I Was a Passenger in a Lyft Accident. What Should I Do?
About 40 million Americans use Lyft for ridesharing annually. If you use ridesharing services frequently, you may ride in a Lyft at some point,and can end up being a passenger in a Lyft accident. If you are, understand the steps you must take to protect yourself and your financial interests. Discover what you should do in the aftermath of your unfortunate rideshare accident below.
Call the Police
If you’re ever a passenger in a Lyft accident, you should call the police before doing anything else. Or, if you’re too shaken up to call the police yourself, ask your Lyft driver, another driver, or even a bystander to do so.
Police officers will respond to the scene of your crash and conduct a full investigation. They will speak with you about the incident and ask other drivers and witnesses for their versions of what happened. This will enable them to create a police report documenting the details of your crash.
While waiting for the police to finish their investigation, you should also call Lyft to let them know you were a passenger in a crash involving one of their drivers. You can also advise Lyft through their online platform.
Seek Medical Attention
In some cases, you might sustain obvious injuries when you’re a passenger in a Lyft accident. In others, you may not feel like you suffered any injuries.
Either way, seek medical attention on the scene of your crash or head to a local hospital for a comprehensive medical examination. This will uncover any injury symptoms you are suffering from. In Florida, your car insurance will pay for your initial medical treatment. If you don’t have car insurance (or live with a resident relative who has car insurance), LYFT will pay for your medical treatment.
Whatever you do, don’t put off seeking medical care for any longer than you have to. If you delay medical treatment, you might have trouble connecting a Lyft passenger injury to a crash.
If you have any questions, call us now for a free consultation.
Gather Evidence
Before leaving the scene of a rideshare wreck, collect as much evidence related to your crash as you can. Begin by asking your driver to provide the following information:
- Name
- Contact information
- Auto insurance details
- License plate number
In addition to walking away from the crash scene with this information, you should also use your smartphone to take photographs and videos. Take photos and videos from multiple angles and distances. Take photos and videos of both vehicles involved in the crash. You will need as much evidence as possible if you decide to file an insurance claim or even take legal action after being a passenger in a Lyft accident.
Schedule a Legal Consultation
Rideshare accident claims are usually more complicated than other car accident claims. It isn’t uncommon for them to involve Lyft insurance disputes since rideshare drivers carry their own insurance policies but also rely on the company’s insurance policy to cover them in some instances.
Set up a consultation with a personal injury lawyer with experience assisting rideshare crash victims in seeking passenger compensation. They will explain your rideshare legal rights and analyze the strength of the claims you could potentially file following a crash.
Were You a Passenger in a Lyft Accident? Let Us Help You
If you were a passenger in a Lyft accident who sustained injuries and endured medical expenses, you shouldn’t have to foot the bill. There is little to no chance you caused this crash, so you shouldn’t be responsible for paying your medical costs.
Florida Keys Injury will help you make sense of your legal options. Contact us at 786-847-7388 to discuss your case.
