Injured in an Atlanta Uber or Lyft Crash? Key Steps Before Calling a Lawyer
Accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers add an extra layer of complexity to an already difficult situation. There could be multiple insurance policies in place with these claims, and you might also have questions about who you are entitled to sue. The best way to get those answers is by seeking out an Atlanta rideshare accident attorney.
Of course, there are steps you need to take long before you ever sit down with a lawyer. Some of these will occur in the moments after the crash, while others might play out later in the day. What’s important to remember is that you should never speak to an insurance company without talking to a lawyer first.
At Mabra Law, we know what it means to be injured in an accident. Our attorneys have built our careers on advocating for the injured, and we will work tirelessly to help you get the damages you deserve. Below are some of the important steps you should take before calling a lawyer.
Make Sure You Are Safe and Out of Traffic
Right after a crash, your first priority is simple: get out of danger. Atlanta traffic does not slow down just because there has been an accident. On busy roads like I-75, I-85, or I-20, there is a constant risk of being struck by a passing vehicle at the scene of your collision. These are known as secondary accidents.
If you are able to move safely, get yourself out of the roadway. It is important to move your vehicle out of the path of traffic when possible but turn on your hazard lights and get to safety if the vehicle is immobile. Staying safe in what can be a dangerous situation has to be your top priority.
At the same time, do not push yourself if you feel sharp pain in your neck or back. If you suspect a serious injury, stay still and wait for emergency responders. With serious injuries, moving at all could put you at risk of your condition worsening. You have to take care of your safety before you can worry about pursuing a case for compensation.
Call Law Enforcement Immediately
After you are safe, call 911. In Georgia, accidents that involve injury or significant property damage must be reported to law enforcement, and that means remaining at the scene of the crash until they arrive unless you are having a medical emergency. Even if the crash seems minor at first, it is important to stay and ensure the details in the report are accurate.
A responding officer will secure the scene, speak with the drivers, and create a crash report. That report often becomes one of the most important documents in a rideshare accident case. It may include the officer’s observations, but some of the most important details include witness contact information and a diagram of the scene.
When speaking with law enforcement, stick to the facts. Explain what happened from your perspective, but avoid guessing about who was at fault. Make sure you ask how to obtain a copy of the report before leaving the scene. In Atlanta, crash reports are typically available through the appropriate police department or online system.
Seek Medical Care
After a rideshare crash, do not assume you are uninjured just because you can stand or don’t feel serious pain. Many injuries take time to show symptoms, and adrenaline can mask your pain for hours. The reality is that your condition could be much worse than you realize in the moments after a crash.
If paramedics recommend that you go to the hospital, take that recommendation seriously. Seeing a doctor is important for any injury you have suffered in the crash, even if you don’t need emergency medical care.
Prompt treatment protects your health first, but it also has significant benefits in a potential personal injury case. It creates a medical record that connects your injuries directly to the crash and begins to document your efforts to recover. Insurance companies look closely at these records, hoping to find any excuse to reject a claim or suggest you aren’t as hurt as you are letting on.
When you see your doctor, be honest with about all of your symptoms, even minor ones. Small issues can become larger problems later. You have the chance to prevent these health issues from snowballing into something significant by seeing to your medical needs as soon as possible.
Identify Your Status in the Rideshare Vehicle
Before you call a lawyer, take a moment to clearly define your role in the accident. In rideshare cases, your position at the time of the crash directly affects which insurance policies may apply and how the claim will move forward under Georgia law. The rules are not the same for everyone involved.
If You Were a Passenger
If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft at the time of the crash, your claim will usually involve the rideshare company’s commercial insurance policy. Coverage often depends on whether the trip was active in the app.
Open the app and confirm that the ride was in progress. Take screenshots of the trip details, including the driver’s name, the time of the ride, and the route. Save the digital receipt. This information helps establish that you were a passenger during an active trip, which can trigger higher coverage limits.
Passengers are rarely blamed for causing the crash, but documenting your status early avoids unnecessary disputes.
If You Were Driving for Uber or Lyft
If you were the rideshare driver, your coverage depends on your app status. Were you waiting for a ride request, on the way to pick someone up, or transporting a passenger?
Confirm your status in the app and preserve that information. Take screenshots and save any trip confirmations. Insurance coverage shifts between periods, and disputes can arise over which policy applies. Clear documentation helps prevent confusion.
