Since the launch of rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft, many people prefer using ridesharing apps thanks to their convenience and availability. However, there are certain drawbacks to the service. In the unfortunate circumstance where you are involved in an accident involving a rideshare car, claiming compensation is much more complicated as their insurance coverage differs from regular drivers. If you are in such a situation, it is imperative to enlist the services of a Carencro rideshare accident lawyer.
What Should I Do at the Scene of a Car Accident?
To give you an upper hand, there are a few things you should consider doing immediately after an accident:
Gather As Much Evidence as Possible
Evidence can make or break your settlement claim. Assuming you have enough strength, gather as much evidence as you can. Do this by recording a statement while your memory is still fresh, talking to eyewitnesses and recording their statements, taking pictures of the weather conditions, the state of the road, and the accident itself, then noting the car registration number and insurance details of whoever else is involved.
Seek Medical Help
Regardless of whether you feel injured, it is advisable to get checked by a medical professional. People often neglect this step because they feel fine and then end up in pain after a few hours. Also, the medical records will count as evidence.
Contact the Authorities
The police will help take pictures of the accident scene, question eyewitnesses and write a detailed crash report of what they have witnessed at the accident scene. Not only will the report help your case, but the police will be able to capture things you might have missed.
Get a Lawyer
Getting a Carencro rideshare accident lawyer is an excellent idea because the at-fault party’s insurance company will offer you a haste settlement to try and close the case. Most times, you are worth more than what they are offering. A lawyer will give you sound advice on what to do.
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Who Is Responsible for My Injuries?
One reason receiving compensation in a ridesharing accident is difficult is because of all the insurance coverage involved — the ridesharing company insurance, the ridesharing driver’s insurance, and the insurance of whoever else is involved. The person who will compensate you depends on the following factors.
If the Ridesharing Driver Is at Fault
Ridesharing drivers must have personal coverage. If their insurance extends to the passengers, the said insurance company will compensate you.
The rideshare company will step in if their coverage does not include you and the driver is too poor to compensate you. Most rideshare companies have a third-party insurance policy that compensates passengers up to $1,000,000 for personal injuries caused through their services.
If the Other Party Was at Fault
If another party was at fault, their insurance coverage would be liable to compensate you. This is because every motorist must have a viable insurance policy before driving onto the road. If they do not have insurance, the ridesharing company may or may not step in.
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Who Can Be Sued in the Case of a Rideshare Accident?
In the event of a rideshare accident, you will be tempted to sue the parent company as it looks more lucrative. However, this route of legal action is futile because drivers are usually independent contractors and not employees. This means that the driver is an independent business and is not the company’s responsibility.
However, you can try and sue the driver directly or appeal to the rideshare company. Most of them have comprehensive insurance coverage if the accident occurs while the driver is on duty.
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Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Lawyers work in the best interest of their clients, so the insurance company’s lawyers that should settle your claim will try and discredit your claim to the best of their ability. Having someone in your corner who understands legal loopholes and is in your best interest will help you maneuver the settlement case to get you what you rightfully deserve. In Louisiana, it is also important to note that you should file a claim within a year from the day of the injury (CC Art. 3492).
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What does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Seeing that rideshare accidents are fundamentally new; some lawyers have taken it upon themselves to learn the ins and outs of the industry to help victims of car accidents such as yourself. Some of the fundamental things they will do to help your case include:
- Taking over the burden of the case from you allows you to concentrate on recover
- Giving you legal advice on how to go about every step of the case
- Visiting the accident scene to try and find any valuable piece of evidence you or the police could have missed
- Evaluating the accident details to find out who was at fault
- Calculating the amount of settlement that is fit for your situation
- Negotiating a settlement figure with the insurance company
- Gather all your necessary records to act as evidence should they be required by the court or insurance companies
- Appearing at your court hearings if you are indisposed and then giving you a brief of the happenings
- Review the other parties’ insurance details and draft settlement offers if applicable
How Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Can Help You
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers in Carencro have ample experience dealing with clients who have been in rideshare accidents. Our lawyers have collectively earned over $600 million in settlement claims for our injured clients. If you do not receive a fair settlement, we will represent you in court to the best of our abilities until justice is served.
Seeing the sensitive nature of rideshare accidents, it is advisable to contact us as soon as possible for a free initial consultation. This way, you will know how to proceed while protecting your civil rights and have time to focus on healing from the accident.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
