Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are more popular today than they’ve ever been, and they show no signs of slowing down. Though there have been increasing concerns about the wages they pay, algorithmic pricing models, and a lack of accessibility, they provide a level of convenience that’s hard to ignore.
And while you can certainly find stories of Uber rides that have gone horribly wrong, they’re generally considered safer for both the driver and the rider than traditional taxis were.
Still, even if you’re in a trustworthy car with a verified driver, accidents can happen. If you’re involved in an accident with a ridesharing vehicle, you’re likely wondering what to do after an Uber accident.
As a local vehicle accident attorney office in Hamilton, Ohio, we’ve helped countless people navigate situations like this. Today, we’ll take a look at how to handle a ridesharing accident, whether you’re the driver, a passenger, or you’re in another vehicle entirely.
The Rise of Ridesharing
When UberCab launched in 2010, no one had heard of the term “ridesharing.” On its surface, it seems like a new time for carpooling. In truth, it was a taxi service for the smartphone generation. Rather than standing in the street and waving your arms or calling a random number and giving vague directions to your location, you could simply open an app, push a button, and a car would be on its way to you.
Soon, competitors like Lyft would launch, and Uber would become large enough to drop the “Cab” from their name altogether. Today, “ubering” has become a verb in the same way googling did.
In 2024, Uber and Lyft gave over 12 billion rides across the globe. Roughly half of people between 18-50 years old use ridesharing in a given year. Uber alone has nearly 9 million active drivers on the road.
With this level of volume, it’s only a matter of time until an Uber accident occurs.
The Reality of Uber Accidents
The data on rideshare accidents is somewhat mixed. On one hand, studies show that ridesharing services have contributed to a 2-3% increase in traffic fatalities in urban areas. And it’s not surprising that ridesharing companies such as Uber are keen to downplay accidents, even going as far as leaving key details out of their own reporting.
That said, when a Lyft or Uber accident happens, it tends to be the fault of the other driver. In fact, 94% of deaths are the result of the third party driver.
What causes Uber accidents? It tends to be the same things that cause any traffic accident.
Distracted driving remains one of the likeliest causes. In 2023, 3275 people were killed due to distracted driving. While this isn’t exclusive to ridesharing, the likelihood carries over. Other causes of Uber accidents include:
- Road conditions and weather
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic signs
- Alcohol and drugs
In the case of driving under the influence, this tends to be a third party driver, not a rideshare driver. Whatever the cause, the actions you take after an Uber accident generally remain the same.
What to Do After an Uber Accident
Rideshare accidents can be uniquely confusing and overwhelming. If you’re the driver, you may be worried you’ll lose a source of income or be sued by a passenger. As a passenger, you’ve been involved in an accident where you don’t know the person behind the wheel. As for third parties, you may wonder if the rideshare company’s policies even apply to you.
While there are some specific steps you need to take after a rideshare accident, you’ll otherwise follow what you should do after any car accident.
This includes:
- Taking care of your personal needs first
- Filing an official police report
- Take pictures of the scene and vehicle
- Get contact information and witness testimonies (if possible)
- Avoid discussing fault
- Speak to an accident and injury attorney.
There are some additional actions you’ll want to take, which can vary depending on your role in the accident.
Drivers
Wondering what to do after an uber accident when you’re the driver? Uber actually provides a specific set of instructions on their website:
- Ensure that everyone involved is OK. If there are injuries or damage, contact the police and paramedics. Be sure to save the police report number if there is one.
- Take photos of any damage to the vehicles involved, including your own, and get the contact and insurance information of other involved drivers and riders. We recommend taking photos of the accident location, too, if it’s safe to do so.
- Report the crash to Uber. The easiest way to do that is through the Driver app. Go to the Safety Toolkit by tapping the blue shield symbol in the bottom left corner of the map, then choose Report a crash. Report what happened and submit your claim. Or to speak with our trained support staff, choose Safety from the Help section of your app, then select Safety Incident Reporting Line. You can also submit a crash report online. Whichever path you choose, please complete this process as soon as it’s reasonable to do so.
