What To Do After a Rideshare Car Accident in Florida

Rideshare passengers and other individuals injured in rideshare car accidents have clear rights under Florida law. With this in mind, if you were injured in a collision caused by an Uber or Lyft driver, you will want to talk to an experienced Florida car accident attorney about seeking the financial compensation you deserve.

5 Important Steps to Take After a Rideshare Car Accident

But, in order for a Florida car accident attorney to be able to help you, there are some important steps you need to take to protect your legal rights. For example, if you have been injured in a rideshare car accident in Florida, you should:

1. Get the Medical Care You Need

Any time you are dealing with serious accident-related injuries, your first priority should be to make sure you get the medical care you need. This is important for two key reasons:

• Getting the medical care you need will help minimize your risk of long-term or permanent complications from your injuries; and,
• Getting the medical care you need will help maximize your chances of filing a successful claim for your accident.

If you see a doctor promptly, your doctor will be able to tie your injuries to the accident—and this will help with proving your legal rights. Conversely, if you wait to seek treatment, this will give the insurance companies room to argue that your injuries might not be accident-related.

2. Keep As Much Documentation as Possible

From your copy of the police report (if you received one) to copies of your medical records, you should keep as much documentation as possible. The more documentation you have, the better. If you took photos at the scene of the accident, keep these as well, and take detailed notes so that you don’t overlook any important details during your free initial consultation.

3. Be Very Careful When Talking to the Insurance Companies

If you have auto insurance, you can use your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage after a rideshare accident—and, if you got hit by a rideshare driver, you may be required to report the accident to your insurance company. But, when dealing with the insurance companies, you need to be very careful. If you say anything they can use to deny your claim, this could prevent you from recovering the financial compensation you deserve.

4. Be Very Careful When Posting Online

In this same vein, you also need to be very careful when posting online. It’s best not to post anything about your rideshare accident on social media; but, if you feel compelled to post on TikTok, Facebook or Instagram, you should not post anything the insurance companies might be able to use to challenge your claim. Photos from the accident scene, photos from your home or hospital bed, and comments about what you think happened or how you are feeling could all be spun against you.

5. Schedule a Free Consultation Promptly

Given the importance of protecting your legal rights (and the challenges involved), it will be important to have an experienced Florida car accident attorney on your side going forward. As soon as possible, you should schedule a free consultation so that your attorney can get to work investigating the accident and dealing with the insurance companies on your behalf.

Again, these are just examples. Seeking the compensation you deserve after a rideshare car accident in Florida is a complicated process. Hiring an experienced Florida car accident attorney will help maximize your chances of success, and it costs nothing out-of-pocket to hire an attorney in this scenario.

What To Expect When You Hire a Lawyer to Handle Your Rideshare Car Accident Claim

While you can—and should—rely on an experienced Florida car accident attorney to fight for just compensation on your behalf, you also need to be prepared to play an active role in the process. Your attorney will need you to provide various key pieces of information, and your attorney will need you to make decisions that only you can make (i.e., whether to accept any settlement offers that may be on the table).

At the same time, you can—and should—expect a lot from your Florida car accident attorney. This includes (but is not limited to):

• A Thorough Investigation of the Accident – Rideshare drivers, rideshare companies (i.e., Uber and Lyft), vehicle manufacturers, and various other parties can all potentially be liable for rideshare accidents in Florida. When you hire an attorney to represent you, you can expect your attorney to conduct a thorough investigation focused on determining which party (or parties) are liable for your injuries.
• A Comprehensive Assessment of the Value of Your Claim – If you have a claim outside of PIP, you are entitled to just compensation for all of your financial and non-financial losses resulting from the accident. Your attorney should carefully calculate the present and future losses you are entitled to recover.
• Effective Legal Representation Throughout the Process – From dealing with the insurance companies to fighting for just compensation in court if necessary, you are entitled to effective legal representation in all phases of your rideshare car accident claim.
• Custom-Tailored Legal Advice Focused on Your Best Interests – From deciding whether to take legal action to deciding whether to accept a settlement, you are also entitled to custom-tailored legal representation focused on your best interests.
• No Out-of-Pocket Fees or Costs – As we said above, it costs nothing out-of-pocket to hire an attorney for a rideshare accident claim. At Searcy Denney, we handle all Uber accident and Lyft accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means our clients pay nothing unless we win.

Talk to a Florida Car Accident Attorney About Your Case for Free

Do you need to know more about what to do after a rideshare car accident in Florida? If so, we encourage you to contact us right away. To discuss your situation with an experienced Florida car accident attorney at Searcy Denney for free, call 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can reach you online now.