Automobile accidents occur every day in Chicago. However, with rideshare services having become a popular form of transportation for many people in Chicago, an increasing number of car crashes in the city involve vehicles operating for rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft. As a result, you should familiarize yourself with the steps to take if your Uber or Lyft vehicle causes an accident in Chicago. Things you should do when your Uber/Lyft driver bears fault for a Chicago car crash include:
Ensure Your Safety and Seek Medical Attention
First, you should check for any injuries you may have sustained in the crash and call 911 if you require medical attention. If paramedics come to the accident scene, you should let them examine you, even if you do not feel any pain or experience other symptoms of injuries. If paramedics do not come to the scene, you should go to the hospital or see your primary care provider as soon as possible after the accident to get checked for injuries you may have sustained in the crash. Diagnosing injuries as quickly as possible can establish the link between the accident and your injuries.
Furthermore, if you suffered injuries in the crash, you should follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and recovery instructions, which can help strengthen your injury claim.
Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
You should contact law enforcement to report the accident; do not trust your Uber or Lyft driver to call the police after an accident they caused. The law also requires notification to the police if an accident results in property damage exceeding $1,500, injury, or death. Reporting the accident to law enforcement will ensure you have a police crash report. Successfully obtaining compensation in an insurance claim may require you to have a police accident report, as the insurance company may rely on the report to determine your right to compensation. A police accident report will contain critical information, such as the names of everyone involved in the crash, property damage or injuries caused by the accident, a diagram of the accident scene, summaries of witness statements, citations issued or arrests made for the accident, and the officer’s opinion on who caused the accident.
Gather Evidence at the Scene
Remember to document the accident scene if you can do so safely and without risk to yourself. Use your cell phone to take photos of the vehicles involved in the accident, skid marks on the road, traffic signals, lighting/weather/road conditions, and visible injuries you may have suffered. You can also use your phone to write down contact information for all the parties involved in the accident, including your Uber/Lyft driver, and any eyewitnesses to the crash. This evidence can help you pursue an insurance claim or a lawsuit against your Uber/Lyft driver and other liable parties.
Notify Uber/Lyft
You should report the accident to the rideshare company, which you can do through the trip screen on your mobile application or via the rideshare company’s consumer service website. Notifying Uber/Lyft will start the process of pursuing your claim with the rideshare company’s insurance provider, as state law requires rideshare companies to have up to $1 million of liability coverage for accidents that occur when an Uber or Lyft has a passenger in the vehicle.
Contact a Chicago Rideshare Accident Attorney
Finally, seeking legal representation can help you pursue compensation after a rideshare accident. After your Uber or Lyft driver causes a crash in Chicago, contact Saperstein Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a rideshare accident lawyer to discuss your legal options for seeking compensation for your injuries and losses.