What happens if you’re involved in a rideshare crash?

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People who use ridesharing services, such as Lyft and Uber, expect that the driver who picks them up will drive safely. They don’t expect that they’ll be involved in a crash before they reach their destination.

If you’re the rider in one of these crashes, you need to ensure that you’re taking proper steps after the crash. Making sure you protect your rights after the wreck is a primary concern.

Medical care is a priority

One of the most important things you need to do if you’re involved in a rideshare crash is getting medical care. This serves as documentation to tie the injuries to the crash. It also provides you with information about what you can expect for the healing period.

Report the crash

Another necessary step is reporting the crash. Make sure you contact the police to report the crash. You also need to report the incident to the rideshare company. This is usually done through the app. If possible, collect evidence of the crash so you can show what happened. Taking pictures of the crash scene and your injuries are a good way to document this.

Learn your options

The laws surrounding rideshare crashes are still changing frequently. In some cases, the rideshare company’s insurance is liable for the damages related to the crash. This is sometimes a battle because drivers are considered independent contractors instead of employees, so there might be some pushback because of that classification. Some rideshare companies have liability limits in their terms of use. For example, Uber has a $1 million liability limit.

The driver’s insurance may refuse to pay claims for a crash that occurs during commercial use of the vehicle unless the driver has a special policy rider to cover these incidents.

Victims of rideshare wrecks shouldn’t assume that the rideshare company or driver’s insurance will take care of them. Always be prepared to fight for the compensation you’re due after one of these crashes. Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters is beneficial since it’s still an emerging problem.