Being involved in an automobile accident with an Uber or Lyft driver can be stressful and frustrating. You may now know how to proceed with a civil lawsuit against a rideshare company or its drivers. An Oklahoma car accident lawyer can help you understand what may happen after being struck by an Uber or Lyft driver.
Contacting a Law Enforcement Agency After the Automobile Accident
The first thing you should do after an automobile accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver is contact a law enforcement agency. You need to have a police officer create a traffic collision report related to the accident. The officer will typically make a determination of cause in the traffic collision report, and this may strengthen your personal injury case, especially if the at-fault driver was engaging in dangerous behavior, such as distracted driving.
You should also wait until law enforcement officers arrive to speak to anyone at the accident scene. Do not make any statements about your injuries, and do not even offer an apology at the accident scene. It is possible that the statements you make at the accident scene will be used against you during your personal injury case.
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SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYSeek Medical Treatment Immediately
It is absolutely necessary to seek medical treatment after suffering injuries during an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver. You will need to substantiate your legal claims with medical bills and medical records. The sooner you receive medical treatment, the better your health will be, and the stronger your personal injury case will become.
Do not delay seeking medical treatment. It can be detrimental to your personal injury case if you wait too long to see a doctor. The insurance companies and opposing counsel will attempt to claim that you did not suffer any injuries due to the Uber or Lyft accident. Therefore, it will be helpful to your case if you go to the hospital from the accident scene even if you do not think you suffered severe injuries.
Keep a Record of Your Injuries in a Personal Journal
Uber and Lyft will be represented by attorneys, and they will contest every aspect of your legal claims. It will strengthen your case if you keep a personal journal regarding your injuries and your physical recovery. You can write about your daily experiences and describe the important parts of your healing, such as physical rehabilitation and therapy.
You should be consistent in how you describe your symptoms and always make sure to be clear, precise, and detailed. Seeking financial compensation from Uber or Lyft can be an uphill battle, but the more evidence you preserve regarding your injuries, the stronger your case will be. Also, you should focus on ways you can document the variations in your symptoms.
Determine if the Uber or Lyft Driver Had the Rideshare Application on During the Automobile Accident
The insurance policies held by Uber and Lyft only apply if the rideshare driver had the Uber or Lyft application on during the accident. Typically, this means the driver was either transporting a passenger or on their way to pick up a passenger. Establishing that Uber or Lyft was liable for causing the automobile accident is essential if you want to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
Retaining a personal injury lawyer will help you determine if the rideshare application was on during the automobile accident. You may learn about this information during the discovery phase of a civil lawsuit. If you do not retain a personal injury attorney, the rideshare company will simply claim the application was turned off during the automobile accident without offering any substantive evidence to support their claims.
Uber or Lyft Will Hire Accident Reconstruction Experts
If it is possible that Uber or Lyft may be liable for the automobile accident, then they will hire accident reconstruction experts to analyze the conditions that gave rise to the automobile accident. You will need to make sure that you do not provide any information about the automobile accident to the accident reconstruction experts.
Insurance claims adjusters and accident reconstruction experts may try to contact you during their investigations. Do not provide any details or answers to these individuals. You need to make sure that opposing counsel knows that you will not be offering information to experts retained by Uber or Lyft.
The Insurance Company Providing Automobile Liability Coverage to Uber and Lyft May Deny Your Insurance Claim
It may be necessary to initiate a civil lawsuit when your insurance claim is denied. Uber or Lyft may not conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident. At this point, you may need to retain a personal injury lawyer and begin discussing an effective case strategy.
Uber or Lyft will likely claim that an insurance policy does not apply to your case because the Uber or Lyft application was not turned on during the automobile accident. You need to make sure that you discuss your legal options with your attorney if you do not know which step to take next.
You May Receive a Low Settlement Offer Early in Your Case
You may receive a low settlement offer at an early stage in your case. Do not accept the first settlement that is offered to you. It may be necessary for you to negotiate with opposing counsel to see if they can offer a greater settlement amount.
Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney will help you determine if a settlement offer is unreasonable. Therefore, you need to retain legal counsel before you accept any settlement offer.
Contact BDIW Law Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
Many drivers do not know what to do if they find themselves involved in an automobile accident with an Uber or Lyft driver. We have years of experience representing clients in rideshare company cases. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation during which we can discuss the facts of your case.
Our attorneys understand how to negotiate with opposing counsel. Do not be intimidated by the defense attorneys representing Uber and Lyft. Reach out to us today to learn more about how you can seek monetary compensation for your injuries.
