As Downtown St. Petersburg grows and attracts even more visitors, getting around in your own vehicle is becoming a hassle. There are fewer places to park and more congestion than ever on the most popular streets. Uber and Lyft have become preferred alternatives for transportation. They’re a top choice for anyone who has been out socializing and drinking alcohol, but just like any other vehicle, a Lyft or Uber is just as prone to becoming involved in an accident as any other car on the road.

As with any other car crash, there are important steps you should take afterward to ensure the safety of everyone involved, and to protect your interests in the event that you may need to pursue a personal injury case. The steps you take right after your collision could greatly affect your case and help your St. Petersburg car accident lawyer succeed in handling your case.

Why Would I Get a Lawyer After a Rideshare Accident?

Although rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have given us more convenient options than ever before for urban transportation, any accident that occurs in a rideshare vehicle becomes instantly more complicated. There are several parties involved in these cases, including:

The drivers;
The drivers’ insurance companies;
The rideshare companies;
The rideshare companies’ insurance companies;
Your insurance company.

All of the involved insurance companies may likely try to devalue your injuries and even deny your claims. When you’re up against these powerful corporations that may value their profits and bottom line more than your health, you need quality legal representation.

5 Most Important Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident

To increase your chances of a successful case after a rideshare accident in St. Petersburg, follow these steps:

Worry about your safety and that of others first. Depending on the severity of the impact, a car accident may or may not result in serious injuries. If you were not seriously injured, check on everyone else involved in the crash. Call for an ambulance to get checked out by emergency medical service personnel. Do not delay medical treatment. If you experience any symptoms or injuries and fail to timely get treatment, you may affect your case. Keep copies of all your medical records and accident related expenses.

Report the accident to the police. Police should be called to and arrive at the accident scene as soon as possible to fill out an accident report. This police report or driver’s exchange will play a vital role in the claims process if you decide to file a claim for damages. Be sure to get a copy of the report.

Report the accident to your insurance company. Although your car wasn’t damaged when you got into a rideshare accident, you might be entitled to benefits from your insurance company, such as no fault or PIP (personal injury protection) insurance coverage. PIP typically covers 80% of your medical bills up to $10,000.00. You might be entitled to optional medical payments coverage that will cover the 20% your PIP does not. Also, you could be entitled to uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage where purchased. This type of coverage kicks in when you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist or a motorist with minimum bodily injury coverage.

Gather evidence and take screenshots of the app. When you’re involved in a rideshare accident, the driver’s status in the app and where you are in the ride can greatly affect the insurance coverage that may apply to you. For example, if you can prove that you were in an active ride, the coverage may be a greater amount. It’s also important to take the usual steps after an accident, such as taking pictures of the accident scene and the injuries you sustained.

Contact a car accident lawyer with experience handling rideshare injury claims. If you live in St. Petersburg, Frank P. Marsalisi is a smart choice for legal representation. Ridesharing claims are frequently more complicated than regular claims, and an attorney can make the process easier to navigate and allow a higher chance of success.

Marsalisi Law offers free consultations for all accident victims. Our firm is dedicated to your recovery. We will come to you if you cannot meet us at our office. Frank P. Marsalisi has been rated one of St. Petersburg’s top personal injury lawyers and is a Top 40 Under 40 lawyer with the National Trial Lawyers.

What are you waiting for? Contact Marsalisi Law, Where Law Gets Personal. Call (727) 800-5052 today!