Rideshare services like Lyft have become a normal part of everyday life. In fact, ridesharing services have facilitated over 11 billion trips worldwide since operations began in 2010. People use Lyft to get to work, travel safely after a night out, or avoid the hassle of driving in traffic. But when a Lyft driver gets into an accident, passengers are often left confused, injured, and unsure of what to do next.
A serious Lyft crash can leave you dealing with medical bills, lost income, physical pain, and stress. Even injuries that seem minor at first can become long-term problems days or weeks later. If you were hurt while riding in a Lyft in Louisiana, there are important steps you should take immediately to protect your health and your legal rights.
Lyft and its insurance companies are sophisticated. Their goal after an accident is often to limit financial exposure and reduce the amount of money paid on claims. That means insurance adjusters may look for ways to minimize your injuries or shift blame. If you were injured in a Lyft accident, you should consider speaking with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that someone is protecting your interests as well.
What to do after a Lyft accident
Get medical attention immediately
Your health comes first. Even if you believe you are “okay,” you should still seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Adrenaline after a crash can hide pain and symptoms. Moreover, some injuries, including concussions, back injuries, neck injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, may not appear immediately.
Go to your medical appointments and continue treatment until your doctors tell you to stop. This is important because insurance companies often look for gaps in treatment and may try to argue that your injuries are not serious if you stop seeing doctors too soon.
Typical injuries from Lyft accidents include:
- Neck and back injuries
- Concussions and head trauma
- Shoulder, knee, wrist, and ankle injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash injuries
- Herniated discs
- Chronic pain
- Emotional trauma and anxiety
Document everything
Document every step of the way. Take pictures or video of the vehicles, the accident scene, road conditions, visible injuries, and anything else that may help explain what happened. Get the Lyft driver’s information, including:
- Driver’s license information
- Insurance information
- License plate number
- Contact information
Also gather the names and contact information of any witnesses. If police respond to the crash, request the police report number. Keep copies of:
- Medical bills
- Medical records
- Prescriptions
- Lost wage information
- Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses
These records may become important evidence in your injury claim.
Report the accident
Report the crash to Lyft through the Lyft app as soon as possible. Make sure a police report is created if law enforcement responds to the scene.
Be careful when giving statements to insurance adjusters or representatives working for Lyft. They may ask questions designed to hurt your claim later. You are not required to agree to provide a recorded statement. Be polite but avoid speculating about fault or minimizing your injuries.
Understand Lyft insurance coverage
Lyft provides insurance coverage for passengers involved in accidents during active rides. In many cases, Lyft provides up to $1 million in liability coverage. However, determining which insurance policy applies can become complicated depending on when the crash occurred and who caused the accident.
Multiple insurance companies may become involved, including:
- Lyft’s insurance company
- The Lyft driver’s personal insurance company
- Another driver’s insurance company
Insurance companies often dispute responsibility in rideshare accident claims. An experienced attorney can help determine what coverage applies and pursue compensation for your injuries.
Louisiana law may allow you to recover damages
Louisiana law allows injured passengers to pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical treatment
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Louisiana law provides strict deadlines for filing claims in Court. Therefore, waiting too long could prevent you from recovering compensation entirely.
Contact a Louisiana Lyft accident lawyer
You are in control. The decisions you make immediately after a Lyft accident can significantly affect your ability to recover financially and physically. Having the right lyft accident lawyer can make all the difference.
If you were injured in a Lyft accident in Louisiana, contact Stag Liuzza for a free consultation.