Elkridge Uber + Lyft Accident Lawyer

When a driver’s negligence injures you, you can bring a claim against them, even if they are an Uber or Lyft rideshare driver in Elkridge.

Immediately after the crash, you should get the driver’s information, like their name, driver’s license number, and insurance information. Try to do the same for eyewitnesses or anyone else involved in the accident, like another driver. When police officers arrive on the scene, note which agency they are from so we can get the resulting report. Since rideshare car companies hire independent contractors as drivers, they are not liable for injuries those independent contractors might cause. So, victims who sue for Uber or Lyft accidents may file claims against negligent drivers alone. Regardless, our lawyers will help you prepare your case immediately by promptly investigating the accident and recording your damages as you incur them.

To get a free assessment of your case from our Elkridge Uber and Lyft accident lawyers, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.

Information Victims Should Collect After Uber and Lyft Accidents in Elkridge

While you are still at the accident site in Elkridge, you should collect certain information. If your injuries are too severe, our experienced lawyers can work to source the necessary details after the crash.

The Rideshare Driver’s Information

Start by getting the Uber or Lyft driver’s information, like their name and insurance details. While Lyft and Uber drivers need their own vehicle insurance, accidents might also be covered by the rideshare company’s third-party liability insurance.

If you were a passenger in the car during the accident, our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can get some of the driver’s information from the app. Still, do your best to get their basic information at the accident scene, as this can help us when preparing your claim in Elkridge.

Eyewitnesses’ Information

If there are any, try to talk to eyewitnesses. If the rideshare driver hits another vehicle with you as a passenger, talk to the other driver. Ask for their contact information so we can interview them for their statements. Ask the same of eyewitnesses or other drivers involved in the accident. Eyewitnesses’ testimony can help establish what the Uber or Lyft driver did negligently to cause the accident and injure you in Elkridge.

Police Report Information

When victims call 911 to report rideshare accidents in Elkridge, officers from the Howard County Police Department will arrive. They will complete an accident report as they gather information about the crash. This report comes with an identifying number that makes locating it easier. Ask for the police report number at the accident location. You can also ask officers at the scene when the report might be ready for retrieval. Typically, this happens within several business days of an accident. Victims can get police reports in person from the Howard County Police Department or online.

Who Victims Can and Cannot Sue After Uber and Lyft Accidents in Elkridge

Victims might assume that, after an accident in a rideshare car, they can sue the affiliated rideshare company. Unfortunately, that is often not the case in Elkridge or elsewhere.

Companies often hire drivers on the condition that they work as independent contractors. This protects companies in various ways, notably in the event of an auto accident. Since rideshare companies do little more than background checks before hiring drivers, they hire independent contractors instead of regular employees. If an independent contractor acts negligently while transporting a passenger, the independent contractor driver would be liable, not the company that employs them.

Still, rideshare companies maintain third-party liability insurance for certain accident scenarios. Different policy limits apply depending on whether the driver was en route to pick up a passenger or had a passenger in their car during an accident.

While you cannot sue a rideshare company for an accident in Elkridge, you may sue the driver who caused the accident. Generally speaking, auto accident lawsuits must be filed within three years in Maryland, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-101.

Preparing an Uber or Lyft Injury Case in Elkridge

You can start preparing your compensation claim immediately after an accident in Elkridge. While you focus on your physical recovery, our attorneys can prioritize your financial one.

What Victims Can Do to Prepare

You can help by getting medical treatment. A victim’s records from the emergency room and with doctors and specialists later on can help prove the seriousness of their injuries and their cause. If you cannot work because of the accident, gather employment records and past paystubs or tax returns so our attorneys can estimate your lost wages due to injury. Furthermore, as you get bills from the hospital or doctors in Elkridge, give copies to our lawyers. Do not neglect your medical care at any point in your lawsuit, as that could hurt your case.

What Our Attorneys Can Do to Prepare

Our attorneys can start preparing your case for success right away. We can review all information from the accident, such as the police report and eyewitness statements. If certain aspects of your claim need further explanation, like the permanency of your injuries, we can enlist medical experts to testify. We can also prepare and organize evidence into a compelling argument for the defendant’s negligence. Furthermore, we will consider all of your damages from the accident, including financial and emotional damages, so you know your claim’s value before officially filing.

We can explain what will happen after you file, such as settlement negotiations. If the defendant does not settle the claim, we can take your case to court, where the jury decides their liability. In addition to preparing your case against a negligent Uber or Lyft driver, our team can prepare you, the victim, for what to expect from litigation in Elkridge.

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras’ Auto Accident Attorneys in Maryland Today

To discuss your case with our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers for free, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.