Rideshare services make transportation convenient, regardless of whether someone travels to a different city for vacation or intends to attend a party with a lot of alcohol and overindulge. In theory, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft help keep drunk drivers off the road and let people focus on their vacation instead of on navigation.
However, the practical impact of rideshare services has been mixed. Despite a reduction in drunk driving crashes in many areas with rideshare services available, research does indicate that collisions involving such vehicles are common and may increase the total collision rate in certain markets.
Rideshare passengers don’t expect to get into a crash. What should they do when a collision occurs?
Report the collision immediately
Knowing that someone’s livelihood could be at risk might make an individual inclined to bypass the necessary reporting process after a car crash. It will be of the utmost importance to notify local authorities about the collision so that there is a police report and an official record of the incident. Additionally, the passenger will typically need to send notice directly to the app that connected them with the driver.
Keep records and seek medical care
Taking pictures at the scene of the crash and gathering as much information as possible will be important for those injured and worried about covering the costs of a rideshare collision. Once someone has all of the necessary information and has spoken with police officers, they may need to seek medical evaluation. Anyone who has noticeable injuries, as well as those who hit their heads or experienced unconsciousness during the crash should seek review by a medical professional to establish whether they have any internal injuries that would worsen if left untreated. The records of their medical evaluation may come into play later.
Prepare for challenging negotiations
Rideshare providers carry very large commercial insurance policies, which means that the negotiation that occurs after a crash is often very aggressive. Rideshare passengers need to know their rights and to be ready to counter settlement offers with more reasonable figures. Additionally, they will need to know when to make a claim against the driver’s policy. Rideshare drivers typically need to carry extra coverage as well which may apply before the ride starts or after they finish the ride on the app. It can be very challenging to navigate the claims process after a rideshare collision without support.
Knowing the steps to take may make it easier for someone to assert themselves and recognize when additional help is necessary to get the compensation they require in the aftermath of a rideshare accident.