Following an Uber accident, passengers and drivers alike are often confused. You may wonder what steps to take after a DC Uber accident. Clients consistently tell us they are unsure if they handled the situation correctly. While there is less responsibility for a passenger in an Uber accident, you may wonder what role you play. And if you are a driver in an Uber accident, you have slightly more responsibility. We will not advise drivers on how to communicate with Uber directly as their policies are constantly evolving, and it is generally inconsequential to your personal injury case. Instead, we will discuss your legal duties as a passenger and driver. We will even touch on how to handle an accident if you are a regular driver who gets into an accident with an Uber vehicle.
Knowing the initial steps to take after an accident is crucial. Many aspects of your case depend on your immediate actions. For instance, if you fail to gather the necessary information, we won’t have any details about the other driver and won’t be able to sue for your damages. Similarly, if you don’t prioritize the well-being of others after ensuring your safety, someone might unnecessarily lose their life at the accident scene. Car accidents can be disorienting, even for those who usually handle pressure well. A straightforward three-step plan will assist you in dealing with the aftermath of a DC Uber accident.
You have heard the mantra “safety first.” The process of what to do after a DC Uber accident is no different. But before taking care of anyone else, please ensure your safety. You cannot truly help anyone else unless you are safe and healthy. So, how do you do this? If you are the driver, move the car to a safe location. It is dangerous to leave your vehicle in the middle of the highway. Worse yet, it is dangerous to leave your car halfway into the emergency lane while still in part of the lane where traffic drives. This is more likely to lead to a subsequent accident as drivers may not understand they are at risk of hitting you until it is too late. You may share the blame for their accident if you leave your car parked there.
If you have them, set up emergency cones or flares. While not mandatory in DC, they are a great way to protect yourself and your car, especially at night. Ensure your vehicle is positioned correctly. Next, check for injuries and prioritize medical attention. If anyone appears hurt, call paramedics immediately.
You may notice the other driver is fleeing the scene and wish to skip this step. We advise against this. We suggest you take a picture of the tag number of the fleeing vehicle. Chasing after the fleeing car is dangerous to you, and beyond that, do not strain yourself or put others on the road at risk. Instead, await emergency services. If you are chasing the adverse driver, that may cause another accident in which you are liable.
They will take over the accident scene along with the police. If you did not cause the accident and paramedics offer an evaluation, we suggest you accept the evaluation if there is any chance you are injured. Adrenaline may mask the pain even if you do not think you are hurt. Many clients call our office a day or two after the accident, complaining of soreness. They say they did not feel pain immediately, but soreness has set in in their neck and back. This is extremely common and makes sense, given how adrenaline works in the body.
If there is any suspicion of injury, ensure your health and safety.
After ensuring your safety and that of others, the second step after a DC Uber accident is documenting the scene. The idea is to preserve evidence that can later be used for settlement negotiation or trial.
If we do have to go to trial for your case, it may be over a year after your Uber accident occurred. So naturally, your memory may have faded by the time the trial date arrives. Thus, taking notes or a voice memo can be useful to record anything you deem relevant. While this will not necessarily be admissible at trial, though it can be, it can aid you in remembering essential facts.
Take photos of anything you deem relevant to the Uber accident. Pull out your smartphone and take photos from various angles. At a minimum, we recommend taking photos of all vehicles involved in the accident and to capture every angle. This will capture the property damage of the vehicles. The property damage can tell the story of how the accident happened. In fact, we frequently hire expert witnesses who reconstruct accidents and how they happened for a jury. This can be a huge point in proving liability. Further, take pictures of any traffic signs, such as stop signs.
As mentioned above, collecting contact and insurance information from all parties is critical. Uber will likely provide your driver’s contact information if you are a passenger. Collect it anyway. Your driver may even give you a hard time, saying you have no right to do so because he is not at fault for the accident. He may try to cite Uber policy or tell you you can get information through the app. Get the info anyway. Get his name, phone number, address, and personal insurance information. While the claim will likely go through Uber’s policy, Uber may attempt to void it, making your driver’s policy the one under which we will make our claim.
If you are an Uber driver, there is no reason to get the passenger’s information unless the passenger distracted you or caused the accident. You may request their name and phone number. Regardless of the passenger, be sure to get the contact and insurance information from the adverse driver. Do not assume that your Uber insurance will cover the damages, as they may not if you don’t make an earnest effort to get the policy information from the adverse driver.
This is arguably the most important step to take when wondering what to do after a DC Uber accident. Our personal injury attorneys will fight to win you compensation following your Uber accident. Unfortunately, an Uber or any motor vehicle accident can permanently devastate you. You may lose the ability to work. You may have tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses you cannot afford. Your attorney at Gelb & Gelb, P.C. is here to advise you on the next steps.
Additionally, even if you did not collect all essential information, we can collect it afterward. For example, if there is a police report, I can get it for you. Moreover, we can run a license plate tag number and identify who owns the vehicle that hit your car. But most importantly, we will sue the negligent party. While you may consider negotiating a settlement on your own, the reality is that insurance companies do whatever they can to pay as little as possible. They know that you will run to a skilled injury attorney if they offer you nothing to settle. So, they will likely make an offer if your case has merit. However, it is highly unlikely that they will make a settlement offer that truly represents the value of your case without proficient legal representation.
If you are injured in an Uber accident, contact our office for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.
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