I Suffered a Brain Injury During a Rideshare Accident – What Are My Options?

Whenever you hire a rideshare driver to take you from one place to another, you risk being in an accident. Although rideshare companies vet drivers to some degree, that does not mean they are professional drivers, and you are completely safe. If you were involved in a rideshare accident and suffered a brain injury, your life may never be the same, and you need to know what your options are.

Rideshare Companies – Cheaper Than Taxis

Rideshare companies have revolutionized the public transportation industry, and provide a convenient and cheaper way to get from A to B. However, they also expose passengers to the dangers of an accident by unskilled drivers.

The two leading rideshare companies in the market are Lyft and Uber. Rideshare options make things complicated when it comes to determining blame after an accident and who will pay for any damages and medical expenses.

Rideshare companies view drivers as independent contractors who must carry their own insurance. As a result, the assignment of blame can become murky after an accident, and it may become complicated to obtain damages.

Your Options After an Accident

Unfortunately, if you are involved in a rideshare accident, you may not be able to sue the rideshare company. These companies protect themselves by classifying every driver as an independent contractor and not an employee. However, both Lyft and Uber carry insurance to cover accidents, but they also require that their drivers carry specific minimum insurance limits.

Another factor that plays into your case is whether the rideshare driver was “on the app” at the time of the crash. Things can quickly get confusing after an accident if the driver was in between passengers or on break.

Head injuries can be severe, and if you suffer one in a rideshare accident, you may have lifelong effects. Therefore, you deserve to be compensated for the negligence of the driver who caused the accident.

Some tips for right after the accident include:

• Seek immediate medical attention.
• Immediately after the accident, contact the police and file a report.
• If you can, take photographs of the scene (this will help your case later).
• Speak to witnesses and get their account of what happened.
• File a report with the rideshare company.
• Report the accident to your own automobile insurance carrier.
• Don’t post anything about the accident on social media. Speak as little as possible about the accident to anyone until the matter is settled.
• Do not accept any settlement offer until you speak with an attorney. The offer may not be as much as you are entitled to, especially with a permanent injury that may affect the rest of your life.
• Gather all the pieces of evidence listed above, along with your medical records and medical bills since the accident and have them ready when you speak with your attorney.

Consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can offer guidance and assistance in getting the damages you deserve after a serious brain injury.