What To Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Louisiana? 2024

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are common on the road, and they can be involved in accidents like any other vehicle. These accidents may be minor or catastrophic, and all parties involved should know what to do after an Uber or Lyft accident in Louisiana. The steps you take after a rideshare accident are crucial, as the right steps can protect your health and well-being as well as your legal rights.

What Should You Do After a Rideshare Accident?

The steps you take after any accident, including a rideshare accident, depend on your ability. If you are seriously injured, you should wait for medical care and allow others in the collision to handle these steps. Your safety is the priority. Negligence in a car accident lawsuit can also be a factor if another party’s actions contributed to the incident. If negligence, such as distracted driving or failure to follow traffic laws, played a role, it could strengthen your case for seeking compensation.

If you are able to, there are certain steps you should take to protect your future interests, including:

1. Move to Safety: If possible, move vehicles out of the roadway so they are not obstructing traffic. Those in vehicles should move to a safe location, but severely injured individuals should not be moved. Take note of the injuries each person involved has. Turn on the hazard lights of vehicles. If individuals and vehicles cannot be moved, this is especially important.
2. Report the Accident: Call emergency services to report the accident and the injuries that any driver, passenger, or other party has sustained. Reporting an accident is a requirement for certain types of accidents, and it is to your benefit to have such a report. Without the report, there is no official record of the incident. A police report is crucial initial evidence of the accident occurring.
3. Exchange Information: If you must wait some time for emergency responders, you can take this time to exchange information with the rideshare driver, the other driver(s) involved in the collision, and any other passengers. You want to exchange contact information and car insurance information. For rideshare drivers, this means their insurance information for their personal insurance and the company’s commercial insurance. A car accident lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of these exchanges and ensure that you have all the necessary information for your case.
4. Get Medical Care: When emergency responders arrive, everyone in the accident should receive medical care. Even if you don’t think you are injured, it is important to get medical attention. You may not notice certain internal injuries due to shock. Certain injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, will not show symptoms immediately. Medical providers will know what to look for and how to note signs of common accident injuries.Getting medical attention is crucial for your own well-being, and it is also important to have documentation of your injuries immediately after the accident. Onsite emergency care and going to a healthcare facility after an incident are both important. This links the injuries to the accident and can prevent insurance companies from claiming you were injured at a later date. If you don’t get medical care, the insurance companies may also claim that you were not that seriously injured.
5. Provide a Police Report When prompted, provide information to the onsite officer so a police report can be created. As a passenger in a rideshare, you rarely have to worry about being accused of being at fault unless you were trying to interfere with the driver. Your information will help determine fault between the other drivers and compare it to the information given by others in the accident. Provide the facts of the accident as you know them.
6. Document the Accident Take photos and videos of the vehicles, the surrounding accident site, specific damages, injuries, and other important information at the scene. If there were eyewitnesses to the accident, note their contact information. This is important information and evidence to have for a later claim.
7. Get Legal Support: Finally, you should get in contact with an attorney who has experience handling rideshare accidents and claims. They can help you navigate the process of submitting a claim, including investigating the accident and determining fault, and can negotiate for you with the insurance provider. A personal injury lawyer can ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the full compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

FAQs

What Happens If Your Uber or Lyft Driver Gets in an Accident?

If your Uber or Lyft driver gets in an accident while you are a passenger, you can file a claim to cover your injuries and damages with the insurer of the at-fault party. If the at-fault party is your Uber or Lyft driver, your claim is filed with the rideshare company’s commercial insurance carrier. If another driver is at fault, you may recover damages from their insurance carrier. Talking with an attorney will determine where you can recover your damages. Under the law of Louisiana, an experienced lawyer can guide you through the legal process and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your losses.

How Do I Report a Rideshare Accident?

After a rideshare accident, you should report it to emergency responders and to the rideshare company. Calling emergency services is more immediately important, especially if anyone is injured. Reporting the accident and any known injuries helps you get the medical care you need and ensures there will be an official record of the accident.

It is important to take this step immediately and report to the rideshare company when you can. You could report the accident through the ridesharing app.

How Long Do You Have to Report a Rideshare Accident in Louisiana?

You should report a rideshare accident immediately in Louisiana. This is the legal responsibility of any driver involved in crashes that meet certain conditions. Passengers do not have this same responsibility but should quickly report the accident if needed. If you are filing a claim after an accident, you also have a set amount of time you must file a civil claim, or you will be barred from recovering compensation. It’s crucial to act quickly after an accident.

How Long Does It Take Rideshare Companies to Investigate an Accident?

The amount of time it takes rideshare companies to investigate an accident will vary. The length of the investigation may depend on:

• How many parties are involved in the collision
• Whether fault is clear or contested
• The amount of evidence proving your case
• If you are working with an attorney conducting their own investigation

A rideshare company may delay the claims process to try and get you to accept a lowball settlement. An attorney can help protect your rights.

Work With a Trusted Rideshare Car Accident Attorney

At Murphy Law Firm, we want to help you recover your losses from a rideshare accident, including the cost of your medical treatment. Contact our firm today and see how we can help.