Accidents involving rideshare companies can be complicated. A rideshare driver may be involved, along with other parties who are at fault and multiple insurance companies. Getting compensation can be difficult in these circumstances.
The Augusta personal injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates have been handling complex motor vehicle accident cases like these for years. As skilled negotiators and respected litigators, they fight for settlements but aren’t afraid to go to trial if necessary.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident Has Occurred
There are at least five steps you should take immediately after a rideshare accident. The sooner you act on recording evidence and getting medical attention, the clearer liability will be.
Get Medical Help
You should assess yourself and others for injuries following an Uber or Lyft rideshare car accident. Immediately contact emergency medical services if you or anyone else is injured.
Even if no injuries appear, a medical examination is important after a car accident. The symptoms of spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other internal injuries may not appear for days or weeks after the accident.
Contact the Police
You will sue the at-fault party’s insurance company when you file a personal injury claim. To determine who was at fault for the accident, you need documentation of negligence. Obtain a traffic accident report from the officers who respond to the scene.
Reports from the police are unbiased accounts of auto accidents that may reveal evidence of distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, failure to yield to traffic laws, or other important factors that contributed to the accident.
Get All the Details
Take note of any road hazards, weather conditions, traffic conditions, and a description of the surrounding area.
Note if there are video cameras at intersections, nearby businesses, or on cars. The cameras may have captured vital footage of the vehicle accident and events that led up to or followed the accident.
Record Evidence
Ensure that all surrounding areas are photographed as well. Taking a variety of photos from several perspectives and angles is extremely important, as close-ups show damage and injury, whereas distance and panoramic photos show important road conditions or obstructions.
As well as photographing the license plates, make, and model of other vehicles involved in the accident, be sensitive and respectful to those involved.
Contact a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Augusta
Accident investigations require a deep understanding of insurance regulations, vehicle codes, and injury laws. Your injury claim just got more difficult when a ride-sharing driver is negligent.
The majority of rideshare drivers have their auto insurance as well as third-party liability insurance through Lyft or Uber. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine which insurance company to pursue and whether more than one carrier may be responsible for damages.
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Is There a Difference Between Uber and Lyft?
In many U.S. regions, ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have revolutionized transportation, displacing taxis and other modes of transportation. Taxi drivers are not employees of Uber and Lyft, and the companies don’t own the cars they drive.
Uber or Lyft differ from taxis in terms of pricing structure and the process of getting a ride. Instead of getting a ride from the street, passengers can hire an Uber or Lyft driver through an app.
It is possible, however, that the technical nature of ridesharing services has little impact on determining liability and getting compensation after an accident.
Eligible Rideshare Accident Injury Compensation
A personal injury attorney can help you determine what kind of compensation you’re eligible for since every accident case is different. A rideshare driver’s negligence caused the accident, and as a result, you were injured, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills.
In the event of an Uber or Lyft driver’s recklessness, you may need to take some time off of work to recuperate. You should not have to miss out on money in your paycheck as a result of an accident, especially if it wasn’t your fault. Therefore, your attorney will seek compensation for your lost wages.
If the accident was particularly traumatic or dangerous, pain and suffering damages may be awarded. If you experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety following a bad rideshare accident, your lawyer will represent you before a court and assert your right to pain and suffering compensation. You should never neglect your psychological well-being.
Call a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Augusta Right Away
As a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, as a motorist or pedestrian involved in a rideshare accident, or as the driver of the rideshare vehicle, you should contact an Augusta rideshare accident lawyer to seek legal help.
Insurance accident claims involving these types of cases are handled by attorneys with superior knowledge and experience.
Seek medical attention in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle. The legal team at John Foy & Associates can help you at every stage in determining the compensation for your losses. It costs you nothing to talk with a free consultation lawyer in Augusta.
What the Data Shows About Rideshare Safety
There is little information about Uber accidents available. It appears, however, that car accidents have increased since ridesharing companies began offering rides across the country.
- Rideshare services may have caused an increase in fatal car wrecks in recent years.
- The addition of rideshare vehicles to the road is likely to cause approximately 1,000 car accident fatalities each year.
- 107 people lost their lives in Uber accidents between 2017 and 2018.
- In those deaths, 21% were passengers, 21% were rideshare drivers, and 58% were in vehicles owned by third parties.
Rideshare vehicles were not involved in all the deaths. They may have made conditions more dangerous, however, due to their presence on the road and the way they have changed traffic patterns.
Call an Augusta Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
The rights of riders are the same regardless of the service they choose. If you are injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, the insurance company of the driver, plus the insurance of the ridesharing company, may owe you medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering.
While ridesharing companies throw out lowball figures at you in hopes of getting out quickly and cheaply, we’d hate to see you struggle to get the money you deserve. An attorney will help you get your due compensation. Get a free case evaluation online by contacting John Foy & Associates.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form