Whether you work full-time as a rideshare driver or just drive to supplement your income, being involved in an accident can threaten both your livelihood and your quality of life. The stakes are exceptionally high, as underscored by a 2024 study from the University of Illinois Chicago, which found that one-third of rideshare drivers have been involved in a crash while on the job. Rideshare accidents create uncertainty, but when you know what to do following the crash and in the weeks and months afterward, you’ll be able to navigate this high-stress process with confidence.
Steps for After a Rideshare Accident
If you’re involved in a collision while driving for Uber or Lyft, it can be difficult to think clearly. However, when you have a plan for what to do ahead of time, you can improve your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve. If you’ve just been involved in a rideshare accident as a driver, take the following steps:
Check Yourself and Others for Injuries and Get to Safety
Do a quick self-assessment and check on the other people involved in the crash. If possible, help them get to the side of the road, a grassy median, or another comparatively safe area. If the accident was minor and it’s safe to move the vehicles involved, try to relocate them to the side of the road to reduce the risk of further damage.
Call 911
Once everyone is out of harm’s way, call 911 and ask for police and emergency medical personnel. The officers who respond will complete an accident report, which will be an essential part of any insurance claim you ultimately file. Paramedics will assess everyone’s injuries and tell you whether they recommend that you go to the hospital or not. If necessary, they can transport injured people by ambulance.
Exchange Information
While at the scene of the accident, you should exchange driver’s license, contact, and insurance information with the other driver or drivers. It’s also a good idea to ask any witnesses for their contact information. Witness testimony can be helpful if you need additional evidence to support your insurance claim.
Document the Scene
If you can, take videos and photos of the scene. Try to capture both wide-angle shots that show the scene as a whole and close-ups of vehicle damage, skid marks, and road debris. Depending on how bad the collision was, you might be too injured (or your phone may be too damaged) to take pictures. Don’t worry — while photographic evidence is valuable, you’ll still be able to file an insurance claim without it.
Seek Medical Care
If first responders recommend going to the hospital by ambulance, it’s generally wise to follow their advice. However, even if you don’t need an ambulance, you should still see a physician as soon as reasonably possible. EMS personnel only have access to limited tools in the field, and they can miss potentially serious injuries.
Report the Crash to the Rideshare Company
Uber and Lyft allow drivers to report accidents within their apps, and you should do so as soon as possible. If you wait too long to report a crash, your account could be deactivated.
Notify Your Car Insurance Provider
Most car insurance plans also require policyholders to report accidents promptly. Reporting the accident isn’t the same as filing an insurance claim, so you don’t have to worry about gathering evidence first. When talking to the insurance adjuster, be careful not to say anything that could be construed as an admission of fault, and don’t go into the details of the accident. Insurers will sometimes take even seemingly innocent phrases and twist them to “prove” that you admitted fault.
What Should You Do Next?
After a rideshare accident, your highest priority should be seeking medical care, but what then? You may be facing accumulating medical bills, intense physical pain, and the inability to work. To make matters worse, your vehicle may be seriously damaged and in need of repair or replacement.
As a driver for Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company, you’re classified as an independent contractor. That means the rideshare company isn’t obligated to offer you workers’ compensation coverage. Uber and Lyft provide additional liability insurance when you’re logged into the rideshare app. By law, this policy must include at least $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $100,000 per accident. But they don’t offer any kind of coverage for your vehicle in the event of damage. It’s easy to look at your situation and feel discouraged.
However, you shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking you have no options for accident support. An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can offer legal advice and support during a free consultation. The majority of these legal professionals work on contingency, which means that if they take your case, you’ll pay nothing up front. Instead, you’ll agree to pay your attorney a portion of any compensation they recover for you. Here are some of the ways a rideshare accident lawyer may be able to help you:
Filing Third-Party Insurance Claims
Some drivers think that they must file a lawsuit after an accident to receive any kind of financial reimbursement. When you’re already stressed and injured, spending months or even years navigating the legal system may seem overwhelming. In some cases, filing a lawsuit might be the best course of action. However, filing a third-party insurance claim (a claim against the at-fault driver’s policy) is often all it takes to recover compensation for medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses. Your lawyer can help you gather the necessary evidence and submit a claim on your behalf.
Negotiating with the Insurance Companies
Unfortunately, many insurers prioritize their own interests to the point of delaying, denying, or underpaying legitimate claims. Rideshare accident attorneys sometimes need to take claims to the courtroom, but more often, they put their negotiation skills to work when dealing with insurance adjusters. Having an attorney working for you doesn’t guarantee that you’ll receive a fair settlement, but it will drastically improve your chances.
Preparing for Small Claims Court
Suppose you’re trying to recover a relatively small amount of compensation. Your lawyer might recommend taking the at-fault driver to small claims court rather than expending time and energy pursuing other options. In small claims court, plaintiffs represent themselves, and attorneys generally aren’t allowed in the courtroom. Even if your attorney can’t represent you in court, they can help you prepare by gathering evidence, explaining the process, and assisting you with creating a solid legal argument.
Additional Support for New York City Drivers
Uber and Lyft don’t provide workers’ compensation coverage for their drivers. However, if you’re a rideshare driver in New York City, you’re automatically covered by the Black Car Fund. The Black Car Fund is funded entirely by fare surcharges. It provides workers’ compensation benefits for rideshare drivers and other operators of vehicles for hire. If you file a claim and get approved, you might be able to recover the following types of compensation:
- Medical expenses
- Medication costs
- Partial wage replacement
You don't have to sign up for the fund to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, if you enroll in the free Drivers' Benefits Program, you could receive an array of additional health and wellness benefits. Staying compliant with local requirements, such as completing your required TLC inspection, can also help protect your ability to keep driving and earning income after an accident.
Hurt in a Rideshare Accident? You Have Options
As you may have already discovered, rideshare companies aren’t much help when their drivers are involved in accidents. Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on Uber or Lyft for post-crash support. When you have an experienced rideshare accident attorney in your corner, you’ll be better equipped to seek fair compensation, support yourself and your family while you heal, and get back on the road as soon as possible.
