Car accidents happen to reckless drivers as well as safe drivers so have a reliable accident attorney is important. With so many people driving for rideshare services now, it’s no wonder that many will eventually have a car crash while driving for a rideshare service. The important thing is not to worry.
In Cleveland, OH rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft transport people all over the city through peak times of the day. There are a few key things you should do in a rideshare accident situation.
First, Make Sure Everyone is Okay
Most city-based crashes are minor. They may come with injuries, but few times does anyone have to be rushed to the hospital. Before anything else, make sure that you and your passengers are okay. If anyone needs medical attention or is bleeding, contact emergency services right away.
If you are okay and are able to exit the vehicle safely, check on the other vehicle. Again if anyone needs medical attention, contact emergency services before anyone else. When everyone seems fine or if the crash is minor enough to pull to the side immediately, get the cars off the road. Getting out of the way of traffic can ensure your continued safety.
Second, Contact Your Rideshare Company
Most rideshare services require immediate notification of an accident. Contact them as soon as is reasonable. For many people, that’s right away. There may even be a button in the app to launch that conversation. There is an available option in many apps for the riders or passengers to report an accident as well.
Contacting this service can seem intimidating but know that it’s a vital step towards resolving this wreck. It’s not likely that you’ll lose the ability to continue driving for the company, as long as it wasn’t your fault.
These companies have their own insurance company and processes to ensure that their drivers and riders receive fair compensation for any crash. It’s not always easy accessing compensation, but it’s available. You may need to work with an attorney if your rideshare service seems unreasonable. For many people getting an attorney is just one step to make sure that you have some protection.
In these cases, the rideshare company will protect themselves and the passengers. The other driver is on their own, and so are you. The insurance companies involved seldom want to make fair payouts.
Third, Record All Facts of the Crash
Your rideshare service will want to know very particular bits of information. Usually, they want to know everything that’s on the police report and everything that your insurance company wants to know. That means details such the other driver’s name, the name and contact info of any witnesses and similar.
Unless you were hurt during the crash and needed immediate medical attention, it’s your responsibility to collect this information. You are best off taking photographs and saving them to your phone instead of making notes. For example, don’t write down the license plate number, make and model of the other vehicle. Instead take a picture of the rear-end of the car that will have the manufacturer’s emblem, model name, and their license plate.
Four, Seek Compensation
Seeking out the compensation you deserve is not as straightforward in these crashes. With a rideshare company involved, you may need to file a claim with your insurance, the at-fault driver’s insurance, or with the company.
Uber and Lyft will often provide full compensation if you were active in their system and matched with a customer. Even in the event that the customer was not in the car and you were on your way to collect them, they should pay.
However, if you were between rides, they may not provide compensation. In some situations with the other driver was clearly at fault, they may not cover your damages until the other insurance has become exhausted.
Not only should you have access to compensation, but it shouldn’t be a difficult process. If you are having a hard time negotiating with either your insurance company or the rideshare service, then get legal assistance. An attorney can help you know how to handle these large companies that don’t want to payout.
Contact Ohio Car Accident Lawyers for guidance on how to resolve rideshare accidents. Providing aid for victims of car accidents, our attorneys have the experience and skill necessary to pursue fair compensation aggressively. Additionally, we can direct you towards seeking compensation from the company that should pay for the crash.
Contact our offices now at Ohio Car Accident Lawyer for a case evaluation and to speak with an experienced attorney today.
