4 Things To Know About Accidents As A Rideshare Driver

Whether you are driving as an Uber or Lyft driver, you need to know what to do in the event of an accident, especially if you have a passenger. Keeping a clear head during this time with a passenger in the car is important in order for you to continue your business as a rideshare driver. Here are four things you should know about accidents in this situation:

1. You Need the Deductible: First off, to get back on the road quickly, you need to be able to afford to repair your car. Since the rideshare company is going to provide the insurance for your vehicle at the time you are driving for them, you need to be aware of what the policy entails. Knowing the deductible amount is the most important since you want to be sure that you have that amount to pay for repairs, so be sure that you have a savings set aside for this. Even if you aren't at fault for the accident, you still want to pay for the repairs rather than having to wait for the case to be processed. Otherwise, you will have to wait much longer to get back on the road again. 
2. Report the Accident: Once you have been involved in an accident, you want to report it to the ridesharing company. Each company will have a different procedure for how they wish their drivers to go about this, so be sure that you know what needs to be done whether that means e-mailing the company or calling. Be sure that you know what the best method is based on the ridesharing company's information about it. 
3. Don't Use Your Personal Insurance: When you exchange insurance with the other driver involved, it needs to be the ridesharing insurance, not your personal insurance. This can get you into a big mess if you use your personal insurance, so be sure that when you are riding for the ridesharing company, you are using their insurance, which also means being sure that you have this on you just in case it's needed. 
4. Take Care of Your Passenger: If you do have a passenger in the vehicle, you need to be sure that they are taken care of. This means calling for emergency assistance if it's needed. If they are not injured, you still want to have them get checked out by the EMTs, so be sure that you call the police. From here, you might ask for them to give a witness statement about the accident if you weren't at fault. This can help prove your need for compensation from the other driver's insurance company. 

When you know these four things, you can handle an accident while using a ridesharing app in a much better way. For further assistance, always talk with an accident attorney who can help you file the proper paperwork and get the compensation you deserve since these cases can sometimes get complicated.