The 4 things to do after an Uber accident in Virginia include checking for injuries and contacting emergency personnel, documenting the scene, reporting the accident to Uber, and retaining the services of an experienced Charlottesville car accident lawyer.
1. Check for Injuries and Call 911
The first priority in rideshare accidents should be the safety and well-being of any people involved. Knowing the injury status of everyone in the accident is extremely important in order to communicate with first responders and to know who is capable of fulfilling their duties after an accident. Taking action could save lives and keep you within Virginia law.
Check yourself for injuries first and then others, including obviously visible physical injuries, sensory impairments like light sensitivity or excessively blurred vision, mental impairments like being unable to stay conscious, and any other physical injuries you may not be able to see but can feel by carefully testing your mobility and checking your body for new painfully sensitive areas. Any changes in these could indicate serious injuries that require immediate medical attention from a professional.
If you are a driver of another vehicle, or if you are the Uber driver in this situation, you are required by Virginia law to exchange your information with any other person involved in the accident as well as the appropriate law-enforcement agency.
This duty will fall to the passenger(s) if the driver(s) are unable to do so themselves because of injuries. It will be important for first responders to have all the information they can so that they can take the appropriate action when they respond to your accident scene and file reports with their agencies afterward.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
2. Document the Scene After an Uber Accident for Your Own Records
Depending on your abilities immediately after the accident, it will greatly benefit your future case to have as much first-hand documentation of your Uber accident as possible. This can become one of the most valuable things to do after an Uber accident in Virginia since cases are built on the evidence we have available to us. Understandably, injuries may make this difficult until you have spent some time recovering, so gathering official reports should be on the list, too.
If you are safely able to do so, taking photos and videos of the scene immediately after the accident can prove extremely valuable to the case later. Testimony is a resource that we, or the defense team, can also use.
Still, the fluid nature of people’s memories and the potential of intentional lying are easily overcome by hard evidence like photos and videos. These photos and videos should include anything from weather conditions, damages to the vehicles and properties involved, any nearby signage, injuries to yourself and others, and testimony from victims, the at-fault driver, and witnesses if they are available.
First responders submit reports to their agencies once they return from a scene they are called to. These reports should contain written accounts of what the first responder witnessed and did at the scene. These reports are not only informative and publicly available, but they also hold weight in court since they are submitted by a trained professional who is required to submit a complete and truthful report.
3. Determine Who is at Fault and Report the Accident to Uber
According to Uber’s Insurance to protect you page, Uber’s liability insurance may be able to cover the Uber driver, their rider(s), and other people involved in the accident for any medical expenses, lost wages, and coverage in case the other at-fault driver is uninsured.
Uber must be aware of the accident in order to enact its insurance process. We will work to ensure that Uber pays out their liability insurance so that you can cover the costs you incur from your Uber accident, the same as we have for all of our verdicts & settlements.
One of the key things to do after an Uber accident in Virginia is to determine who is at fault in the accident so that both personal insurance and Uber’s insurance know how to process your claim properly.
Whether you are the driver or passenger, Uber provides insurance that applies to accidents that happen from the time the driver accepts the ride request to the point when the passenger is dropped off. This may depend on the driver’s insurance, but it is intended to cover much of the cost associated with the accident for the driver and passenger(s).
If the Uber driver is at fault, Uber’s insurance will pay tens of thousands of dollars to passengers and other people in the accident for injuries, property damage, and other expenses and damages. This will only apply if the Uber driver is online and available for a trip when the accident happens. By telling Uber “I was involved in an accident,” you can get your claim processed and paid out as soon as possible.
4. Contact MartinWren, P.C. After an Uber Accident in Virginia
Getting relief from damages in an Uber accident should not be left to you to handle alone. Taking on a large company like Uber and its legal team is not what you want on your plate while recovering from injuries. When considering how to choose the best personal injury lawyer, know that adding MartinWren, P.C. will tirelessly help you get your life back after an injury.
Throughout the cases we have handled for thousands of clients, we have established a track record of successfully settling with at-fault drivers and companies like Uber. Out of the fourteen largest verdicts in Virginia in 2023, MartinWren, P.C. handled three of those – two more than any other single law firm. You deserve the same hard work and attention as all of our other cases.
No two cases are the same, but they all require the same approach of adaptability and personal attention. Contact MartinWren, P.C. today if you are trying to figure out what to do after an Uber accident in Virginia.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
