We all are prepared to help others when they get into an unfortunate accident, but what happens when you’re a rideshare passenger and are on the receiving end of a collision? Here are a few helpful tips that can make the process simpler in every way for you.
- Assess your injury status: Without missing any time, take a couple of minutes to quickly scan yourself for any injuries. At this point, your adrenaline would be pumping, which acts as a pain inhibitor. So, don’t assume that you’re unhurt because of the collision impact just because you’re not in pain. Move your fingers and toes to check for movement, check for external injuries, or your spine and head being hurt. If you suspect any serious damage, do not try to move from your place till help arrives.
- Check up on your loved ones: If you’re not hurt severely, check up quickly on your family so as to assess the level of injuries they’ve sustained. If you have a baby in the carriage, make sure that the belts are not biting into their skin in an uncomfortable way. This can especially be important if you’re using a baby car seat.
- Call the emergency respondents: Once you’ve taken stock of the level of injuries all parties including yourself have sustained, it’s highly likely that the emergency respondents may already have arrived. However, if you’re in the middle of nowhere with no local county or police station in sight, call the emergency number to inform the officers about the accident. Give them as many details as possible so that they can come prepared for all your provisions.
- Call your lawyer: At the first chance, talk to your rideshare accident lawyer. This is highly essential because they can get you all the necessary help or remedies required. The process of filing claims with a rideshare company can get tedious, which is why you need to hire a rideshare accident lawyer to defend you. They can assist you in getting the best quality of medical attention while not worrying about the expenses or lawsuit filing process. One of the main problems occurs when the affected parties file a lawsuit and get intimidated by the rideshare company’s legal team. Many times, families settle for meager settlements and peanuts that barely cover the damages they suffered in a rideshare accident. Always have a designated lawyer on your speed dial so that they can jump into action at a moment’s notice.
- Assess the damage to the rideshare: If you are stuck inside your rideshare car, quickly take stock of the vehicle. Make sure that your exits are not blocked or dented. It could be possible that the fuel tank is ruptured, the glass of windows shattered, or the door hinge jammed which could prove fatal in serious accidents. This can also help you determine how you can escape the vehicle without hurting yourself or the other people in it. Do not attempt to break any shattered glass in a totaled car as it may cave in and injure you further.
- Talk to the driver and the other party involved: If the parties are uninjured or not hurt severely, make sure to have a word with the driver so that you can have their details noted down. This will also give you a chance to assess who was at fault, or whether your driver (or the third party) was negligent or under the influence if it didn’t show initially. When you’re required to testify to the police, all these aspects will come in handy. In the case of a self-driving car, read about the liability beforehand.
- Use your medical insurance: One of the handiest paperwork that will come in use during a rideshare accident are your insurance details. The major use of it is only reserved for when the legal representative is still trying to get the rideshare company to cover your medical costs but you require intensive surgery. Make sure that you have your digital copies of your life insurance cover or medical insurance sent to the lawyer well in advance so they don’t have to wait.
Wrapping Up:
In our opinion, if you have a competent legal representative that can help you out file the lawsuit, under no circumstances should you settle if their offerings are way below par. The ideal compensation calculated includes damages to the person, their property, recovery expenses, surgeries, and therapy apart from the negligence of the company. We hope that these tips help you recover quickly while getting your dues!
