Thousands of residents of Louisiana have taken advantage of Uber and Lyft options to help them navigate the roadways, particularly if they are planning on traveling around with friends. Because there are so many rideshare drivers on our roadways, the chances of being involved in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft is higher than it has ever been. Whether you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, an Uber or Lyft driver, a pedestrian, motorcyclist, or a driver or passenger in another vehicle, you should understand what you need to do following an accident.
Louisiana law requires reporting accidents to the proper authorities when there is damage in excess of $500. Additionally, if the accident involves a Lyft or Uber, you should also contact the company — if you are a rideshare driver or passenger at the time. Uber accident reports may be filed using the app or using their website. Lyft accident reports may also be reported using their website or the rideshare app.
Keep in mind, the status of Lyft and Uber drivers will make a difference in which insurance company is going to be used to pay any injury claims if the rideshare driver is at fault. When speaking with law enforcement, only the drivers should provide accident details. If you are an involved driver, use caution when discussing the accident with law enforcement. The last thing you want to do is indicate you are responsible for the accident.
Everyone involved in a rideshare accident should share contact information. Whenever possible, you should obtain photographs at the scene of the accident to document the damage to the involved vehicles, injuries any victim suffered, as well as road signs and conditions. This will help when you file an insurance claim.
Following any type of car accident, including one in which an injury occurred in an Uber or Lyft accident, it is important to seek medical attention. Even if you do not have any obvious injuries, you could have internal injuries, head trauma, or soft tissue damage. Your local emergency room or your family physician should be informed you have been involved in an auto accident and let them thoroughly check you for potential injuries.
When you are involved in any accident involving Uber or Lyft, it is important to understand there may be numerous insurance companies who are involved. This is one of the primary reasons you should speak with a personal injury attorney before you contact any insurance company. Insurance companies who may need to be notified include:
As you can see, these types of accidents can be overly complicated. Before you make any telephone calls to an insurer, you should speak with an attorney who has experience handling accident claims which involve an Uber or Lyft vehicle.
One thing which is particularly important if you opt to contact an insurer without speaking with an attorney first. Use caution: Each insurance company is going to attempt to deflect blame, particularly if there are multiple insurance companies involved. Each insurance company is going to focus on ensuring they pay as little as possible on any claim which is filed. This means there will be a fair amount of posturing claiming someone else is responsible for the accident. If you hire an attorney immediately, you can avoid any issues by having your personal injury lawyer handle all communications with the insurance companies. They have the experience, and the knowledge to handle your claim from start to finish.
Your attorney can request the police reports, accident reconstruction reports, and traffic cam footage as well as security footage from businesses located in the vicinity of an accident involving a Lyft or Uber. This must be done as quickly as possible because oftentimes, security footage is overwritten after a few days. The police report is helpful because it allows your attorney to have the information from the scene of the accident as provided by drivers and witnesses.
Each personal injury case is different and hiring an attorney who has experience handling rideshare accidents matters. Regardless of your involvement in the accident, you have rights and those rights should be protected. Uber and Lyft drivers and passengers, operators and passengers of other motor vehicles and pedestrians who suffer an injury in an Uber or Lyft accident all have unique needs.
Victims of an Uber or Lyft accident who suffer injuries may be entitled to compensation for:
When you hire a law firm who has a proven track record of obtaining justice for their clients, you can feel confident you are hiring someone who will have your best interests in mind. There is no need for you to allow the insurance companies to duck their responsibility and reimburse you for the out of pocket costs of an accident, or your pain and suffering. Hiring an experienced attorney means you get the peace of mind of knowing you have someone on your side who will advocate for your rights and work hard to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
If you, or a loved one has suffered an injury in an accident involving a Lyft or Uber anywhere in Louisiana, contact Charbonnet Law Firm immediately. For more than five decades, we have been serving personal injury clients across New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. You deserve justice and we can help provide you the peace of mind of knowing you have hired a legal team who will fight for your interests every step of the way. Cases involving rideshare companies can be complicated and while you recover from your injuries, the last thing you need to worry about is dealing with multiple insurance companies. Let us fight on your behalf while you keep your focus on getting your physical health back to pre-accident condition. The sooner we have the information to get started, the sooner we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
With over 50 years of legal experience serving families in the New Orleans area and surrounding Louisiana communities, our firm takes pride in providing clients with personalized legal services tailored to individual needs.
