Distracted driving is a primary cause of car accidents in Illinois. Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft drivers have to keep a massive distraction in front of their faces at all times: their smartphones. Combined with a lack of knowledge of local roadways, it is incredibly easy for an Uber driver to end up in an accident with you as a passenger. As auto accident attorneys in O’Fallon, IL we wanted to keep you informed.
You should not consider yourself out of the clear when you end up in an accident while riding an Uber. There is work for you to do, and you want to make sure you protect yourself in case you sustained any injuries that you are not aware of yet.
Notify police and paramedics
If you are in good enough health to do so, then you should check in on everyone involved, including people in the other car. Even when everyone seems all right, you want to contact the police, and you will need paramedics in case anyone is badly hurt. The Uber driver may try to talk you out of getting the authorities involved because an accident could increase his or her auto insurance premiums. However, you need to consider your well-being, and a police report will be a useful piece of evidence in court if the incident goes that far.
When you talk to the police, you need to provide as many details as you can. You also want to make sure you write down badge numbers and names so you can follow up later if you need to and get a copy of the accident report to help your potential medical claim.
Contact Uber
Uber informs its passengers that if they ever become involved in a collision to notify the company immediately. A representative will reach out to you for more information. Uber may deny any compensation, so you may need to go through the driver’s independent insurance agency.
