If you have been injured in a car accident involving an Uber, Lyft or some other rideshare vehicle, you are probably wondering how you might go about receiving compensation for your losses. Rideshare services are convenient and often much cheaper than taxicabs in New York City. When you get into an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you assume that you will be safely transported to your destination.
However, it is important to understand that accidents involving Uber, Lyft and other rideshare vehicles are extremely common in New York City. When they do occur, they have the potential to result in serious or life-changing injuries. Many victims of these types of accidents end up paying medical costs and other expenses out of their own pockets. While rideshare services are required to carry insurance, liability issues may get complicated because of how the industry works.
How Do Rideshares Work?
When you want to call a rideshare vehicle, you just use a mobile app. Drivers who are logged into the app and are nearby will likely respond to your request and schedule a pickup time. Accidents involving rideshare vehicles may occur when drivers are logged into the app and also when they are not logged in. If the collision occurs when the driver is not logged into the app, the victim will probably have to seek compensation from the driver’s personal auto insurance policy.
If the accident occurs when the driver is logged into the app, but hasn’t picked up the passenger, the rideshare company may cover the victim’s losses. If the accident occurs when the driver is on duty, then, rideshare companies typically have a $1 million insurance policy to cover losses for a passenger or anyone else who is injured as a result.
What Steps Do You Need to Take?
There are a number of steps you would be well advised to take in the aftermath of a rideshare accident. First, make sure the driver stops the vehicle and calls the police to file a report. If your driver refuses to stop or call the police, you need to make sure you protect your rights. Get the driver’s name, license number, vehicle license plate number and the make and model of the vehicle. When police arrive at the scene, file a report and obtain a copy for your records. Get the responding officer’s name and badge number if possible.
If you have been injured, be sure to seek and obtain medical attention right away. Go to the emergency room if you need to do so. Even if you don’t “feel injured” at the time, pay your doctor a visit to ensure that you have not suffered internal injuries or other types of injuries such as whiplash whose symptoms might not manifest for days after the car accident.
Collect as much evidence as possible from the accident scene including names and contact information for other parties involved; photos and videos documenting the accident scene; and contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the crash. Your personal injury lawyer can also help you with this if you have been injured in the incident. Immediately contact an experienced New York City car accident lawyer who can stay abreast of the investigation and help ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured car accident victims can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can also seek compensation by filing what is known as a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving Uber, Lyft or some other rideshare service, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident involving a rideshare vehicle, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 46 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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