Ridesharing services have become one of the most dominant forms of public transportation in recent years. At least 36% of Americans have used a service like Uber or Lyft to travel. However, with millions of people using such services to travel every day, accidents are inevitable.
So, what should you do after you are involved in a rideshare accident? Consulting a rideshare accident lawyer is essential to learn how to protect your rights, strengthen your claim, and get the compensation you deserve.
How a Morse Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Help
Car accidents are among the most traumatic events you can undergo. As a victim, you may have moderate to extensive injuries and hefty medical bills in the present and future. Some victims might not work for a while and may even end up disabled or unable to work. However, it’s not all bad news.
You might get compensation from the driver’s insurance provider if you can build a solid case and negotiate favorable terms. Unfortunately, that’s a lot of work, and you’ll probably be too concerned with recovering from your injuries to deal with the police, witnesses, and insurance reps. The better idea would be to hire a Morse rideshare accident lawyer to handle the case on your behalf.
A car accident attorney will liaise with the police and medical professionals to get an accurate account of the moments before the accident, the severity of your injuries, and projected treatment costs. Our lawyers will use their knowledge to build solid personal injury cases for their clients and negotiate with insurance representatives for fair compensation. If the negotiations aren’t successful, your lawyer could argue your case in court.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientCan a Passenger Be Liable for a Rideshare Accident?
Passengers are rarely held liable for car accidents. The driver of a rideshare service, or any other car involved, is responsible for operating the vehicle and must care for their passengers and other road users. In most cases, you will not be liable after a car crash or required to pay for damages. Even if your driver was not responsible for the accident, you might get compensation from their insurance provider.
However, there are some rare cases where a passenger’s conduct makes it difficult for the driver to focus on the road or drive responsibly. The passenger can receive partial responsibility for the ensuing accident in such cases. What can a passenger do to be considered at least partially at fault for a Morse rideshare accident? Examples of such actions include:
- Distracting the driver by either talking, arguing with them, hitting them, or doing anything that prevents them from focusing on the road
- Encouraging the driver to engage in reckless driving activities, such as drag racing or speeding, which is more common with teenage drivers who are more susceptible to peer pressure
- Interfering with the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle, such as pulling their hands off the steering wheel or pushing on their legs
Like drivers, passengers have a duty of care to fellow road users. This means that they shouldn’t act in a way that puts other people on the road at risk. If you breach this duty of care by engaging in any of the above actions, the crash victims may sue you. You would share the liability of the crash with your driver, and your insurance provider may be forced to cover part of the accident victim’s damages.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhat You Should Do After a Rideshare Accident
The first couple of hours after the accident will be integral. The speed that you, the driver, and other road users react with will significantly determine whether you recover from your injuries and how much compensation you will eventually receive.
If the crash hasn’t left you severely injured or unconscious, here’s what you should do right after to protect your rights and claim:
Call the Paramedics
Check on the driver and any other parties involved in the crash. Even if you don’t have apparent injuries, you should get checked out to be sure. Injuries like internal bleeding and concussions may not be visible until they have caused significant and sometimes fatal damage. After the paramedics check you, visit a doctor for further evaluation as soon as you can.
Seeking immediate medical attention and following your treatment plan shows that your injuries were severe enough to warrant emergency treatment. The following are some of the injuries you may sustain after a car accident:
- Broken bones
- Cuts, abrasions, and lacerations
- Burns
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal injury
If you don’t get checked out as soon as possible, the insurance provider could argue that your injuries weren’t that serious and don’t warrant a lot of compensation.
Inform the Police
You will need the police to collect evidence from the crash, including pictures of the accident scene and eyewitness accounts. The police will then use this evidence to generate a crash report. Note that while this report will not act as concrete proof of the driver’s negligence or recklessness, it can help your Morse rideshare accident lawyer build a stronger personal injury case.
Report the Crash to the Rideshare Service
Both Uber and Lyft provide $1,000,000 in third-party liability for their drivers. Even if a driver isn’t responsible for a crash, this liability coverage will compensate passengers who were injured in Morse rideshare accidents. You can report a crash on their mobile apps or website.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientContact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Review
Once you’ve received adequate medical attention and reported the crash to the rideshare company, it’s time to fight for damages. While you can do this yourself, it would be less stressful if you hired a rideshare accident lawyer to advocate on your behalf.
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our team is ready to fight to get you the maximum compensation you deserve, allowing you to focus on resting and recovering. Contact a Morse rideshare accident lawyer today for a free case review.
