Rideshare companies like Uber, Lyft, and others have made getting from one point to another without the stress of driving your own vehicle easier than ever. In many cities, these companies have either supplanted taxi cabs or made it very difficult for them to be profitable. Sadly, some number of Uber drivers will get into accidents from time to time, just like any other driver who makes a mistake on the road. If you end up in an Uber accident, you could have serious injuries that require expensive treatments and medical care.
You do not need to worry about how you are going to handle the aftermath of a rideshare accident by yourself. Our lawyers are experienced attorneys who can provide competent professional representation and fight your case in court to get you the compensation you deserve. We can negotiate with combative insurance companies, opposing lawyers, and other parties so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Call Howe Law’s Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357 for a free initial assessment of your case.
Important Steps After an Uber/Lyft Accident in Brookhaven, GA
There are critical steps you need to take after being in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle. Your most immediate concern is to make sure that you are safe and get the medical care you need. However, you might also be able to do some other things that can help improve your case should you wish to file a lawsuit using our Uber/Lyft accident lawyers. That being said, you should not worry if you are not able to do any of these things because of your injuries or other circumstances. We are able to provide competent representation either way.
Get Medical Assistance
Your first priority after being in any motor vehicle accident is to make sure that you are ok. Let any first responders who arrive at the scene of the accident tend to your injuries and follow any instructions they give. If they are going to take you to a hospital for further medical treatment, then that is what you should do. If you are cleared to stay near the accident and collect information, you should take that course of action instead.
You should still seek medical care after an accident, even if you do not think you are badly injured. Many injuries can take some time to manifest themselves after a car accident because of adrenaline or other factors. This is a similar experience to if you have ever felt really good after a long day exercising, only to be sore and in pain the next day or a few days later. Moreover, failure to get medical care
Collect Information
If you are able to stay at the scene of the accident, you should make an effort to get as much information as you can. Obtain the license plate, name, insurance information, and any other details about your rideshare driver and all other drivers involved in the accident. If you were using Uber or Lyft, their driver’s information is often stored in the app on a page about your ride. You should take a screenshot of this information.
Take numerous photos and videos of the scene of the accident. This helps your case in several ways. First, it preserves what the accident looks like and can make up for any forgotten details that slip away throughout the lengthy process of a lawsuit. Second, it may be able to either serve as evidence in a court of law or at least serve as a reference for our lawyers when they work on building your case.
You should also speak to any police officers that arrive on the scene and give your side of the story. If you do not, other drivers likely will be speaking with them, and they will have more control over the narrative of events.
Call Our Lawyers
Finally, you should make sure to call our lawyers as soon as possible. Not only does it give our lawyers more time to form a case, but a law called the statute of limitations prevents plaintiffs from bringing lawsuits too far into the future after the events take place. In Georgia, plaintiffs have two years from when they got injured to file a lawsuit per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
Reasons Uber/Lyft Drivers Get into Accidents in Brookhaven, GA
Uber drivers can get into accidents in the same ways that drivers of ordinary vehicles can get into accidents. Speeding, failing to follow traffic rules and laws, or driving aggressively can all cause a driver to get into an accident. However, there are certain pressures on Uber/Lyft drivers that make it so they could be more likely to engage in risky driving behavior.
Rideshare drivers are paid based on how many rides they complete. Time spent getting one passenger to a location is time taken away from another potential customer. For this reason, Uber drivers are incentivized to get their passengers to their location as quickly as possible. Additionally, passengers who get to their location quickly are more likely to leave tips and good reviews, creating even more incentives for an Uber/Lyft driver to drive recklessly in order to maximize profits.
In addition to having financial incentives to drive quickly, drivers for Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services often rely on GPS systems to see where they are going. This is especially true if they are taking a passenger into unfamiliar territory. If a rideshare driver focuses too much on their GPS device, they could miss important events happening right in front of them and get in an accident.
Get Help from Our Uber + Lyft Accident Lawyers
Howe Law’s Uber and Lyft accident lawyers are ready to help with your case when you call (844) 876-4357.
