Whether traveling for work or planning a night out with friends, utilizing rideshare apps can be incredibly beneficial. Not only do they take the stress off those in unfamiliar cities by offering a convenient way to get around, but they can help people make better, safer choices. However, if you’re injured in a Lyft accident as a passenger, you may not know how to proceed. Luckily, this blog explores what you should know about these matters and how motor vehicle accident attorneys can help you through these complicated issues.
What should I do as an injured rideshare passenger?
When you are injured as a passenger of a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft, understanding what you should do is critical. Like any other car accident, you should seek immediate medical attention for any injuries you sustained because of the collision.
When you are waiting for the police and emergency medical technicians to arrive, you may want to obtain the insurance information of the negligent party, whether it is your Lyft driver or another party. Upon the arrival of the police, you’ll want to ensure you allow the EMTs to assess you for injuries, even if you feel okay.
Once you leave the accident scene, you’ll want to connect with an experienced attorney. This is especially important as you’ll need to submit an accident report to Lyft, so ensuring you have legal representation who can help you through the reporting process to protect yourself is critical. If you complete this incorrectly, you’ll find that it can hurt your ability to recover the compensation you deserve for the sustained injuries.
How does liability work in a Lyft accident?
Responsibility for collisions in an Uber or Lyft works similarly to any other accident – the responsible party will be held liable.
As such, if your Lyft driver was the negligent party, they would be liable for injuries and damages to the other vehicle, as well as any injuries and damages their passengers sustain. This is because most of these services, including Uber and Lyft, have high insurance coverage amounts to account for these instances. Generally, these policies will cover up to one million dollars per accident.
However, if your rideshare service driver isn’t the responsible party, the other negligent driver will be held liable. As such, their personal insurance policy will be used to pay out damages and injuries to the parties involved in the collision who sustain damages.
If you’re hurt during a collision in which you are a passenger, it can be incredibly scary as you have no control over the situation. However, working with the team at Friedman Schuman Layser can help you navigate these complex matters. We understand the complexities of these issues, which is why our team is committed to fighting for you. Connect with us today to learn more.
