If you get into a car accident when driving, you may feel fairly familiar with the steps you need to take, from exchanging insurance information to reporting the accident to the police. When you’re in an accident as an Uber passenger, however, you may find yourself with more questions. Do you need to report the accident? What if neither driver wants to?
After an Uber accident, make sure you follow these key steps to protect yourself.
Step 1: Report the Accident
As a passenger in an accident, you have the right to insist that the drivers involved in the accident report it. You should call the police to let them know where and when the accident occurred, and push the drivers to remain at the scene until the police arrive.
Regardless of who caused the accident, your Uber driver may prefer not to wait, especially if the accident did not involve severe property damage. However, if you suffered any injuries in the accident, that police report could prove vital to later pursuing compensation for your injuries.
When the police arrive at the scene of the accident, they will collect information from everyone that witnessed it or was involved in it, including contact information for all passengers. The police report will help you prove that you were injured in the accident and that, as a result, you have the right to pursue compensation.
The police may question you about what you observed leading up to the accident. Provide an accurate, factual account of what you actually observed. If you did not see what led to the accident, be honest about what you actually observed.
Reporting the Accident to Uber
In addition to reporting the accident to the police, you should take the time to report the accident to Uber directly. In Uber’s help section, you can find an option to report an accident as a passenger in the vehicle. That incident report can prove critical to collecting compensation for any injuries that you sustained in the accident.
When you report the accident, Uber will collect relevant information. Note that you may not want to share any information about pain or injuries you might have suffered until you have a chance to receive an evaluation from a medical professional. If you indicate that you feel okay, or that you did not suffer injuries, at the scene of the accident, it can make it more difficult to go back and seek compensation for those injuries later.
Step 2: Collect Relevant Information
After your Uber accident, you need to have the information in hand that will make it easier for you to file a claim, if you need to do so later. You will need to know:
- The names of both drivers involved in the accident
- Insurance information for the liable driver
- The time and date of the accident
- Contact information for any witnesses
As a passenger in an Uber accident, you may assume that you do not have to participate in the exchange of information. However, if you need to file an Uber accident claim, you may find it vital to have that information in hand.
Uber may also ask you for some of that action as you file your report. Reporting that information through the app will ensure that Uber will have it. However, you may want to make a copy of that information for your own records.
Step 3: Seek Medical Attention
No one wants to take time out of their day to go to the hospital, especially when they’re already in a hurry. However, if you are in an Uber accident, make sure you prioritize medical care. If you have any pain after the accident, any symptoms of traumatic brain injury (including confusion, disorientation, or excessive tiredness), you should see a doctor immediately. Even if you think you have avoided serious injury, you should see a doctor within 24 hours of the accident to rule out injuries that could make themselves more apparent later.
Document any injuries you sustained. If you notice them at the scene of the accident, you may want to take photos of your injuries. If you notice them after the fact, you may want to keep track of all medical documentation related to the accident and your injuries, including your medical records. You should follow all recommendations of the medical professionals involved in your care, including limiting activities that could place you at additional risk and seeking treatment for your injuries.
Step 4: Contact a Lawyer
Uber offers a robust insurance policy designed to protect its drivers and any passengers in the vehicle in the event of an accident. However, Uber also has a team of legal professionals dedicated to decreasing its liability as much as possible in the event of an accident.
Do you know how much compensation you really deserve for your injuries, including the full extent of the losses you may continue to face as you recover from your injuries? Do you know who actually caused the accident and how to secure compensation from that individual’s insurance policy? What if more than one person suffered injuries in the accident?
A lawyer can go over all the details of the accident and help you pursue much-needed compensation – including helping to fight for you. Uber has a team of legal professionals on its side. You need to make sure that you have someone looking out for your best interests in the aftermath of the accident.
Step 5: Keep It Off Social Media
Many people jump to sharing big events with their followers on social media immediately. However, when you have an accident, you may not want to share that information immediately–even if you were not at fault or there is no chance that you will end up liable for the accident. Instead, keep all information about the accident and your injuries off social media until you have talked to a lawyer.
Contact an Uber Accident Lawyer Today
Do you need an Uber accident lawyer following an Uber accident? Contact Pacific West Injury Law today to discuss your right to compensation.
