What to Do After a Rideshare Accident Involving an Uber or Lyft Driver
After a rideshare accident, you should act similarly to how you would in any other car accident. Ensure that everyone is okay and call emergency services. Even if the car accident doesn't seem bad, you'll still want to call both emergency services and the police.
After an Uber or Lyft accident, rideshare drivers and passengers are commonly in a mild state of shock. Because of this, you may not think you need medical care or even realize you are injured. Make it a rule that, at minimum, the paramedics are called and examine you on the accident scene. If you have discomfort or possible injuries, including mental confusion, proceeding to the hospital for a complete medical examination is highly encouraged.
The police must be on-scene to document the accident from their perspective and mediate between parties. The police officer will create an accident report available after the accident. Take down the officer's contact information to obtain your report copy. You need this accident report as evidence in your Uber or Lyft accident case.
Document the car accident by taking pictures and videos.
Get the contact and auto insurance information of everyone involved in the auto accident, but avoid talking about the accident. Anything that is said can hurt your case.
After that, consult a San Diego rideshare accident lawyer to help you with your accident claim. Finding an Uber accident lawyer with extensive experience in this field will be beneficial and prevent errors from being made.
Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents in San Diego
All the concerns that apply to normal car accidents also apply to rideshare accidents. Halt says that in 2019 alone, two million people experienced permanent injuries related to car accidents.
Some of the most prominent causes of these rideshare accidents are:
- Drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is among the most harmful causes of rideshare accidents. People often think they are capable of driving after having some drinks. However, response times are slower, and judgment is often impaired.
- Speeding is another major issue that prevents other drivers from stopping in time to avoid rideshare crashes.
- People also tend to make unsafe lane changes, which can lead to them colliding with a Lyft or Uber vehicle.
- Another common issue is running a red light. It can cause problems when Uber and Lyft drivers push through yellow lights instead of slowing down.
- Distracted driving is something that many people are guilty of. These distractions include conversations with passengers, texting or calling someone, eating, or applying makeup.
- Bad weather, like rain or snow, can also lead to car accidents due to limited visibility or slippery conditions.
- Night-time driving has an increased risk of accidents due to limited visibility. You can only see what your headlights and street lights illuminate. People also tend to be more tired at night, which can create the same impairing effects as alcohol.
- Tailgating or following other drivers too closely in your vehicle can also put you at increased risk for an accident because you have less time to react if the driver ahead needs to stop or slow down abruptly.
If an accident occurred due to a negligent Uber or Lyft driver, contact our Uber accident lawyer today! We represent all car accident victims and ensure ridesharing companies take responsibility for their drivers.
