We are in the holiday season, and it is that time of the year again where roads are full of people and celebrations are at their prime. Pubs and restaurants are full! However, to reduce drunk drivers on the road, ridesharing services offer a great alternative.
But such a high surge in the traffic and of ridesharing apps also brings some risks with itself. Here are some dangers you should know about and be careful out there while having fun.
- Surge pricing: Uber and Lyft drivers may literally take you for a ride but they often take routes with higher traffic as it surges the price of the ride. Hence, even when alternate, less congested routes are available, your Uber and Lyft driver might use a more traffic-heavy route. Moreover, there is higher likelihood of accidents involving other motor vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians on roads that are heavily congested.
- Districted/tired driving: Higher demand of ridesharing apps means longer working hours for the drivers. This could lead to driving when they are tired and exhausted after long hours. Moreover, with continuous requests for rides, the drivers may get distracted by the notifications on their phone. This could make the passenger vulnerable to accidents.
- Driving in unfamiliar areas: Holidays and higher demand for ridesharing services compel drivers to go to unfamiliar areas. In such a case, they may not be aware about some area-specific situations such as on-going construction, a bicycle lane, etc. This may catch the driver be surprise and could lead to an accident.
What should you do after the accident?
If you’re in a ridesharing service, and meet with an accident. Here is what you should do:
- Call the police: The first step is to call the police to report the accident. The police should be informed even if there are grave injuries as a police report is mandatory to claim insurance.
- Seek medical attention: It is absolutely critical to immediately seek medical care to make sure that injuries get proper care and treatment. Even if you think the injury is minor, it is a good idea to just get it checked out. Sometimes, even minor pain/injuries can linger over a period of time. Importantly, safely keep all the receipts and other records of medical expenses to claim compensation/settlement at a later time.
- Take photos: If possible, take photos of the accident site as visual proof to what really went down at the scene of the accident. In case you cannot take photos yourself due to any reason, try and find a witness who is willing to do it for you. The photos can come in handy as a strong piece of evidence to prove negligence.
- Talk to a witness: If witnesses are present at the site of accident, talk to them and record (with their consent) their description of the accident. This can also become useful evidence.
- Report the accident: Once you have sought medical attention, report the accident to the ridesharing company as well as the concerned insurer. It will help them prepare for the next steps.
- Hire a Uber/Lyft accident lawyer: Since such accidents are becoming common every day, specialist lawyers such as Uber Accident Lawyer or Lyft Accident Lawyer are required to help you navigate the complexities of the law and get the compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident involving Uber/Lyft, you need an Uber accident lawyer, contact Siler & Ingber today. Call us on 1-877-529-4343 or complete our online form on this page to schedule a case evaluation with one of our experienced Uber/Lyft accident lawyers. Our consultation is free and we do not charge a fee unless we win your case.