Accidents and Uber Drivers

Today’s streets are packed with cars, and any car could easily be an Uber vehicle. The popular ride-sharing service is one of the fastest growing transportation options for commuters, tourists and people who just don’t want to take their own cars out on the road. It’s cheap and easy to use and most cities boast a strong presence of vehicles that operate on the company’s books.

Uber does vet the drivers it hires, but the company operates on self-starters who are looking for jobs where they can make their own schedules and dictate the amount of work they do.

Like every other car on the road, Uber vehicles are not immune to accidents; but unlike other cases, an accident between a personal vehicle and an Uber car can get complicated quickly. It’s important for drivers to be aware of how an accident involving an Uber or Lyft should be handled.

Steps to Be Taken After an Accident Involving an Uber Driver

Taking the right steps after a car accident involving an Uber driver can help you get back on the road (literally and metaphorically) much faster. In case of an injury or damage to your vehicle, filing a personal injury claim can help you make sure that your medical expenses are taken care of and the damage to your car is fixed promptly. Below, we outline some of the most common steps that you should take to ensure that your car accident is handled quickly while you focus on making a full recovery:

1. Call the police. Even if the accident seems too small for police involvement, it’s important to have a record of the event. Calling the police from the scene of the accident ensures that all information is processed correctly and that the police open an investigation into the incident. If you don’t call the police and you need to file a report later, the case may be a bit more difficult to resolve.
2. See your doctor. You may not notice that you’re in pain or that you’ve sustained injuries in the minutes or even days following an accident, but it’s important to get a thorough check-up anyway. Visit your doctor as soon as possible after an accident to ensure that your health is in order and address any medical concerns that might be related to the accident.
3. Call your insurance company. This is a tricky step because New Jersey is a no-fault state. This means that your own car insurance provider covers your medical bills in the event of a car accident, even if it wasn’t your fault. Regardless, your agent needs to be aware that you were involved in an accident with an Uber driver to open a claim and start covering your medical bills.
4. Hire a lawyer. Your attorney should be experienced in personal injury law, particularly in laws that involve car accidents and Uber drivers. Although Uber is a fairly new company, your attorney will know the state’s car accident laws and will be able to navigate a commercial vehicle crash for you. If an Uber driver is at fault, having an attorney with commercial vehicle experience can help your case.
5. Start collecting evidence. Evidence about what happened and how the crash occurred can help your attorney prove your innocence and demonstrate the fault of the other driver. Take pictures and write down details so you don’t forget anything that could be crucial to your case.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you believe an Uber driver was at fault, the New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Helmer, Conley, and Kasselman, PA, can help. Contact our offices today to get started on your case.