The timeline of a DC Uber accident follows the same general structure, no matter how serious your injuries are. But, of course, the length of certain timeline stages can vary significantly. Successfully navigating this timeline is crucial for your legal case’s success and ultimate recovery. Fortunately, the timeline of a DC Uber accident will remain the same whether you are an Uber driver, passenger, or third party who was hit by a negligent Uber driver. This guide will provide clear instructions for handling each Uber claim stage. But note that you are best served with proper legal representation. Your accident attorney will organize your case from beginning to end and negotiate the best outcome for your case. And our firm only charges a fee if we win.
Additionally, it is vital to consider laws unique to Washington, D.C. For example, no-fault coverage, or PIP, is complex in the District. We have attorneys throughout DC who call our office asking for guidance on PIP, as the statute is complex and has many limiting exceptions. A mistake with the PIP part of your accident case can bar recovery for your bodily injury claim. Thus, while the subsequent timeline covers in-depth the nuances of the traditional timeline, there are countless other nuances to consider that will not be covered.
The first stage in your timeline of a DC Uber accident covers the moments immediately following your accident. You may be dazed, wondering what just happened. While you may usually feel like you can handle the aftermath of a car accident, the adrenaline that kicks in following a serious collision can be overwhelming. This is why we have put together a simple and memorable three-step plan to remember when you get into an accident.
The basics of this stage in the timeline involve getting into a safe location. If you are an Uber driver and your car is struck, pull over to the side of the road. Do not stay in the middle of the road for two reasons. First, you are obstructing traffic flow, making it more difficult for emergency vehicles to reach you if someone is seriously injured. Second, pulling over to the side of the road protects you from other negligent drivers who may strike your stopped vehicle. Be sure to pull over completely. If a part of your vehicle is still in the far lane, it may get clipped and cause another accident. If you have them, use flares or cones. These can be valuable tools to protect yourself on the side of the road, particularly at night when visibility is limited.
The subsequent stage in your timeline of a DC Uber accident is to document the scene. This is done in a few ways. First and foremost, call the police. While they may not come, if they do, they will create a police report that neatly organizes all the pertinent information. Such information includes tag numbers, insurance information, contact information of all parties involved in the accident, witness information, and a narrative of how the accident occurred. Note that the narrative section of the report is not conclusive. So, if it blames you for the accident, you can still win at trial. However, the defendant’s insurance provider may rely on it for settlement purposes and refuse to negotiate.
The police report does not cover everything. There are still crucial bits of evidence you must collect on your own. Be sure to take photographs of the property damage to your Uber vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the accident. Do this whether you are the Uber driver, Uber passenger, or third party making a claim against Uber. Additionally, note all the things the police report is meant to cover independently of the police. While this can speed up the timeline of a DC Uber accident, it can also correct any mistakes police officers make.
This is the first step in some timelines of a DC Uber accident. When your injuries are severe enough, you should seek medical attention before considering anything else. Note that every accident case is unique. Sometimes, you may have a family member, friend, or police to write the pertinent information. Further, if the paramedics come and take you away to the emergency room, there is a good chance the police will also go and write a report. If your injuries are severe enough, you should not concern yourself with documenting the scene. Of course, this depends on how you feel and what movements you are comfortable with based on your injuries.
Beyond the accident scene, this stage of the process can take months or years. It depends on the severity of your injuries. For less severe cases, you may receive medical attention, such as physical therapy, for only a couple of months. On the other end of the spectrum, your medical needs may require years of recovery, possibly the rest of your life. When your injuries are permanent, you may require full-time nursing care. This can be very expensive. Or maybe your recovery will take six to seven years.
In these instances, when the statute of limitations in Washington, D.C., is three years, we must act before we understand the full extent of your injuries. A seasoned personal injury lawyer will hire expert witnesses to testify at trial that you are permanently impaired or that it will take several more years to recover fully. We must consider your future medical expenses to ensure you receive total compensation for your Uber accident.
You should speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible following your accident. Many clients call immediately after a visit to the emergency room on the day of the accident. The sooner you call, the sooner we can work on your case. Also, be aware that there are other statutes of limitation beyond the three-year statute for your bodily injury claim. Two-month notice requirements for cases against the DC government, one-year statutes for PIP, and many others may apply to your case. Thus, speaking with an attorney to discuss your case should be done as soon as you are available.
The settlement stage in the timeline of a DC Uber accident may be where your case resolves. Once you complete treatment, we will send a copy of all your bills and records and a demand letter to the adverse insurance carrier. They typically take four to six weeks to evaluate our demand and prepare an offer for settlement. This initial offer is almost always too low. Negotiating the settlement of your case can take weeks. But in general, the longer you wait, the more we can increase their offer to represent the value of your case best.
If we cannot amicably resolve your case via settlement, we will file suit and take the defendant to trial. The defendant’s insurer will likely provide a defense for the negligent driver. Going to trial takes far longer and can drastically extend the timeline of a DC Uber accident case. However, we will pursue the defendant in court to recover just compensation for your injuries.
If you have any questions regarding the timeline of a DC Uber accident or believe you have a case, contact our office. We offer free consultations to everyone, and there is never a fee unless we win. Call us today at (202) 331-7227.