos showing all damage to vehicles and property, plus wider landscape shots displaying conditions and markings on the roadway itself. It’s also important to exchange pertinent documentation between parties involved – license, registration, rideshare app info, insurance ID including insurer, and policy number for all drivers.

Key pieces of evidence that accident victims should collect include photographic snapshots taken from various angles. They should clearly reveal dents, scrapes, or more severe vehicular damage, plus skid marks visible on the pavement, malfunctioning traffic lights or stop signs, and weather conditions like rain or fog impacting visibility. Videos can provide additional visual documentation if safely possible to capture, while images might miss important spatial details about the scene useful for claims agents and lawyers to assess what transpired.

You may benefit from having your own personal medical examinations by your doctor to provide clinical assessments of any injuries possibly not apparent at the scene. These medical reports and bills will be submitted over time to insurance providers and legal representatives when building a personal injury or other accident-related court case. Promptly seeing an independent physician in the days immediately after an accident to establish medical findings is beneficial.

Understanding Rideshare Insurance Policies

Rideshare insurance coverage can be complex, with policies varying between Uber, Lyft, and personal carriers based on accident details. All rideshare companies do carry insurance that may compensate for medical bills or vehicle damage in certain scenarios, but they differ and have limitations. It is important for all parties to understand the specific rideshare insurance policies in place at the time of an accident to know how losses may be covered.

During Period 1, when rideshare drivers are logged into their apps but have not accepted a ride request, insurance maintains coverage similar to a personal auto policy with state minimum liability limits. Once a driver accepts a rideshare trip (Period 2), companies like Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability and collision coverage at higher limits that take precedence should personal insurance decline a claim. However, rideshare insurance during both periods still leaves opportunities for gaps that need to be addressed by the at-fault driver’s insurance or through legal action.

After an accident, do not assume that any insurance company will automatically cover all expenses incurred. Contact personal auto insurance first, then follow up directly with rideshare companies’ insurance carriers to learn precisely what their obligations are based on the incident details and policies for the applicable coverage period at the time. An attorney can best advise how to ensure you receive the potential maximum available compensation under all applicable plans.

When to Consider Legal Action After a Rideshare Accident

Pursuing legal action may be appropriate if injuries and losses are not adequately covered by rideshare or personal insurance policies after an accident. An attorney can determine if filing a lawsuit is the best recourse for receiving fair compensation when there are long-term medical concerns, lost wages from missing work, or other unresolved expenses. It is important to at least consult an experienced lawyer to fully understand all available options.

In California, the statute of limitations allows you to have two years from the date of injury to file personal injury lawsuits. However, it is wise to engage representation sooner to begin gathering evidence, estimating damages, negotiating claims, and preparing a strong case against negligent parties before that deadline. An attorney starting work early in the process can make a difference in successful outcomes.

Rideshare accident lawsuits name the driver, rideshare company, insurance providers, and potentially other entities as defendants, depending on the unique circumstances attributable to the incident. A personal injury lawyer can carefully examine liability to include all responsible parties as needed to potentially maximize financial award. Thorough investigation and representation are important, and having someone experienced on your side can make sure you touch on all avenues.

Work with a Sacramento Rideshare Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, having reliable information and resources can help you during a stressful time. Going through the process alone can seem daunting, but you can have experienced help on your side. Contact us today to start with a free consultation, and we can see how and if we can help you with your rideshare case.