Carpooling companies such as Uber and Lyft are now widely used across the globe for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, ride-sharing still poses just as much threat as driving a vehicle on your own. If you use ride-sharing often, it’s important to understand what to do should you be involved in an accident on the road.
Uber & Lyft Accidents Do Occur
Around 75 million people use Uber alone and around 10 billion rides have been taken as of July of 2018. It’s been stated that ride-sharing actually reduces the number of accidents. For example, a study completed in New York City claimed that the presence of Uber reduced the number of drunk driving incidents by between 25% to 35%.
However, a new study suggests that a direct increase of accidents involving a fatality occurred after ride-sharing companies began to show up in cities within the United States. Other incidents including the accusation of over 103 Uber drivers of sexual assault have occurred. Although the rate of accidents is still quite low, it’s important to understand what to do should an accident occur.
Ride-Sharing Accident? Here’s What to Do Next
According to the Uber policy, there are a few steps you should take to ensure your safety and safety of all passengers involved. These steps include:
According to Lyft policy, you should call 911 for any emergency. Following after that call and after safety is ensured, you should contact Lyft’s Safety Team to report the accident. Each company will need to gather important information about the driver, passengers, vehicle, etc. for a proper claim.
After you contact the company, it’s in your best interest to contact your insurance company and a professional attorney to help you navigate the next steps to take for proper compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for your industries or suffering after a ride-sharing accident.
Have You Been Involved in a Carpool Accident?
If you’ve been in a carpool or ride-sharing accident, you shouldn’t wait to reach out for assistance with your claim. Often, liability becomes difficult to navigate with more than one party involved. For questions about your ride-sharing accident, send us a message!