You can find links for reporting accidents on the Uber website here. For Lyft drivers, click here. You should also notify your insurance company of the accident, even though it may not be covering any of the damages.
But before you do that, you may want to speak to an attorney first. While it’s natural to assume that your rideshare company has your best interests in mind, this isn’t necessarily the case. As you may have seen in the news, rideshare companies often argue that you’re technically a contractor, not an employee.
Meanwhile, these are giant, publicly traded companies. Their first priority is their shareholders, and they will do all they can to protect their interests. Even a simple consultation can help you understand your options, your place in the accident, and how to best proceed. These consultations are typically free, so you have nothing to lose.
Passengers
Let’s take a look at what to do after an uber accident when you’re a passenger.
For passengers, Uber allows you to report an accident online here or through the app. They also provide some general FAQs that may provide additional insight. For Lyft users, you can click here.
Even if the other driver appears to be at fault, you should still report the accident to the respective company you were riding with. You likely don’t have to worry about contacting your own insurance company.
You should, however, consider speaking to an attorney if you were injured in the accident and/or your life was negatively affected in any other way. A relatively “minor” accident can have surprising repercussions down the road. Injuries like whiplash aren’t immediately apparent, for example.
Scheduling a free consultation can give you peace of mind without negatively impacting your bank account.
Other Vehicles and Pedestrians
If you were involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be uncertain what to do. It’s possible you’ve never even been in a rideshare vehicle and don’t have access to their apps. That’s okay. You won’t need to create an account or anything like that.
You will want to confirm what service the driver was working for at the time of the accident. Often, people drive for both Uber and Lyft, switching between the two while out on the road. If they were driving for Uber, you can submit a report through the Uber website here. If they were driving for Lyft, you can go here.
You will also want to contact your insurance company, along with following the steps listed above. You should also consider contacting an experienced accident attorney. Why? Let’s take a deeper look.
Why You Should Always Speak to an Attorney After an Uber Accident
Car accidents can be complicated. Emotions are running high, people aren’t thinking clearly, and all of the facts might not be immediately apparent. On top of that, there are the complexities of the law and insurance policies. Factoring in third-party companies like Uber or Lyft convolutes things further.
This is why it’s so important that you have someone on your side who knows what they’re doing.
An experienced vehicle accident attorney understands the nuances of the law. They’ve worked with a wide range of insurance providers. They’ve navigated cases involving larger companies. Simply stated, they know what to do and how to do it, allowing you to focus on recovery while avoiding potentially costly mistakes.
Things like determining fault aren’t as straightforward as you may think, and taking the wrong actions can result in your claim being underpaid, if not denied altogether. Having an attorney by your side also lets companies like Uber, along with insurance providers, know you’re taking things seriously. It may even scare insurance adjusters a little bit.
They have their own legal team. If you want to level the playing field, you need your own. While it might seem intimidating to hire an attorney, it doesn’t have to be. You simply need to find the right one.
The Richards Firm: A Less Intimidating Approach to the Law
The law is even more complex than you likely realize. Meanwhile, large legal firms are designed to churn through cases as quickly as possible. This often means treating their clients as just another case number to be settled with as minimal effort as possible.
The Richards Firm was founded to be different. Our goal is to make the legal system more accessible, while treating each of our clients as an individual. With The Richards Firm, you can always expect a customized approach designed to answer your questions, provide confidence, and let you focus on you.
We can’t guarantee we can win your case, but we’ll do everything we can to help you move forward with your life. Best of all, you only owe us a fee if we do win your case. And of course, with The Richards Firm, your initial consultation is always completely free.
If you find yourself wondering what to do after an Uber accident, whether you’re the driver, a passenger, or a third-party, we’re here for you. Give us a call at 513-461-0084 or click here to visit our contact page.
