After a Lyft accident, you should take several steps to protect your health and your potential personal injury claim, including seeking medical attention, documenting the accident scene, reporting the accident, and securing legal representation.
A Virginia Uber Lyft rideshare accident lawyer can then guide you through the steps involved with seeking compensation for your losses. You may deserve a financial award that covers your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, inconvenience, and more.
Important Steps to Take After a Lyft Accident
Whether you were injured as a Lyft passenger or an occupant of another vehicle struck by a Lyft driver, you should take several steps to protect your health and your legal rights.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Your health is the most important priority after any motor vehicle accident. Check yourself and others for injuries. Call 9-1-1 and request an ambulance at the scene so EMTs can examine you and any other victims.
If the emergency personnel recommend that you go to the hospital, you should do so. If you don’t go to the hospital, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The adrenaline of an accident can mask certain symptoms of serious injuries, and you want to ensure you don’t have any internal wounds that may worsen without prompt treatment.
Seeing a doctor immediately after a Lyft crash can also connect your injuries to the accident, eliminating the possibility that the insurance company will allege something else caused them.
Document the Accident Scene
If your injuries allow, document the accident scene by taking photos or a video on your phone. Be sure to capture all involved vehicles from different angles, the weather and road conditions, nearby road signs, and any visible injuries.
Also, ask witnesses for their contact information so your Virginia car accident lawyer can interview them later about what they saw and take a screenshot of your ride information in the Lyft app, if applicable.
Report the Accident
If law enforcement does not come to the accident scene and create a police report, you should report the accident to the local police department as soon as possible. They will forward a copy of their report to the Virginia DMV.
You should also report the accident to Lyft. You can do this in the app by going to You > Help > Report Safety Issue or Accident > Accident. Alternatively, you can submit a report on the Lyft website if you prefer. Your lawyer can assist you with this process.
Secure Legal Representation
You may be tempted to try to handle your car accident claim or lawsuit without a personal injury attorney, but we don’t recommend it. Insurance rules and regulations surrounding rideshare claims are complex and confusing, and you might miss out on certain damages you can claim if you don’t have the extensive experience of a rideshare accident attorney on your side.
We offer a FREE claim review so you can understand your best next steps at no cost or obligation. You have nothing to lose by learning how a lawyer from our firm can help.
What NOT To Do After a Lyft Accident
In addition to the steps you should take, it’s wise to be aware of certain things you should avoid doing after a Lyft accident. We strongly recommend that you:
DON’T Give a Recorded Statement to an Insurance Adjuster
Insurance adjusters talk to accident victims all day, every day. They know exactly what to say and how to say it to get what they want, and that’s to give you as little money as possible. If an adjuster contacts you shortly after the accident, they will likely ask you to give a recorded statement about the crash.
However, the questions they ask you will likely be intentionally misleading or confusing, as they hope you will admit fault, apologize, or say something else that could reduce or invalidate your claim.
You should decline any requests for a statement and refer the adjuster to your rideshare accident attorney instead.
DON’T Accept the First Settlement Offer
The insurance adjuster who contacts you may also offer you a settlement. It may sound like a lot of money, possibly more money than you thought you could get. It could be very appealing to accept it, but you should resist that temptation.
The first offer from an insurance company is almost always much less money than you actually deserve. Do not accept any offer without speaking to your lawyer first.
DON’T Post on Social Media
Do not post anything about the accident on social media, as the insurance company may use anything you post against you. In general, it’s best to avoid social media completely until your claim is finished, as you never know what harm your posts may cause.
For example, if you post a picture of you and your friends having a good time at a concert at Harris Pavilion, attending a play with your family at the ARTfactory, or touring Luray Caverns, the insurance company may use this as evidence that your injuries are not as serious as you claim and you are still able to live a normal and enjoyable life.
What Damages Can You Pursue After a Lyft Accident?
You may be able to recover a wide variety of economic and non-economic damages after a Lyft accident, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- “Pain and suffering” and inconvenience
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Disability or disfigurement
Hiring a rideshare accident lawyer is the best way to ensure no loss goes overlooked when pursuing your claim.
Get Help From an Experienced Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
If you want someone to take the legal burden off your shoulders after a Lyft accident so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery, turn to the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC. Our Lyft accident attorneys have extensive experience in insurance negotiations, and we know how to secure the compensation you deserve.
Per Va. Code § 8.01-243, Virginia places a strict time limit on personal injury lawsuits, so don’t delay. Contact us today for a FREE Lyft accident claim review.
Call or Text (571) 229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form