Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services have completely altered the American transportation industry. With just a few clicks of an app, you can hire a convenient ride for a reasonable fee. However, these companies have willingly fallen into the familiar pitfalls of instant success: they are engaging in negligent practices and consistently hiring new, inexperienced, and untrained drivers to increase their profit margins. Worse, they always try to dodge liability when a passenger is injured in a rideshare accident.

Rideshare drivers are “independent contractors,” not employees, which means they don’t have a set schedule and their profits depend entirely upon the number of jobs they complete. A driver can work 48 hours straight without any consequences – at least until their hunger and fatigue are responsible for an accident. The demanding and competitive nature of this job also encourages drivers to engage in risky practices just to maximize their daily profitability.

Protecting Your Claim After a Rideshare Accident

In 2016, the Taxi and Limousine Commission released a report that details how Uber drivers are responsible for more fatal traffic accidents than yellow cabbies. Ironically, most people hire rideshare drivers to avoid being involved in a serious accident. Because there are so many liability issues involved in rideshare accidents, it’s critical that you take certain steps to protect your path to restitution.

There are 10 steps every rideshare passenger needs to take after being involved in an accident:

1. Call 911 and request emergency assistance.
2. Check to make sure that other passengers and drivers are safe.
3. Take screenshots of your app receipt and document the time of the accident.
4. Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and the license plates of the vehicles.
5. Write down the names and phone numbers of any nearby witnesses.
6. Request the insurance information of any drivers involved in the collision.
7. Help the law enforcement officials complete the police report.
8. Seek immediate medical attention once the officers allow you to leave the accident scene.
9. Request copies of your medical record and the police report.
10. Contact a qualified attorney to discuss your legal options.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

You may encounter a variety of liability issues, insurance disputes, and legal loopholes if you decide to pursue damages after a rideshare accident. Contact The Daspit Law Firm if you have questions about these liability issues or require legal representation. Our legal team can investigate your case and determine if you have grounds to file a claim against the rideshare driver, a third-party driver, or the ridesharing company.  Depending on the circumstances of your case, we can also help you secure additional damages through the ridesharing company’s uninsured/underinsured motorist policy.

Contact The Daspit Law Firm at (888) 273-1045 to schedule a free, no-risk consultation today.