Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft provide travelers and Los Angeles residents alike with an affordable and safe way to get around the city. With the popularity of rideshare services increasing, it’s no surprise that the number of accidents involving these services is rising as well. A San Jose pedestrian was hit by an Uber roughly a month ago while crossing the street, and he was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. In today’s post, we’ll walk you through the steps you should take if you’re a pedestrian who has been hit by an Uber. If you’ve been involved in an accident of any kind, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an injury attorney at Los Angeles City Law today at 866-522-4895 to schedule a no-cost case evaluation.
What Should I Do If I’m Hit By An Uber While Walking Or Riding A Bike?
If you are hit by an Uber driver while walking or riding your bike, you need to be able to prove two things in order to collect compensation: liability and damages. The term ‘liability’ pertains to who is at fault for the accident, and the term ‘damages’ refers to the extent of your injuries. Uber has maintained that their drivers are independent contractors, although one could argue that Uber’s vetting process is not rigorous enough to keep the public safe. The primary defendant in your case will be the Uber driver, and you will likely be dealing with their insurance company before Uber’s. Uber does insure its drivers if they have the Uber application running at the time of an accident, and the amount of coverage varies according to whether or not the driver had a passenger in the car.
To prove negligence and damages, take pictures of the scene and collect the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the accident. Photograph as much of the scene as possible, including any injuries you may have sustained – it is always better to have too many photos than too few. Call the police immediately to ensure that the accident is officially recorded, and if you are unable to take pictures, ask the police to do it for you. Make sure that you gather the report number and the contact information of the primary responding officer, as this can make obtaining information about the accident even easier down the road. It’s important that you do not speak to the driver or any bystanders about your injuries; talk only with the police and medical professionals regarding the accident. Seek medical attention for any injuries you may have sustained, and be sure to keep track of the receipts and costs of your care. Having this information accessible can make it easier for your attorney to prove damages in court.
If you’ve been injured by an Uber or rideshare service, contact an experienced injury attorney at Los Angeles City Law for a free case evaluation. The nuances and complexities of rideshare accidents can make it difficult to determine who is liable for your injuries, but our experienced personal injury attorneys will work to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us by phone at 866-999-6640 or email our lawyers through our website today to get started.
