5 Steps to Take Immediately After a Rideshare Accident
22 March 2025
5 Mins Read
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Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft offer a much easier way for people to travel wherever they want without spending much time waiting for public transport.
However, accidents involving cars are increasing drastically in the United States. If you are a passenger, a driver, or a pedestrian, you should be aware of how to handle the accident while protecting your legal rights and health.
To understand your legal rights completely, consulting attorneys is a better option. The rideshare accident attorneys at TopDog Law specialize in handling these kinds of cases.
They are dedicated to helping you understand your legal rights and getting you the compensation you deserve.
Things You Should Immediately Do After a Rideshare Accident
Here are five essential steps to take immediately after a rideshare accident.
1. Prioritize Safety and Get Medical Help
In case of any accident, the first thing you have to do is check that everyone involved in the accident is safe. If anyone is injured and needs any medical assistance, call 911 immediately.
Various injuries like concussions and whiplash are not possible to identify immediately. So, even if the injury does not look severe, you should get it checked by the doctor. These steps help with the legal process and protect your health as well.
2. Collect Information at the Scene of the Accident
Once you feel everyone is safe and the emergency services are on the way, start gathering important information from the accident scene. It includes:
- Rideshare Driver’s Information: Note the rideshare driver’s name, contact details, license number, and the rideshare company they work for (Uber, Lyft, etc.).
- Vehicle Details: Note the make, model, color, and license plate number of the rideshare vehicle.
- Insurance Information: Make sure to get the driver’s personal insurance information and any details from the rideshare company’s insurance policy.
- Witnesses: If there are any witnesses to the accident, ask for their contact information. Their statements will help prove liability.
- Photos: Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damages, injuries, and surrounding area.
3. Notify the Rideshare Company
After the accident, reporting the incident to the rideshare company is essential. All the rideshare companies have in-app features to report accidents. You can file a report there or call them directly and report it.
Depending on the situation, the rideshare company may be responsible for compensating you for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
However, the insurance coverage you deserve may change depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident.
For example, if an accident happens when the driver is on the ride, the rideshare company has to compensate the victim. If the driver was offline and caused the accident, getting compensation is complex.
4. Learn About The Insurance Coverage of the Company
Rideshare companies mostly offer insurance coverage if you are involved in an accident with their drivers. However, this coverage depends on the circumstances of the accident.
Here is a basic breakdown of the insurance coverage most rideshare companies offer:
- If the driver was not logged into the app during the time of the accident, then the company is not responsible for the damages caused. You have to claim compensation through the personal insurance policy of the company.
- If we look into Lyft, they offer limited liability coverage. This covers $50,000 for a person for bodily injury, offers $100,000 for an accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for an accident for property damage. Moreover, it is almost the same for all rideshare apps.
- In most companies, the moment a driver accepts a rideshare request, the allocated amount of insurance policy goes into effect.
The coverage often starts when the driver is en route or when they have picked up the passenger and continues till they drop the passenger.
5. Notify Your Insurance Company
Most rideshare companies have insurance policies that cover the injuries of the passenger. However, it is better if you notify your insurance provider about the accident if you were driving your vehicle during the accident.
When you are informing the insurance company, there are certain things that you have to take care of:
- Give them all the necessary information. However, do not speculate who was at fault during the accident. The facts will speak for itself.
- If you were a passenger, you would not be able to leverage your car insurance unless the company’s coverage is insufficient or exhausted.
But if you were driving your vehicle, or if there was another person involved in the crash, you can use your policy. It mostly depends on the circumstances.
- Before you agree to any formal statement or settlement, make sure you consult your rideshare accident attorney. Insurance companies will want to offer a quick settlement where they do not have to pay for all the damages, so seek help.
6. Consult with Rideshare Accident Attorneys
Rideshare accidents are complicated as they involve multiple parties. It involves the rideshare driver the company, other vehicles, and their insurance providers as well.
Knowing how different insurance policies work is often challenging. This is why you should consult an experienced rideshare accident attorney.
They gather all the evidence, investigate the case, and determine liability. Moreover, they help you get the compensation you deserve because of your damages.
7. Document and Track All Damages
After a rideshare accident, the damages you incur can go beyond just medical bills. So, keep track of all your expenses and losses to support the claim. It includes:
- Medical Costs: Keep a record of all medical treatments, prescriptions, and rehabilitation sessions.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, document the income you have lost.
- Pain and Suffering: Your emotional distress and physical pain also count as damages in personal injury claims.
- Property Damage: If your mobile, car, or any personal property was damaged in the accident, keep receipts or repair estimates for that.
If you maintain a thorough record, your attorney can easily handle the case and get fair compensation.
Wrapping up!
Ensure that you keep a record of all the details about the personal injury case which will help make the claim strong. You will need to keep all the treatment records and medical bills.
Moreover, keep a record of the communication you had with the at-fault parties, rideshare companies, and insurance companies. Keep documentation of lost income or missed work.
Some of the victims keep a journal of the emotional and physical recovery process after the rideshare accident. This is documentation of how the accident impacted your daily life and supports the claim.
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