Arbutus Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

When injured by negligent rideshare drivers, victims in Arbutus can seek compensatory damages by filing claims.

The first thing to do after an Uber or Lyft auto accident in Arbutus is to call the police. Victims can preserve physical evidence at the scene by photographing it, and our lawyers can give those photos to capable accident reconstruction experts to determine liability. We can also pull information from the rideshare app confirming that you were a passenger at the time of the accident if that was the case. As we document your financial losses, you can focus on getting the proper medical evaluation and treatment for your injuries. Our attorneys can prepare your case before the filing deadline, which will likely be three years from the accident’s date, so you can recover what you deserve.

Call the Uber and Lyft accident lawyers of Rice, Murtha & Psoras for a free case assessment at (410) 694-7291.

Making a Checklist for an Uber or Lyft Accident Claim in Arbutus

Uber and Lyft typically avoid liability for accidents because they hire independent contractors, not regular employees. The independent contractors use their own vehicles, set their own hours, and operate without considerable oversight. Because of this, your lawsuit might be against the driver, not Uber or Lyft. When preparing for this lawsuit, victims can follow a checklist of sorts to ensure they meet the necessary reporting requirements, preserve evidence, document their losses, and file on time.

Follow Police Reporting Requirements

The first thing to do is complete any accident reporting requirements. Victims should call 911 to report any accident that causes bodily injury.

If the rideshare driver was negligent and hit another car, injuring you as a passenger, they might try to dissuade those involved from calling 911. Involving the police in even minor collisions is important, as officers can process the scene and collect all relevant information for a possible insurance claim or lawsuit. Our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can use the eventual police report as a reference throughout your case, and we can help victims obtain these reports from law enforcement in the days following an accident.

Preserve Physical Evidence at the Scene

The evidence at the accident scene will not stay there forever, so victims should do their best to preserve it by taking photos. Depending on what initiated the accident, the rideshare driver or another passenger car driver might be liable. If you were a passenger during the accident, you might not have been watching the road and thus might not recall certain details. If that is true in your case, take pictures of the scene, and our lawyers can give them to an accident reconstruction expert to review. Such experts can analyze evidence, like tire marks on the road, the final landing spots of involved vehicles, and other information to identify the negligent party and prove their liability.

Preserve Rideshare App Information

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft maintain third-party liability insurance for accidents, the limits of which depend on whether or not the driver was completing a ride during the accident, among other factors. If you were a passenger when the accident happened, our lawyers can pull information from the app to show that the driver was in the process of finishing your trip. We can subpoena information directly from the app or rideshare company to confirm the accident scenario.

Go to the Emergency Room

Your medical records are part of the foundation of your case and can demonstrate that you were injured because of the defendant’s negligence. Uber and Lyft accident victims are often passengers who are at risk of serious injury during collisions, especially at high speeds. Prioritize your physical health and safety by attending the emergency room for immediate medical evaluation. Doctors might refer you to specialists for further treatment, which you should continue for as long as necessary for your physical recovery.

Record All Financial Damages

Much of victims’ damages in Lyft and Uber injury claims come from medical costs after an accident. Emergency room visits, diagnostic testing, prescription medications, physical therapy, surgery, and other reasonable medical costs are all compensable in motor vehicle accident lawsuits. Such damages are typically covered by rideshare liability insurance, benefiting victims. In addition to recording and compiling medical bills as you incur them, our lawyers will also keep note of your lost wages from the accident if you cannot return to work.

Document Pain and Suffering

Identifying if the Uber or Lyft driver or another passenger car driver on the road breached the duty of care they owed you is important, as that enables victims to file lawsuits. Filing a lawsuit opens the door to additional damages, such as compensation for victims’ pain and suffering from catastrophic injuries.

Many juries are sympathetic to victims’ pain and suffering when faced with their medical records and witness testimony. Our lawyers can use the appropriate calculation methods to estimate your non-economic losses from the accident so that you recover a fair amount, whether through settlement or a jury award.

File Before the Deadline

All of this must be done so that you can file our case before the deadline in Arbutus, which is three years, according to Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. Art., § 5-10. Remember, since Uber and Lyft protect themselves by hiring independent contractors, your lawsuit will likely not involve the rideshare company. The sooner victims contact our lawyers after an accident, the better, as that will give us the full amount of time provided under the statute of limitations to prepare and file their claims with the court. Once you file your lawsuit, you no longer have to worry about the statute of limitations, and your case could take as long as necessary to settle in your favor. Your lawyers might speed up settlement negotiations by leveraging compelling evidence gathered at the start of your case in Arbutus.

Call Our Arbutus Attorneys About Your Rideshare Injury Case Today

Call the Uber and Lyft accident lawyers of Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review.