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1. Steps After a Rideshare Accident Injury
After a rideshare accident injury as a passenger, the initial thing that most people want to do is start conversing with the driver of the vehicle about their injuries. I would encourage people to refrain from doing so. Remember that that individual who was driving when the accident occurred has an incentive to minimize their involvement in that accident and, more so, has an incentive to minimize your injuries. I would recommend not discussing your injuries with the Uber or Lyft driver. Anything you say can be used against you.
The next step is to contact us. There are certain nuances that are established or have been established in New York law with respect to rideshare accidents. There are certain insurance policies that are applicable, and there are certain requirements that we are forced to engage in, in order to protect an individual’s interest in these types of cases.
2. Rideshare Accident Settlement Timeline
I am often asked how long a ridesharing accident case will take to complete. The response to that question is, generally, it depends on what your injuries are. The first thing that we need to do is have a complete understanding of what your injuries are and what the final prognosis will be. Once we have communicated with the doctors and have ample information, we then contact the insurance company to determine whether or not they’re going to be reasonable in terms of adequately resolving the case. In the event that the insurance company is not being reasonable, they force us to go into a trial posture. Once we are in a trial posture with a ridesharing case, understand that the typical insurance policy that is applicable in these types of cases is enhanced. If there is a case that has a significant verdict, it’ll be satisfied by insurance.
Those cases will obviously take a bit longer because we’ll have to go through the complete discovery process, depositions, prepare the case for trial, and put you in a posture, either at trial or prior to trial, to settle the case or try the case to a successful conclusion.
3. Mistakes to Avoid After a Rideshare Accident
I would say that the biggest mistakes that people make after rideshare accidents would be similar to mistakes that are made after any type of motor vehicle accident. Number one, it’s incredibly important that any of the documents that are being filled out from the no-fault perspective are done correctly. These documents cannot over or understate the injuries.
The second major mistake is that people want to tell others about their injuries or how the accident happened. A lot of people do this through various means, such as social media. I tell all my clients to refrain from social media. In fact, I tell my clients to make sure that all their social media is private so insurance companies cannot have free access to them. It is incredibly important that you do not talk to the driver of the vehicle that you are in after a rideshare accident. That person is a potential defendant in the case and has the ability to testify against you. Minimal communication with that individual is important.
The final thing that people do is not contacting an attorney quick enough. Because rideshare accidents are a nuanced system, there are certain requirements that can have a negative impact on the case going forward if not done properly and quickly.
Were you or a loved one injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle and have questions about what you should know about a rideshare accident?
Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced Buffalo rideshare accident lawyers.
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