Uber offers convenience, making it a popular transportation method for many. Unfortunately, there is the risk of collisions occurring, after which victims should know what to do to protect their access to compensation.
Immediately after an accident involving an Uber, victims should call the police. While waiting for law enforcement to arrive, preserve in-app information concerning the ride if you were a passenger at the time. Use your phone to take pictures of all involved cars and any property damage. These photos can inform an accident reconstruction expert’s findings regarding the cause of the crash. Take note of eyewitnesses nearby, and point law enforcement in their direction if you need help obtaining their information. Then go to the hospital. Seeking immediate medical attention is vital, as the records you generate can help connect your injuries to the Uber driver’s negligence.
Call our Uber accident lawyers at (215) 709-6940 for a free case review from The Reiff Law Firm.
Your Immediate Next Steps After an Accident Involving an Uber
Prioritize preserving in-app information after a rideshare accident, though Uber should store this information in your account ride history. Victims should also call 911 so that law enforcement arrives to help them process the scene and collect involved parties’ information. Taking photos and speaking with eyewitnesses is also necessary, as this can lead to evidence that strengthens your claim.
Preserve App Information
Uber should save your ride history in the app, and our lawyers can review this information to confirm important facts, such as the Uber driver’s identity, the route the driver took, and your intended drop-off location. In the days following the incident, our lawyers can help you take the appropriate steps to notify Uber of the crash. Like many rideshare companies, Uber maintains third-party liability insurance in case accidents happen. Preserving in-app information concerning the ride in question is important, as this can confirm that you were a passenger in the car at the time of the accident.
Call the Police
Uber accidents might involve several parties and drivers. For example, if you were injured as a passenger, you would need to collect information from the Uber driver and any other involved drivers. By calling 911, you can rely on law enforcement to gather the necessary insurance and personal details of involved parties while focusing on getting care from paramedics.
Our Philadelphia Uber accident lawyers can help victims obtain police reports from law enforcement in the following days. States have different rules regarding the admissibility of police reports in civil lawsuits. Even if a police report is inadmissible, it may be useful to our lawyers when building your claim, so getting it is still important.
Take Photos
Documenting car accident scenes is always necessary. Even if you were a passenger during the crash, do your best to take photos of the area and any property damage to involved vehicles, including the Uber driver’s car. Such photos can help our lawyers and accident reconstruction experts determine who caused the accident, whether it was the Uber driver or another passenger car driver.
Accident reconstruction is particularly useful when victims are struck by negligent Uber drivers while operating their own vehicles. Comparative fault rules vary from state to state and might reduce victims’ damages or bar them from recovery, depending on the case. Experts in crash reconstruction can testify about their findings in court, helping to undermine comparative fault defenses.
Note Eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses can testify in court and give their first-hand accounts of an accident. Their memories are typically freshest immediately afterward, so take note of any eyewitnesses near the scene and ask for their contact details. When victims are severely hurt and in considerable pain, they might not be able to talk to eyewitnesses or anyone else for that matter. In such situations, police officers might talk to eyewitnesses, as they often do after serious collisions. If so, they should include their contact details in the crash report, and we can begin contacting eyewitnesses after getting and reviewing the report.
Where to Go Immediately After an Uber Accident
After sustaining any injuries in an Uber accident, victims should go to the hospital. Do this immediately, as delaying medical care could jeopardize your compensation claim.
Medical records are vital evidence in Uber accident lawsuits for several reasons. First, if your state is a no-fault state for auto accidents, you may have to pass an injury threshold to sue or recover non-economic damages. In such circumstances, victims need certified medical records showing they have sustained serious injuries that warrant litigation. In fault states, victims do not need to pass a serious injury threshold to sue. However, they still need medical records to prove they sustained injuries and incurred damages because of the defendant’s negligence.
Because of this, go straight to the emergency room from the accident site. If paramedics arrive on the scene, let them take you to the hospital in an ambulance. After arriving at the emergency room, you might undergo various tests and exams so physicians can diagnose your injuries. Internal and soft tissue injuries are sometimes easily missed by victims or dismissed as general discomfort after an accident, and getting medically evaluated might be the only way to catch these injuries immediately.
To get damages, victims must prove causation, among the other elements of a personal injury lawsuit. This means we must show that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries. If you wait to seek medical attention, even if only for a day or two, the defendant might argue your injuries are due to another incident altogether. To eliminate this possibility, focus on your physical health and get care for Uber accident injuries right away.
Call Our Attorneys About Your Recent Uber Accident
Call The Reiff Law Firm’s Pennsylvania Uber accident lawyers at (215) 709-6940 to schedule a free case assessment.
