In Alaska, ridesharing is a preferred mode of transport. Unfortunately, convenience could increase your likelihood of being involved in a road accident. The effects of ridesharing apps are several, and victims struggle to obtain fair compensation.
Your actions could impact your potential to obtain the compensation you deserve after being involved in a ride-sharing accident. You can take the following steps following your ridesharing crash to guarantee a successful outcome:
Seek Medical Immediate Attention
No matter how you feel after a ride-sharing accident, seek an immediate medical checkup. Internal bleeding is an injury that could be lethal and risky to diagnose. Receiving prompt medical care enables early diagnosis and treatment. The doctor’s report is also required to be reimbursed for medical treatment costs. As a result, you should ensure that harm caused to you and medical care are recorded.
Call 911
After being involved in your accident, you should call the police if you do not have significant injuries. Law enforcers will investigate the collision and make inquiries. After the investigation, they also prepare a report outlining their account of the accident’s responsibility. This report is essential documentation for your compensation claim. Your accident lawyer could subpoena the law enforcement report while you try to establish accountability.
Collect Enough Accident Evidence
Another step in recovering compensation is gathering information that can support your personal injury case. If your injuries are not severe, document all parties’ insurance details and contact information. You can also track witnesses and ask for their contact information.
Using a quality camera, you could photograph or video-record the accident scene because visual proof cannot be contested. It is difficult to gather evidence once the police have cleared the scene. You cannot leave the scene without recording the necessary information.
Seek Legal Counsel and Representation
Accidents involving rideshare providers are complicated since numerous parties are involved in their operations. You hand many insurers and multiple accountable parties to get the most money possible. A top car accident lawyer group could assist you in gathering evidence to support your claim.
The attorney also knows how to talk to claim adjusters. You will learn what to anticipate from the insurance adjusters with their instructions. Speaking with your lawyer before speaking with insurance providers would be best.
Identify the At-Fault Party
The person liable for the accident is accountable because Alaksa is a shared fault state. The at-fault party’s insurance carrier covers the accident’s costs. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to determine who is responsible, especially when other cars or other drivers are involved. The situation could change even if the early reports show that one driver is more to blame. Finding responsible parties is one step to improving your chances of receiving compensation.
You may be able to hold the following people accountable for the Lyft or Uber accident:
Driver for ridesharing
Like other road users, a ridesharing driver may engage in reckless or careless behaviors such as drunk driving, texting, or disobeying traffic laws. You can hold them accountable if you use ridesharing and think that a driver’s mistake led to the crash. However, you must provide proof of their precise acts in addition to your claim.
The Company for Ride-Sharing Apps
The corporations that operate Uber and Lyft are in charge of employing qualified drivers. By conducting background checks on all drivers before beginning work, these businesses can ensure they are eligible for the role. These background checks are done to look for a violent criminal record, traffic offenses, and drunk driving. Additionally, the business must use technology that alerts them to any crimes its drivers commit.
Drivers for ridesharing businesses are frequently categorized as independent contractors. Hence, their obligation is less, particularly if the driver is not engaged in work-related activities. You can sue the corporation if you show that the driver’s app was active and that the background check was done carelessly.
Bring a Claim or Civil Lawsuit
You can submit a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company or file a civil lawsuit in court if you need to be paid for injuries brought on by a ridesharing collision. Personal injury claims are typically resolved out of court. Ridesharing businesses will work to prevent your case from going to court to avoid getting bad press.
To obtain an out-of-court settlement, you must bargain with the insurer and determine the compensation you are entitled to for harm caused to you. Even though out-of-court settlements spare you from drawn-out legal battles, you still have to handle claim adjusters who try to minimize your compensation and give you a less-than-fair payout.
Pursuing a personal injury claim while recovering from your injuries is exhausting. Soliciting legal advice is essential. Hire an experienced lawyer to assist you with staying on top of all liability concerns and obtaining the highest possible settlement for your injury.