Ridesharing has become an integral part of the lives of many Texans. The convenience of being able to summon a car wherever you are and be shuttled to your destination by a professional driver is more than just novel — it’s pretty impressive. However, as convenient as it may be, this form of transportation comes with its own set of risks. Rideshare accidents can happen suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving passengers, drivers, and even pedestrians grappling with serious injuries and astronomical medical bills.
At Pastrana García Injury Law, we’ve witnessed firsthand the confusion and stress that follows a rideshare accident. From navigating insurance claims to seeking rightful compensation, the steps you take immediately after the incident can significantly impact your recovery process.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at what you should do after being involved in a rideshare accident. From ensuring your safety at the scene to documenting evidence and understanding your legal rights, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide to help you protect yourself and your interests.
Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident
After an accident, it’s important that you take certain steps to protect yourself — not only for your physical health but for legal safety. Use the following steps as a checklist so that you can be in the best position possible when filing a personal injury claim.
Get Medical Attention
Even if an ambulance isn’t called, get yourself to the doctor as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think you’re injured or if you don’t have a scratch on you — internal injuries, brain injuries, and internal bleeding can sneak up on you. Adrenaline will be high after the accident, meaning you might not notice pain right away. Concussions might not be noticeable until a day or two later. Have a doctor look you over, and keep a copy of the medical record.
Apart from your physical well-being, getting checked out by a doctor who will record your injuries is essential for a personal injury case. Insurance companies will be looking for any way to undercut the money they give you, and if you don’t go to the doctor right away, they can use that to try and argue that “you weren’t that badly injured” or that your “injuries are from something else.” Give yourself the best fighting chance to receive your deserved compensation, and go to the hospital immediately.
Collect Driver Information
If you can, before you leave the scene of the accident, you’ll want to collect the driver’s name and phone number, insurance information, and the rideshare they work for. Even as a passenger in a rideshare, make sure you collect that information. Rideshare drivers are supposed to report any accidents that happen to the company they drive for; to ensure that a report is filed, you can also file a report with the company so there’s proof of the accident.
Collect Witness Statements and Documentation
There is a likelihood that people will have witnessed the accident, and in this day and age of cell phones, they will most likely record it or take pictures. If you’re able, talk to some of the people before you leave the scene, exchange contact information, and request that they send you footage they have captured. Their viewing angle for the accident may be essential for your case later on.
File a Police Report
A police officer might arrive on the scene; make sure that you have the officer take a statement. Give just the facts, and don’t implicate yourself in the events. Ask them where you can request a copy of the traffic camera footage. A police report can be beneficial when dealing with insurance companies later.
Write It All Down
It’s a good idea to keep a record of what happened during the accident. Ideally, you should do this as soon as you have pencil and paper handy—or even type notes into your phone and send them to yourself. Your memory of the details of the accident will be fresher the less time that has passed.
We understand that this accident might be a painful or traumatic event for you, and we don’t ask you to relive these events lightly. But for your own sake and to help us with your case, set down a written statement so that we can look at it later and use it when dealing with the insurance company.
Call Pastrana & García Injury Law
We know the above is a lot for you to take care of on your own, but after you’ve gotten yourself out of the scene of the accident and checked out by a doctor, we can take it from there. Call our offices so that we can help you file a personal injury claim. We will negotiate with the insurance companies, handle essential paperwork, and help you get the compensation you need. All you need to tell your insurance or any other insurance company who calls in regards to this accident is our number. We’ll take it from there. Our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers are here to support you and your journey to recovery.
Rideshares and Traffic
Has it seemed like traffic has increased in the last decade? That’s because it has! While Uber and Lyft are beneficial for getting people from place to place, they increase traffic issues. Because of this increased congestion, remember to be patient as a driver (and passenger) and keep yourself safe by following the traffic laws to help mitigate injuries.
Injuries Caused in Rideshares
Collisions between vehicles can have devastating consequences. Just because you’re not driving doesn’t mean that you’re safe in the back seat. Rideshare accidents can cause extensive damage.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be internal or penetrative, meaning that a shard of glass or piece of debris pierces the cranium. Depending on the part of the brain affected and the extent of the damage, TBIs may cause long-term or permanent damage.
Internal TBIs can include bleeding or concussions. Concussions are not visible but can cause many issues. Often, the way to heal a concussion is to rest, drink fluids, and stay away from too much visual stimulation. Concussions can affect light sensitivity, making it difficult to look at a computer screen or TV or even to be in a brightly-lit room. As with other TBIs, movement, fine motor skills, speech patterns, and memory can also be affected.
While TBIs can eventually heal, they may have lingering effects on people, making it difficult to live daily life.
Broken Bones
While most fractures or breaks can be healed, managing work and daily routines is difficult, if not impossible, when dealing with the pain and the cumbersome nature of a cast or crutches. Months of time at work and in life can be lost.
Back and Neck Injuries
Your back and neck are extremely delicate parts of your body. An accident can be extremely damaging to them and cause long-term or permanent damage.
- Severe whiplash has the ability to cause lasting damage, and in some cases, surgery is needed to correct pinched nerves that occur.
- Herniated discs are when a disc in the spinal cord slips sideways and puts pressure on a nerve.
- Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries can cause extensive pain and inhibit movement or even lead to chronic pain.
The injuries described above may need extensive treatment and care to heal, including surgery or physical therapy. This costs you not only money but your time as you heal. Work and daily life are greatly affected, meaning that your livelihood, as well as your life, is at stake. Our Lyft accident lawyers are ready to take your call to help you regain your financial footing and fight for your legal rights.
Compensation: What to Expect
Without knowing the details of your rideshare accident, we can’t give you a specific estimation of the compensation you will receive. We have worked with clients for whom we’ve won millions, and we’ll work just as hard for you. So that we have all the facts and can better help you, contact our offices for a free consultation.
What we can tell you is that we’ll compile a detailed list of expectations for the insurance company, totaling what you’re owed. We look at the cost of your medical records, as well as future needs, so you can expect us to include:
- Any surgeries resulting from the accident
- Any physical therapy needed for recovery
- Counseling for anxiety, trauma, or PTSD due to the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages from days you were unable to work
- Lost future wages, in case you’re unable to return to work full-time or need to find a job that can accommodate your injuries
- Continuing medical care, including medications or possible future surgeries or treatments
We take great care thinking about our client’s well-being and their futures. Put your own future in the best possible position and reach out to our team of lawyers.
Contact Pastrana & García Injury Law Today
If you’ve been involved in a rideshare accident, we understand how confused you might be on the next steps to take. Dealing with the rideshare company and the insurance providers can be frustrating, especially if you’re in pain from injuries caused by the accident.
Don’t worry, though. Our legal team is ready to help you through this difficult time. Give Pastrana & García Injury Law a call at 512-474-4487 or contact us online to get started on your claim today.