If You Were in Another Vehicle
If you were driving your own vehicle or riding as a passenger in another car, you need to determine whether the Uber or Lyft driver had the app on and whether a ride was active.
Ask for the driver’s rideshare information at the scene if possible. This helps identify whether commercial coverage may apply. Early clarification of the driver’s status can significantly affect how your claim is handled.
Avoid Social Media After Your Accident
In the age of social media, it is natural for many people to turn to Facebook or Instagram to talk about a major life event like a motor vehicle accident. What you have to remember is that your friends and family might not be the only people seeing your post. Insurance companies are known for attempting to access the social media feeds of injury victims, even following them in hopes of finding a post that they can use against them.
When you give an account of what happened on social media, the insurance company can use that statement against you in the future. Something as minor as saying you got out of the crash unscathed could come back to haunt you if you later realize your injuries were serious.
The best thing you can do is avoid social media entirely after an accident. Even unrelated posts or images about your daily life could be used against you. The insurance company could misconstrue a photo of you going for a walk as a sign that you weren’t actually hurt to begin with. If you have to use social media, be careful about what you post and avoid any discussion of the accident in general.
Avoid Speaking With Insurance Companies
You can count on getting phone calls from insurance companies after a car crash. When the accident involves an Uber or Lyft driver, you might hear from multiple insurance carriers. They will likely ask you for a statement about what happened, and maybe imply that giving them one is mandatory. Nothing could be further from the truth.
You are not obligated to speak directly with the insurance adjusters for Uber, Lyft, or the other driver’s personal carrier. While you may need to comply with an investigation by your own insurer, you can have an Atlanta rideshare accident attorney deal with them on your behalf. Nothing good comes from speaking directly with an insurance adjuster immediately after an accident.
One of their common tactics is to attempt to settle the case right away. This is done with the hope that you will accept an offer before you are aware of how serious your injuries are. Our attorneys can make certain you only accept an offer that is in your best interest.
Report the Crash in the Uber or Lyft App
This step applies only if you were an Uber or Lyft driver or a passenger during the ride. If you were in another vehicle, you will not use the rideshare app to report the crash. Instead, your Atlanta rideshare accident attorney can contact the insurance company for the other driver directly to get the claims process started.
If you are an Uber or Lyft passenger or driver, open the app and locate the trip in your ride history. Both companies provide an option to report a safety issue or accident connected to a specific trip. Submit the report as soon as you are able, and do not speculate about fault or guess about the cause of the crash.
After submitting the report, take screenshots confirming that it was sent. Save any follow-up emails or in-app messages. This documentation can help show when the company was notified and what information was provided.
It is vital to understand that reporting the crash in the app does not replace calling law enforcement or seeking medical care. However, it does provide the rideshare company with notice that their insurance policy might be responsible for the damage that occurred in your crash.
Keep Detailed Records From Day One
From the first day after a rideshare crash, you can benefit from keeping organized records related to the accident and your medical recovery. Do not rely on memory alone, or important details about the crash could fade before you know it.
Start with your medical records and bills. Keep discharge papers, imaging results, prescription receipts, and therapy schedules if they are related to your accident. If you receive explanations of benefits from insurance, save those as well. These documents help show the cost of treatment and the timeline of your care.
You should also carefully document the course of your career following a serious injury. This means tracking your missed work carefully so that you can calculate the full scope of your lost wages. Your employer will likely provide you with records related to you employment both before and after the accident.
It can also help to keep a simple journal and document your recovery. Record your pain levels, mobility limitations, and daily challenges. Describe how the injuries affect sleep, work, or family responsibilities. These notes may later support a claim for pain and suffering, but you should keep in mind that these journals will likely be provided to the other side.
Detailed records are important, especially as time passes and your memory starts to fade. The more organized these documents are, the easier it will be to provide something to your attorney if they need it.
Learn How an Atlanta Rideshare Accident Attorney From Mabra Law Can Help
If you have been involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, you should seek out an attorney before attempting to pursue a case for compensation. That said, there are some important steps you can take to strengthen your case and improve your chances of a full recovery before you ever talk to an attorney. Reach out to Mabra Law as soon as possible for a free consultation with an Atlanta rideshare accident attorney.