You don’t want to deal with holiday traffic, or you had a little too much to drink at the office Christmas party, so you hop in a rideshare. But then … boom. Your driver gets in an accident. What happens now? 

Lucky for you, being in a rideshare accident follows a similar pattern to being in a car accident in your own vehicle. So, don’t panic. The steps to getting better are roughly the same. 

What to do when you’re in a rideshare accident?

Here’s what you need to do if you find yourself in this situation.

First, call 911

As with any accident, your safety is the most important thing. 

Making this call does two things. First, it gets medical help on scene as quickly as possible should anyone need it. Next, the police will show up to lodge an official report. 

Next, tell Uber or Lyft about what happened

Both companies have in app-reporting functions. You’ll need to submit a short report about what happened. You might need to include photos of the accident, medical records, the police report etc. 

This gets the ball rolling on care for you. If you run into any trouble with a rideshare company ignoring your request for help, giving you the runaround or denying your claim, give us a call.

For reference, to drive for a major rideshare company, a driver must be fully insured. This can work out in your favor, but on occasion the insurance companies need a bit of wrangling. That’s where we come in.  

Here is what Uber has to say about getting in an accident: 

“Depending on your state, your app status at the time of accident (online, en route, or on-trip), and whether you are providing rideshare or delivery services, Uber may maintain:

• Personal injury protection, which includes medical expenses and lost wages for you and your riders
• Medical payments coverage for you and your riders
• Coverage for you and your riders for injuries in a hit-and-run or an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver”

Here is what Lyft has to say about getting in an accident: 

“Coverage when the app is on and waiting for a ride request

Lyft maintains third-party liability insurance for covered accidents if your personal insurance does not apply of at least*:

• $50,000/person for bodily injury*
• $100,000/accident for bodily injury*
• $25,000/accident for property damage*”

Whether you were a passenger or pedestrian, if you were hurt in a rideshare accident, your medical bills and lost wages are not your responsibility to cover. 

Contact McCready Law today