Many of us are grateful for transportation services such as Lyft, that can take you home from a night out with friends or simply take you to a job interview being held in the next town over. Regardless of why you use Lyft, many of us know the ride is over once you make it from one destination to the next; but what happens when you get into an accident on the way? As a Lyft passenger, it is important to understand some of the common causes of vehicle accidents, what to do on the scene of an accident, and why you should reach out to a Lyft accident attorney after an accident.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
According to the National Safety Council, approximately 4 million people were seriously injured in car accidents in 2018. With these alarming numbers, these accidents can be caused by a variety of reasons. However, in case of being a passenger in a Lyft, the most common reasons you might come across are the following:
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
If a Lyft driver’s car hasn’t been routinely maintained, then the risks of getting into vehicle maintenance related accidents could be higher. Cars with faulty brakes, engines, and tires could potentially but the driver and the passenger at risk.
Negligent Driving
Negligence is defined as a driver who acts with little to no regard for the safety of others, in which these acts result in an injury to victims. When using Lyft, it’s important to note that occasionally you may run into drivers that run the risk of crashing when they disregard the rules of the road.
Long Hours and Lack of Sleep
It’s not uncommon for Lyft drivers to work long hours and may even drive while in a sleep deprived state. This creates more a risk for you, the Lyft driver and other drivers.
What to Do at the Scene of an Accident
Although you can’t predict or even prevent an accident from happening, especially as a passenger, you should be aware of what you need to do as soon as it occurs. When on the scene, you should try and do the following:
Call Emergency Services and Police Authorities
If this hasn’t been done by bystanders or the parties directly involved in the accident, the next step is to report the accident to emergency services and wait for their arrival. Make sure that you give a brief explanation of what occurred, update on the status of parties involved and of course, inform the operator of who was at the wheel. This will allow the emergency response team to have insight into how to provide the best care on sight. Once they arrive, it is important to seek medical attention for yourself if needed and encourage anyone else involved to seek medical care. Even if you may not think that your injuries are serious, it’s still a good idea to get checked out on site.
Give and Collect Information
Finally, when the authorities arrive to take statements from most of the witnesses and people involved, this is a great time to give and collect information. Not only for insurance purposes, but also for legal purposes when consulting a Lyft accident attorney. If possible, it’s best to collect as much information as possible:
- Name and Information of drivers involved (as well as yourself)
- Insurance information of Lyft driver
- Contact Information of any witnesses
Collecting this information can help paint a detailed picture of what occurred, who was at fault and possibly lead to compensation you may be entitled to. Nonetheless, if you’ve been injured during your Lyft ride, it is a good idea to consult a Lyft accident attorney to discuss your options.
Seek Medical Attention
It is extremely important that you get medical attention from a physician who is familiar with properly documenting the reason for your injuries. Even if you feel perfectly fine it is important that you make sure there are no internal injuries that are not obvious to the naked eye. You also never know if you will experience pain and suffering a couple days after the crash. By not immediately seeking medical attention directly after a car accident could result in an insurance adjuster using that against you to reduce or deny your claim.
Retain the Services of an Experienced Lyft Accident Attorney
These are complex cases that involve difficult insurance companies that only want to reduce or deny your claims. The Law Offices of David Kohm have a number of experienced Lyft accident attorneys that can assist you in maximizing your claim.
Call our law offices today at any of our convenient locations and get a free consultation.
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