What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in San Francisco
Led by the San Francisco-based companies Uber and Lyft, the ridesharing industry has exploded in popularity over the last five years. According to recent data from Statista, ridesharing companies now take in nearly $20 billion a year in revenue in the United States. While these vehicles offer some consumers an affordable and convenient source of transportation, there is always a risk that a serious car accident will occur.
If you or your loved one was injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, you need to know exactly what actions to take to protect your rights. The big ridesharing companies should be held legally accountable for their negligence or the negligence of their drivers. Unfortunately, this can sometimes prove to be challenging. Here, our experienced San Francisco Rideshare accident attorneys highlight the four most important things you need to do after an Uber/Lyft accident in the Bay Area.
- Get Professional Medical Attention
Following a motor vehicle collision, injured victims need high-quality medical attention. No matter how minor you feel your injuries are, you need to get yourself to a doctor for a full evaluation. Severe injuries always require emergency assistance. In addition, mild or moderate injuries should be examined. In many cases, car accident injuries come with a delayed onset. Your injuries may be worse than you realize. Finally, you can only assert a rideshare accident injury claim if you have valid supporting medical documentation.
- Be Sure that Your Accident is Reported to the Police
Under California law, the police should be called if a traffic collision results in any injuries. This is the responsibility of your ridesharing driver. It is a serious legal violation for your driver not to stop and report the accident. As a passenger, you need to make sure that the ridesharing crash is reported. The police report may prove to be a very important form of evidence.
- Report the Accident to the Ridesharing Company
You also have a duty to report your accident to the ridesharing company immediately after the crash. It is crucial that you notify the company. Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft can be difficult to work with: they may try to find ways to avoid liability or to push it onto the individual driver who works as an independent contractor. The best thing you can do is to report the ridesharing accident immediately. You should be able to do this directly through your Uber or Lyft app. If you are having any trouble reporting the accident, it is imperative that you speak to a San Francisco rideshare accident lawyer.
- Get Help from a San Francisco Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer
You should not go up against the big ridesharing companies on your own. Ridesharing accidents are unique; there are specialized state regulations that govern these accidents. Additionally, ridesharing companies often have complex insurance policies and they tend to be very aggressive when defending claims. You need a strong legal advocate by your side.
At Bracamontes & Vlasak, our law firm was founded to help victims get justice. We are committed to providing our clients with strong, effective legal representation. If you or your family member was injured in a rideshare accident in San Francisco, please do not hesitate to contact our car accident attorneys at (415) 835-6777 to schedule a free, no obligation case evaluation.
