7. What should I do to protect myself after an accident involving a rideshare?

If you suffer injury in an accident involving a rideshare, the steps you take at the scene of the accident and in the days and weeks to follow can affect the compensation you may have the right to receive for your injuries.

Follow these tips to protect your rights.

• Call 911 and wait for the first responders to arrive. Never leave the scene of any Philadelphia ridesharing accident. Although you, personally, likely do not bear any legal responsibility for the accident, you are an important witness to it and the police need to hear what you have to say. Also, you may have suffered an injury, perhaps one you do not immediately feel, so staying at the scene ensures an EMT can check you over. Finally, leaving the scene could put your legal rights to compensation at risk. Your name appearing on the police accident report as a person present at the time of the accident can serve as evidence that the crash injured you, for example.
• Seek medical attention immediately, even if you do not go to the emergency room in an ambulance. Even if you think you did not suffer serious injury in the Philadelphia ridesharing crash, go to a hospital or urgent care facility immediately to have even “minor” injuries evaluated by a trained medical professional. Some potentially life-threatening or severely disabling injuries do not exhibit symptoms right away, but still require immediate treatment. By getting medical care immediately (or no later than 24 hours after the crash), you protect your health and wellbeing. You also generate medical records that may serve as important evidence of your injury in a later legal proceeding.
• Contact an attorney ASAP. Any time you suffer injuries in a Philadelphia motor vehicle accident, including in connection with a rideshare, make sure you contact an attorney as soon as possible. You may have important legal rights to receive a substantial amount of compensation, but you must act quickly to protect and make the most of them. Do not wait to seek skilled legal advice. Contact a Philadelphia ridesharing crash lawyer today.