How to Recover Compensation from a Rideshare Accident in New Orleans

Rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber have changed the landscape of personal transportation in New Orleans and across the nation. Residents and visitors of the Greater New Orleans area no longer need to hail a taxi, grab a bus, or jump on a streetcar to get to their destination of choice. Ridesharing is as simple as visiting an app on a smartphone and waiting until your ride shows up. Rideshare companies have become so popular that more than 15 percent of Americans report using rideshare services, a statistic that keeps growing.

The convenience of rideshare services also has a dark side. Careless drivers put riders, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others who share the road at risk for accident and injury. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a rideshare accident, you should not have to absorb expenses for medical treatment and lost wages when someone else caused you harm. You have options to recover compensation for your injuries.

Below we provide guidance on the steps you should take after suffering injuries in a rideshare accident to give you the best chance of recovering compensation including a discussion of the types of compensation you might receive if you prevail in your rideshare accident claim.

Steps to Take After Suffering Injuries in a New Orleans Rideshare Accident

If you are hoping to receive compensation for your injuries, we assume you have reported your rideshare accident to the police and visited the hospital or emergency room nearest to the accident. If you have not yet been checked out by a physician, you must go to the emergency room as soon as possible. Medical documentation of your injuries serves as valuable evidence for an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

The following tips will help you preserve your claim and give you the best chances of recovering compensation:

Consult with a New Orleans Rideshare Accident Attorney

You can consult with a lawyer anytime during the claims process, but the sooner you involve an attorney, the better chance you have for receiving the maximum amount of compensation for your circumstances. Lawyers know the ins and outs of dealing with large rideshare companies and their insurance carriers, and they can help you gather relevant evidence to support your claim.

File an Insurance Claim

Rideshare drivers have personal insurance, but Uber, Lyft, and others provide coverage for rideshare drivers when they are picking up a rider or have riders in their vehicle. Use the insurance information you have to file a claim with the appropriate carrier. If you are unsure, report the accident to the rideshare company. In either case, this will get the investigative ball rolling.  You should also report the accident to your insurance company if you were hurt as a driver of another vehicle.

Keep Detailed Records of EVERYTHING

Consider keeping a journal and a folder to keep detailed records about the accident and your injuries. You should write down any conversations you had with witnesses, the rideshare driver, the police, your doctor, or any other relevant information. Time and date where possible. Also, keep any photos you have of the property damage, the scene of the accident, and your injuries. Continue to take periodic pictures of visible injuries as your healing to provide more documentation on top of your medical record. These types of records can help support the case for compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic costs.

Keep All Records of Economic Loss

Compensation for your injuries is largely based on the economic loss you suffered as a result of your injuries. If you prevail in your accident claim you can recover compensation for current and future medical treatment costs including ambulance service, emergency room visit, diagnostic tests, surgery, medication, follow-up visits, and hospitalization. You can also receive compensation for current and future lost wages and rehabilitation costs. Keep all bills and receipts to support your claim.

Follow Doctor’s Orders

The insurance company or defense legal team might argue you haven’t been following your treatment plan as a way to devalue your claim. Show up to all of your scheduled doctor’s appointments and follow the doctor’s orders. This helps provide credibility to the diagnosis and long-term prognosis of your injuries.

Don’t Post on Social Media

Insurance companies and defense legal teams will investigate every inch of your life to find a way to deny or devalue your rideshare accident claim. They find sneaky ways of gaining access to social media accounts. Something you post or say might be used against you, so it’s best to avoid posting anything on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc. until you have resolved your rideshare accident claim.

Let Your Lawyer Negotiate for You

Insurance companies know that injured accident victims want compensation for their injuries and especially prey on those with serious injuries who might be struggling because they cannot work. This leads them to make insultingly low offers to accident victims. Yet, these offers are typically enough to tempt a victim to accept the offer and waive their right to take legal action.

When you receive an early offer, it’s not likely you know your long-term prognosis. It’s in your best interest to consult with an attorney, wait until you’ve recovered as much as possible, and let your lawyer use the first settlement offer as a jumping-off point for negotiations, so you recover the compensation you deserve after a New Orleans rideshare accident.

Contact a New Orleans After Suffering Injuries in a Rideshare Accident

If you’ve been involved in a New Orleans rideshare accident, you need legal counsel from a skilled lawyer who knows how to navigate the complexities of dealing with large rideshare companies and their insurance carriers. The experienced legal team at Alvendia, Kelly & Demarest are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today online or call 504-200-0000 to discuss the events that led up to your rideshare accident, your injuries, and learn how we can help you move forward with your rideshare accident claim.

Dealing with insurance companies post-accident can be a challenging endeavor. Often, they employ various tactics to minimize or even deny car accident claims. It’s essential to be aware of the strategies they might use to reduce liability. At Alvendia, Kelly & Demarest, we’re not just well-versed in rideshare accidents; our expertise spans a wide range of practice areas and general legal knowledge, ensuring that you’re equipped with comprehensive legal support.