Whenever you are involved in a car accident, one of the first things to do is to check on yourself and your passengers before calling 911. You need to seek emergency medical attention right away to help those who have been injured.
It’s also important to call 911 to report the auto accident. If there are injuries, contacting the emergency number will get you in touch with the ambulance crew as well as the police. The police will need to come to the scene to take down information about the incident and any property damage or injuries that occurred. In Washington, the police must be contacted if there is an injury or if there is damage to property valued at $1,000 or more.
What should you do if you’re hurt?
If you are hurt, focus on getting medical care. If you’re able to speak with others, like witnesses, or you can take photos at the scene, do so. If not, that’s also okay, because your health has to be the priority.
Once the emergency medical team arrives, you should go with them to the hospital to get a full examination. Once you are medically stable, you may begin looking into options like making a claim against the rideshare driver’s insurance. These cases can be a little tricky depending on the kind of insurance coverage the driver has, so it’s a good idea to know your legal rights before talking to an insurance agent or responding to settlement offers.
Remember, rideshare companies usually do not claim legal responsibility for accidents caused by their drivers. You may need to make a claim directly against the driver’s insurance. If the driver was not at fault, you may still be able to make a claim against them or against another at-fault driver involved in the incident.
Get to know your rights after a rideshare accident
The steps you take next will depend on factors involved in the case, like who is responsible and who has insurance coverage. That’s why you need to look into all your legal options before deciding what to do after you get medical care.