Introduction
This article aims to provide guidance and point out many things you should do and a few things that you should not do if you are involved in an Uber and Lyft car accident.
Get Out of the Car
If your car is damaged and in the roadway, there is a very high chance that it will be hit again by another vehicle. Getting out of your vehicle is the best way to reduce the possibility of further damage to your car and the risk of being hit by a second car.
Stay safe and wait for first responders
When you’re involved in an accident with a car, truck, or taxi or ride-hailing company, the best thing you can do is to stay safe. This means that you should wait for the first responders — the police and EMTs — to arrive before doing anything. This is essential to your safety.
Call 911
If you were involved in a car accident and the other vehicle hit your car, you should call 911. It would help to let the 911 operator know that you were in a car accident with a ride-hailing or taxi vehicle. In case of any legal assistant contact a rideshare attorney.
Check yourself and your surroundings
One of the first things you need to do after a car accident is to check yourself and your surroundings. This is important because sometimes the damage from an accident isn’t immediately apparent and can cause severe or even deadly harm.
Get medical attention if it’s needed
If you were involved in a car accident and need medical attention, you should get it as soon as possible. This is a critical step in protecting yourself and your loved ones.
First and foremost, you need to make sure that you are safe. This means that you should make sure that there are no injuries and wear a seatbelt.
If there are injuries, you need to ensure that they are taken care of. It would help if you got medical attention from a hospital emergency room or doctor, not a walk-in clinic. This is because the medical care may be much less than what you would receive at a hospital.
Don’t Touch Any Damaged Objects
If you are in your car during the accident, you should not touch any items inside the vehicle that are damaged or broken. This should be the norm rather than a particular rule. If possible, wait for emergency responders to come and remove any debris, so you do not cause more harm. You should also not remove any debris in the area, as doing so can cause additional damage to the site.
Don’t tamper with evidence
If you are involved in an accident and need to take pictures of the scene or injuries, do not try to alter the photos. This includes removing any debris, pieces of glass, or other items that should remain in place. This can cause additional harm to the scene or injury to you or others.
Don’t try to negotiate or communicate with the other driver
If you are involved in an accident, and the other driver shows up, do not try to negotiate or communicate with the other driver. This is dangerous and can cause more conflict. If possible, wait for the police to arrive and ensure the other driver does not return to the scene.
Conclusion
Ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft are becoming an increasingly common approach to transportation. It’s estimated that more than 100 million people used ride-hailing services in the United States in 2017 alone. The convenience and ease of use of these services make them appealing to a wide range of people, from looking for a quick, cheap ride home to those who want to travel to another city for work or vacation.
References:
Egan, J. (2022, February 24). Rideshare Insurance for Uber and Lyft drivers. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/rideshare-insurance/
Isaac, E., & Davis, U. C. (2014). Disruptive innovation: Risk-shifting and precarity in the age of Uber (p. 7). Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy [University of California, Berkeley].
Scheiber, N. (2017). How Uber uses psychological tricks to push its drivers’ buttons. The New York Times, 2. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/02/technology/uber-drivers-psychological-tricks.html
