After a serious accident, you should protect your right to recovery by taking the following steps:
- Call 9-1-1
Your driver must notify the authorities if they have been involved in an accident that caused physical injury or extensive property damage. If they refuse to contact the police, call 9-1-1 and ensure that the investigating officer’s report lists you as a passenger. Once the report becomes available, obtain a copy as soon as possible.
If you are no longer at the crash scene or had to leave to seek emergency medical care, you can still submit form MV-104, Report of Motor Vehicle Accident, to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Report the Crash
Although procedures differ between companies, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft usually have built-in application features that permit passengers to report collisions.
You may be asked to share information including, but not limited to, the following:
- The location of the crash;
- The time and date of the accident; and
- A detailed description of the events leading up to the collision.
If you indicate that you were injured in the accident, then you might receive a call from the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim. The adjuster might ask questions or propose a settlement, but you should refrain from saying or signing anything until you have spoken to an experienced rideshare accident attorney.
- Inform Your Insurance Company
If you have active no-fault insurance that includes Personal Injury Protection, you could receive compensation from your provider.
- Make a Doctor’s Appointment
Even if you felt confident walking away from the accident and had no need to visit an emergency room, keep space in your schedule for a trip to the doctor’s office: some injuries don’t exhibit any noticeable symptoms, and may escape detection without an expert assessment.
Seeing the doctor is also a critical step in protecting your right to compensation.
- Don’t Rush into a Settlement
You should never accept an early-stage settlement without going over the details with an attorney. Even if the offer may seem generous, its terms are designed to protect the company’s bottom line rather than to ensure that you have the resources you need to begin rebuilding your life.
- Ask for a Second Opinion
You may already know that your driver was at fault for the accident, or suspect you could be entitled to compensation through the rideshare company’s liability insurance coverage. However, trying to file a claim against a multibillion-dollar rideshare platform is not an easy undertaking.
The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping accident victims assert their rights to recovery. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you assess your options for legal action by taking steps including, but not limited to, the following:
- Assessing your damages;
- Investigating the causes and circumstances of your New York rideshare accident or taxi collision;
- Identifying the right defendants and pursuing claims against each person, or party, whose negligence caused or contributed to your injuries;
- Obtaining critical evidence from companies that wouldn’t otherwise share sensitive records; and
- Negotiating a settlement, or taking your case to court.
Recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to negotiate a fair settlement or secure a court-ordered award—and we have the results to prove it.