What To Do After A Lyft Or Uber Accident

Services such as Uber and Lyft provide Bostonians and those visiting the area with a convenient method of getting around without a personal vehicle. However, while rideshare service companies have a responsibility to hire competent drivers, sometimes accidents involving Ubers and Lyfts occur.

You’ll hopefully never be involved in one. That said, if you ever rely on these services, it’s helpful to know what you should do in the aftermath of an accident. Taking the right steps immediately after a collision involving an Uber or Lyft won’t just help you stay safe—it can also potentially improve your chances of receiving any financial compensation for which you may be eligible.

Steps to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident

The steps you should take after an Uber or Lyft accident are essentially the same as those you would take in the immediate aftermath of any motor vehicle accident. Be aware, you may need to modify these steps depending on such factors as whether you were a passenger, how many other vehicles were involved in the collision, etc.

Generally, after an Uber or Lyft accident, you should:

• Check yourself for injuries
• Check your fellow passengers for injuries
• Find a safe spot to move to where you will be away from traffic
• Make sure all others involved in the accident are unharmed and don’t need any medical attention
• Call the police to report the accident
• Exchange contact and insurance information with all other drivers involved in the accident
• Ask witnesses at the scene to provide their names and contact information
• Take pictures of the accident scene
• Take pictures of your injuries

Most importantly, after the police have finished investigating the accident and give you permission to leave, see a doctor. You must take this step as soon as possible after your accident regardless of whether you believe you’ve been injured.

Sometimes, right after a motor vehicle collision, a victim doesn’t consciously realize they’ve sustained injuries. This might occur due to adrenaline or other such factors preventing them from noticing symptoms.

See a doctor to ensure you receive any medical care you may need. Be aware, negotiating with an insurance company for a settlement later will also be easier if you saw a doctor the day of the collision. Doing so is key to establishing an obvious link between your injuries and the accident.

Liability After an Uber or Lyft Accident

You may be eligible for financial compensation if you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Massachusetts. The party responsible for providing said compensation can depend on several factors.

First, understand that Massachusetts is a no-fault car accident state. This means your own insurance may be responsible for compensating you if you were involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft while driving your own vehicle. However, if your own insurance doesn’t provide the full amount of compensation you need, you may be able to file a third-party lawsuit or claim.

The target of your claim may be the insurance of the driver who caused your accident if they were not technically using the Uber or Lyft app when the accident occurred. The insurance of one of these companies may be the target of your claim if the driver was signed into the app and had accepted a passenger or was actively driving a passenger at the time of the accident.

The insurance of Uber or Lyft may also apply if you were injured as a passenger while using one of these services. That said, there’s also a possibility that another negligent party (such as another motorist) caused your accident. They may thus be the ones whose insurance should provide you with compensation.

A Boston Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Can Help

One of the wisest steps to take after an Uber or Lyft accident is to review your case with an attorney. A lawyer familiar with the relevant laws can explain what your options may be in these circumstances. If you hire an attorney, they may also help by gathering evidence of negligence, calculating how much money you may deserve, and allowing you to prioritize your recovery instead of chasing compensation on your own.

At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., our Boston Uber and Lyft accident lawyers are prepared to review your case at no charge to you. We’ll also offer the aggressive representation you deserve if you decide to work with us. For more information about how we may help, contact us online or call us at (617) 742-1900 and schedule your free consultation today.

Need Help?

If you or someone you know, needs help from a lawyer, contact the law offices of Swartz & Swartz, use our live chat, or send us a message using the form below and we’ll get in touch to assess your case and how we can help.