What do I do if My Rideshare Driver Gets into a Car Accident? 4 Pieces of Helpful Information to Collect From Your Driver

There’s no doubt that rideshare companies have changed the way Los Angeles residents commute around the city. 

A recent study shows that 36 percent of U.S. adults say they have used a rideshare service, compared to only 15 percent three years earlier. The same study revealed that 33 percent of US adults had never heard of rideshare services in the first report, but the number shrunk to only three percent three years later.

In today’s gig economy, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft can provide benefits for both drivers and passengers. In a town filled with dreamers, LA locals can set their own schedule as a driver, leaving them available for that next big audition. 

For passengers, the stress of driving on the 405 can be eased by sitting in the backseat as opposed to being behind the wheel. 

Just because it’s a rideshare car doesn’t mean it’s immune to accidents. The number of car accidents and pedestrian deaths increased 2 to 3 percent between 2011 and 2016. This coincides with the same time period ridesharing companies were either born or grew in popularity. 

Imagine a situation where you and a few friends grab an Uber after a Dodgers game.. You’re all headed from Dodger Stadium back to your place in Burbank.  

On the 5, another car crashes into your Uber. Everyone is generally OK minus some injuries, including a concussion you suffered after banging your head on the car seat. 

Your injury causes you to miss time at work and make a few extra doctor’s visits. What do you do in this situation? Afterall, you were the passenger in the vehicle, not the driver.

Uber and Lyft both have varying rideshare periods, so coverage depends on the situation surrounding the ride. In this case, per Uber’s website, Uber maintains both “Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage and/or first-party injury protection coverage”. This protection may apply to cover bodily injuries to any passengers in the vehicle. 

For a ride in progress, Uber offers $1,000,000 third-party liability.  The driver should also have their own minimum insurance policy. After an accident, be sure to get the driver’s insurance information, as well as other important info such as:

• Driver’s name
• Driver’s contact, including their email address and phone number
• License plate number 
• Vehicle registration

If you were in an accident as a passenger in a rideshare, you may be entitled to compensation. The areas of a rideshare accident are very blurred, and still new to both drivers and insurance companies.  

Just because it’s new does not mean you shouldn’t pursue compensation. 

Handling something like this on your own can be challenging. Other insurance companies are known to bully victims, trying to get them to settle for the lowest amount of money possible. 

Furthermore, taking on a big company like Uber or Lyft can add another layer of anxiety or uncertainty. 

The LA rideshare accident attorneys at C&B Law Group are prepared to assist victims of rideshare accidents with potential claims. 

We’ve seen the struggle and hassle many clients go through following  a car accident. The difficulty can be increased when it involves a rideshare driver and company.

Our attorneys are familiar with the various injuries that can happen after a car accident, including:

• Traumatic brain injury, like a concussion
• Back injury, like a bulging disk
• Neck injury, like a fracture of one or more vertebrae
• Internal injuries, like bleeding or other organ damage
• Broken bones or fractures
• Cuts that result in excess bleeding or scarring

If you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare accident, reach out to the attorneys at C&B Law Group today to learn more about your free consultation.