Ride share services, such as Uber and Lyft, have become very popular forms of transportation. Whether it be wanting to avoid the hassle of dealing with Boston traffic when going into the city for the night or not having the time to spend on public transportation, more and more people are using ride share services to get to work, school, and nights out with friends. However, accidents can happen while in a rideshare vehicle just as they can in your own vehicle. Passengers of rideshare vehicles have every right to file a claim against whoever is at fault. Therefore, it is important to know what steps that you should take if you are in a Rideshare accident.

What to Do at the Scene of the Accident:

If you find yourself in a rideshare accident, it is most important to make sure that everyone involved is okay. If you can, call 911 for any injuries that have occurred so that all involved can get the medical attention they need. Even if there are no immediate known injuries, you should still report the accident to the police and request they file a police report. Without a police report, it can be difficult to recover from an accident. Although it can be tempting to leave the scene of the accident if you are not the driver or if you think you are not seriously injured, it is very important to stay at the scene and cooperate with police officers until a police report is completed to ensure everything is documented if you pursue a personal injury case.  The police report will be used in investigating and evaluating your personal injury case.

While at the scene of the accident, it is important to take pictures of the scene as you would in a regular car accident. Take pictures of driver’s licenses, registrations, license plates and vehicles. If you have any visible injuries, take pictures of those injuries as well. If there is any other evidence of the accident, such as skid marks on the road or damage to property, take pictures. These pictures will provide important information about the drivers and their insurance, and it will also serve as important evidence in seeking compensation for the harm caused to you.

It is also important to report the accident to the rideshare company. In the Uber and Lyft apps, utilize the option to report the accident. This is necessary to notify the rideshare company about the accident. Although rideshare drivers are technically not employees of the rideshare company and instead are considered independent contractors, the rideshare company must know about the accident for any inquiries they receive in the future. The rideshare service such as Uber and Lyft often provide an added layer of insurance if you are injured in an accident and seek compensation.  Making sure they are on notice of the accident is important.  Lastly, take screenshots of the ride in the app. This provides information about who the driver was, their vehicle, and the time that the incident occurred.

What to Do After the Accident:

After the accident, it is important to schedule an appointment with a doctor for any injuries and symptoms you may have. Sometimes symptoms will not be noticed until multiple days after the accident or minor symptoms may worsen over time. Continue to monitor your health for any changes and visit your primary care provider as soon as possible if you notice any symptoms or injuries. It is important to keep a record of appointments and visits with any medical providers because it will be used in your personal injury case. If a doctor recommends you see any specialists or have any testing, follow through with those appointments.

It is highly likely that both driver’s insurance companies will try to contact you about the accident. It is important that you do not speak with them or provide them with any information until you speak to an attorney.  Speaking with their insurance companies can negatively impact the value of your case because they will try to use whatever you say against you.  Clients we have represented have unknowingly answered questions in a way that was used against them later by the insurance company before they retained our services.  Be sure to tell them that you will not speak with them until you talk with an attorney. Once you sign with an attorney and have counsel representing you , your attorney will step in to handle all interactions with the insurance companies on your behalf.

Rideshare accidents are just as likely to happen as regular car accidents. As a passenger, you have every right to file a claim for any injuries caused by the accident. By keeping this information in mind, you can continue to utilize ride share services and be prepared if you are ever in a ride share accident.

At Nadeau Harkavy LLC, we have over 60 years combined experience representing injured people and their families when they have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, trip and fall or other type of accident. We represent individuals injured in ride share vehicle accidents such as Uber and Lyft who have been injured riding as an innocent passenger. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients over the years to help them get on with their lives after suffering the consequences of a serious accident.  We make sure everything is done to protect your interests while you and your family concentrate on getting better. We handle all types of car accident cases including wrongful death, spinal injury, and brain injury. We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, as well as other types of car accident cases such as scooter, motorcycle, and skateboard cases. We also handle other types of injury cases such as trip and fall, slip and fall, allergic reaction, dog bite, construction site, and catastrophic injury accidents. If you or a loved one has been harmed through no fault of your own, call us today for a free consultation about your legal rights at 617-674-7640.