It can be difficult enough to know what steps to take after a standard car accident, much less one involving a rideshare vehicle. If your crash involves an Uber or Lyft driver, you will have a more complicated insurance claim. You may be able to hold the rideshare company responsible, for example, and not just the individual driver. Our Aurora Uber and Lyft accident attorneys explain the steps that you take after this type of accident which are important for building your claim.
Pull Over and Secure the Crash Site
As with any car accident in Colorado, you must pull over immediately at the scene of a crash involving an Uber or Lyft driver. Fleeing the scene of an accident without stopping is a crime known as hit-and-run. Pull over as close to the scene of the crash as you safely can. If possible, move disabled vehicles out of the road to prevent further collisions. Turn on your hazard lights to warn others of the crash.
Check for Injuries and Get Medical Care
Check yourself, any passengers in your motor vehicle and the people in the other car to see if anyone is injured. If someone is hurt, render aid if you can. This may mean calling 911 to request paramedics. Keep in mind that even if you initially do not feel hurt, your adrenaline from the car accident may be masking pain. Do not assume that you are uninjured until you have seen a doctor for a checkup. Always seek immediate medical care after a car accident.
Call 911
Call the police from the scene of the car accident to report the motor vehicle collision. Colorado law requires drivers to report car accidents that cause injuries, deaths or property damage. If the Uber or Lyft driver is refusing to cooperate with you, does not have insurance, appears intoxicated or broke a traffic law, you should also involve the police. Give your version of events to the police officer but do not admit fault. Write down your police report number.
Exchange Contact Information
Exchange contact information with the Uber or Lyft driver involved, including names and phone numbers. Get the driver’s insurance information, as well. All rideshare drivers are legally required to maintain personal auto insurance policies. Whether or not the rideshare driver was driving for Uber or Lyft at the time of your collision, his or her personal car insurance policy may be responsible for paying for your damages.
Take Photos
Before you leave the scene, take photographs and record video footage using your cell phone. Photos of the accident, including close-up shots of property damage or debris in the road as well as wide-lens shots of the entire scene, can help investigators determine the cause of the crash. Photos of the car accident scene can be helpful evidence for your personal injury attorney in Aurora when filing an injury claim. Accident reconstruction experts may be able to also use the photos to piece together what happened.
Report the Crash to Uber or Lyft
You will need to notify the rideshare company of an accident involving one of its drivers. You can do this online using either Lyft’s Help page or Uber’s Safety page. The rideshare company should get back to you to ask further questions and initiate the insurance claims process, if applicable.
File an Insurance Claim
If the Uber or Lyft driver was not signed into the rideshare app at the time of your crash, his or her personal car insurance company will cover your losses. If the driver was logged on and accepting rides or carrying passengers at the time of your collision, however, the rideshare company may be responsible for your medical bills and property damage. Both Uber and Lyft have insurance policies that offer up to $1 million for accidents caused by their drivers.
Contact a Rideshare Accident Attorney
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to secure fair financial compensation from a rideshare company and its insurance corporation. As an accident victim, it can be helpful to seek assistance from an Aurora car accident attorney to fight for just compensation in a claim involving Uber or Lyft. An experienced lawyer’s help could be crucial if an insurance company is trying to take advantage of you after your car accident.
