Who needs their own car to get from point A to point B these days? Not you, because you have ride-share services like Uber and Lyft. No more public transportation, no wasting time trying to find a parking space, no worrying if you’ll have time to get gas.
A few taps on your phone and your Uber or Lyft will come to pick you up and take you where you need to go.
You hop into the vehicle, settle in, and simply wait till you reach the endpoint. But suddenly – wow! An accident occurs, and this time you were completely taken by surprise and do not know what to do which (naturally) leads to panic.
Car accidents are stressful in most cases; however, when it is a ride-share, it tends to get more complex. Who is liable in such a scenario? Will this be catered for by your insurance? It wasn’t your car, you didn’t drive, and you don’t even know anything about the driver, realistically. Will Uber/Lyft (or another service) handle this or are you on your own?
In this article, we’ll focus on answering such questions and giving you preparatory advice. It pays to be prepared, and we’ll tell you why.
Why It’s Important to Be Prepared and How to Do It
Being prepared for an accident sometimes sounds like you’re a paranoid Doomsday prepper, but it’s not like you need to build a bunker, have years’ worth of canned goods and wait for something bad to happen.
The point of being prepared is not so that you can cover one’s paranoia. No. It’s simply to know (or help you to know) what to do if the accident does happen. Because if you don’t, it’ll make an already stressful situation seem even more chaotic.
As published in the Journal of Operations Management, data shows that ride-sharing services are directly linked to a 3% annual increase in traffic-related fatalities in major U.S. cities. The data also shows that accidents become even more complex when there are multiple parties involved in those accidents.
A road traffic accident is not only seen from the view of the driver but rather, viewed from a broader perspective, as most accidents involve more than one vehicle. So who then determines liability? What about insurance claims? Who’s responsible for the damages and injuries? Do you really want to deal with all of this in the middle of an accident?
Sure you don’t; that’s why you need to know what to do beforehand or you’ll get overwhelmed.
So, before you even get in the car, you should have your local emergency contacts saved on your phone and you should also be aware of what the ride-share service covers in the event of an accident. You can also (and you’re probably better off) get in touch with a lawyer for Uber accidents to learn about your rights and options.
What to do in the Event of an Accident
If you get into a ride-share accident, try to stay as calm as you possibly can (easier said than done, but it helps). Unless you know the next course of action, that’s not very feasible, so let’s explain what to do.
1. Prioritize Safety and Seek Assistance
The initial step is to ensure both self and others within the vehicle are all in a position free of danger. Assess your and others’ health status (additional passengers, the driver, perhaps people in other vehicles that were involved in the accident, etc.).
Do not dismiss any kind of injury, regardless of how minor it may seem. There’s always the danger or broken bones or internal bleeding, or concussions, which wouldn’t be immediately obvious.
After it’s confirmed that all are safe, call the appropriate services (911 for the U.S.) and provide them with all the necessary information including: your location, the number of participants in the road accident and any of them that may require immediate medical attention.
No need to memorize this since the emergency service operators are trained to ask important questions.
2. Document the Accident and Collect Information
This is something you may not want (or think) to do, but it’s VERY important for any insurance considerations and also legal issues which might arise in the future. Whip out your phone and take photos and videos of the scene.
You want to capture the position of the car, damage, and any injuries. Get the driver’s license number, insurance info, and the car’s registration.
If there are people around you, they’re witnesses, so get their contact information because they might need to make statements later.
3. Report the Accident to the Ride-Share Company
Companies like Uber and Lyft want the accident reports to be submitted through their app or customer service. open the app, get to the Help or Support section and report what happened as soon as you can.
This is important because the ride-share company will need to investigate this on their own and handle the insurance, which can impact claims and liability.
4. Contact Your Insurance
After you’ve reported everything, call your insurance provider to let them know you’ve been in an accident.
Explain the details, tell them what documentation you have (pictures, videos, police reports, etc.) and from here, they’ll guide you on what to expect as far as coverage goes.
5. Optional (But Recommended): Get in Touch with a Lawyer
This is something you may or may not need to do. In case of concerns regarding responsibility and even when hurt, one should consult an attorney who specializes in such cases.
Lawyers assist with the claims and insurance and simplify the whole process. If the ride-share company or your insurance don’t cooperate, the only way to get a positive outcome is with a lawyer.
Conclusion
Nobody wants to think about the worst-case scenario and we don’t encourage you to be paranoid, but knowing what to do is truly priceless.
It will help you stay calm in a stressful situation and you’ll be able to handle the insurance easily if you’re not frazzled and panicked. It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, right?
The same principle applies here – it’s preferable to have complete awareness of the procedures. Even if you never end up in an accident (and let’s hope you don’t), it’s always better to know what to do, just in case.
