Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Montgomery County, MD

Protecting You From the Big Guys

Rideshare companies have made transportation easier than ever. We live in a time where you can order a ride, put in your destination, and then pay and rate your driver, all from your cellphone. It has never been more convenient!

But what happens when your driver is in a car accident with you in the backseat? What do you do after your rideshare is involved in a crash while you’re along for the ride? You will be the one dealing with the insurance company. The big guys don’t care about your pain and suffering. You are on the hook for your medical expenses because of the negligence of your driver.
Or are you?

What Should You Do if You Are in a Rideshare Car Accident?

If you’ve ever been in a car accident, then you are familiar with the proceedings that occur after a collision. For the most part, you can follow what you would do there.

The first thing you will want to do is check yourself and your fellow passengers for injury. Speak with your driver to find out if they have been injured. If anyone is injured, call 911 and request paramedics. Some circumstances may require you to administer aid if you are comfortable with it. Follow the directions offered by the emergency dispatch while administering aid.

If no one is injured and you have not called 911, you should contact the Montgomery County non-emergency police line and request an officer to the scene of the accident. The dispatcher will walk you through the process and start asking you the necessary questions about the accident. Even if your driver offers to call in the accident, you should still call for yourself.

If it is safe for you to do so, you can start collecting evidence. Take a screen capture of your driver’s information in your rideshare app, whether that is for Uber or Lyft. Take pictures of your injuries as well as the injuries of the other passengers.

Exit the vehicle if it is safe to do so. Most accidents occur in the middle of the road. Get to a safe place as soon as possible. Take pictures of the damage to the vehicle, as well as any other vehicles that may have been involved in the accident. Concentrate on the damages to the vehicles involved, as well as the license plates, make, and model.

Take photos of your surroundings, including the scene of the accident itself. Get pictures of the traffic conditions and weather conditions. Get images of the traffic signage and lights. This will help your insurance adjustor determine the settings for how the accident happened. It will be valuable information for your personal injury claim.

Collect information from everyone involved in the accident. Take down their driver’s license information and insurance information, including from your driver.

Notify the rideshare company of your accident. You can do this either through their website or the rideshare app. Give as much detail as possible, including if you were injured or witnessed anyone else’s injuries.

You will likely need to file an insurance claim through the rideshare company you were using during the accident. These companies carry insurance coverage for such incidents.

Even if you don’t think you were injured by the accident, you should schedule a medical evaluation. This information will be invaluable for your personal injury lawsuit.

How Does Uber and Lyft’s Insurance Policy Work?

Uber and Lyft carry insurance for their drivers to cover accidents they are involved in.

Both companies do not provide coverage if the driver’s app is not turned on when the accident occurs. The driver’s personal insurance will be used for the accident. This is more important if you are hit by a rideshare driver, not riding with them.

If their app is active and they are waiting for a ride request, then both Uber and Lyft provide liability insurance for the accident if the driver’s current insurance doesn’t apply to the accident. Their insurance coverage offers up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, up to $100,000 for bodily injury coverage per crash, and up to $25,000 for property damage coverage. Again, this would be if you are hit by a rideshare driver, not while riding with them.

Once a driver has a rider in their vehicle, their coverage increases by a large margin. Their liability coverage increases to up to $1 million.

Even though both Uber and Lyft carry liability coverage for their independent contractor drivers, they will want to do everything in their power to avoid a costly payout. You will face denied claims. You will struggle to find any compensation.
You will need a lawyer.

Do You Really Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

You can certainly try to go it alone. In a perfect world, these things would handle themselves, and you wouldn’t have to fight for what is right.

But this is an imperfect world, and you will have to fight. That is why you need Tehrani Law, LLC on your side. Your personal injury team will help put your evidence to work, collecting more evidence along the way. You can depend on our team to help you navigate the legal landscape and file the right documents with the right people.

Call 301-939-0133 to schedule your free consultation with the experienced Tehrani Law, LLC team. Tehrani Law, LLC is not afraid to take on the big guys or their insurance companies.

You can rest assured both Lyft and Uber have a prolific legal team on their side. Don’t go against them on your own. Call Tehrani Law, LLC now.