Rideshare Wrecks

As we increasingly rely on rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, it is only natural that Uber and Lyft drivers will occasionally get involved in car wrecks. Of course, this means their passengers will be involved, too. And because services like these are still a somewhat new technology, figuring out what to do after being involved in a collision like this can be confusing. What are your responsibilities? What are your options? If you're hurt, how do you file a claim? Is this the same as any other car wreck? If it's different, how so? If you've been involved in a collision in an Uber, Lyft, or in a car arranged by a similar service, this article will help answer some of these questions.

Who Is Liable In A Lyft Wreck Or An Uber Crash?

In a “usual” car wreck between two regular, private drivers, fault is determined between the two drivers. Where injuries and/or property damage occur, it is the at-fault driver's insurance company who bears the liability and—if the damages exceed the driver's coverage—the at-fault driver himself or herself. But in instances where an at-fault driver is working in what the law calls the “course and scope” of business or when they are driving a company car, it might be the case that the business and the business' insurance are implicated, too. Accordingly, even though most Uber and Lyft drivers are operating their own personal vehicles, these ridesharing apps are most likely going to be implicated in a crash that occurs during their paid rides; this is because such a wreck takes place within the course and scope of the ridesharing app's (or ridesharing company's, rather) business activity and purposes.

What To Do In A Car Wreck In An Uber Or Lyft

Like any other car wreck, there are several things you always want to do: first, call 9-1-1; second, go to the emergency room to make sure you are okay; third, call an experienced car accident lawyer to help you navigate the next steps. For a more in-depth review of how to handle a car wreck, please see our blog post titled, What To Do After A Car Wreck. This article provides a useful overview of the things you need to be considering after a wreck and what to do. (And these principals still apply.)

In a typical wreck, you and the other driver will exchange insurance information. In the case of a wreck in an Uber or Lyft, you will want to get the insurance information of the other drivers involved, as well as the information of your driver. Additionally, the best practice would be for you to call 9-1-1 so that you can be sure an accurate crash report is created. This will help ensure there is a reliable account of what happened.

Opening A Claim

On Uber's information page for crashes and Lyft's information page for crashes, both companies state that you may file a claim with them directly. This is a great first step; however, what many insurance companies will try to do is settle claims quickly and at low values. The trouble with settling a claim immediately is that injuries related to car crashes can sometimes take several days or even weeks to show themselves. It is not uncommon for back pain, knee pain, or other car wreck injuries to worsen over the course of weeks. It is also not unusual for a car crash injury of this sort to get slightly better before becoming much worse. Additionally, traumatic injuries of this sort can sometimes have effects on an injured person's range of motion, and the full effect of these wrecks may not show themselves until time passes. Unfortunately, if your claim is already settled, there is no chance to go back and renegotiate—there is no opportunity to say, “Things are worse than I thought!” Once you settle this claim, it is settled.

At Glenn Law Firm, we are aware of these possibilities and typically will wait for our clients to finish treating with their healthcare professionals before we consider settling a claim. We do this because it is crucial to know the extent of your damages before you accept a settlement. After all, how can you settle your damages without being sure you have a complete understanding of what they are?

Contact Glenn Law Firm For A Free Case Analysis

In summary, you want to treat a car crash in an Uber or a car crash in a Lyft similar to the way you would treat a normal car wreck. You want to make sure the police create a record of what took place, you want to make sure you get the information of everyone involved—including your own Uber or Lyft driver—and you want to make sure that you get the appropriate medical treatment. Additionally, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to help you navigate the complexities that arise, particularly if you have been severely injured, required surgery after a car wreck, or suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), like a concussion. We would be happy to talk to you here at the Glenn Law Firm. Please call us at (817) 424-5999, or fill out the informational form on this website, and someone will contact you promptly.