Rideshare Accidents in Winnsboro, SC
Imagine that you use a rideshare app on your phone to get a safe, convenient ride home after a fun night out with friends in Winnsboro. As you head closer to your house, your rideshare driver is involved in an accident and you sustain injuries. What do you do? Calling an experienced and skilled Winnsboro rideshare accident lawyer helps make sure you receive fair compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost income.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a rideshare accident, contact Pete Strom today at (803) 252-4800 or complete the online form. The Strom Law Firm will happily work with you to fight for the recovery of compensation for your injuries.
Liability in Winnsboro Rideshare Company Accidents
South Carolina is a fault-based system for dealing with any car accidents. This means that the person at fault for the accident is responsible for compensating others for damages and injuries their mistake causes. Many times, either the rideshare driver or a driver of another car or truck is considered the responsible party. If the rideshare driver is determined to be at fault for an accident, you may attempt to seek compensation under the rideshare company’s insurance policy. Contacting an experienced Winnsboro rideshare accident lawyer is the best way to figure out who may be responsible to pay for the injuries and determine the different policies available for compensation.
Usual Injuries in Rideshare Accidents
The primary difference between a rideshare accident and a regular accident is that your driver is working on behalf of a rideshare company when the accident happens. The injuries you sustain as a passenger in a rideshare can include:
- Internal bleeding
- Whiplash
- Strained muscles
- Sprains
- Broken and fractured bones
- Bruising
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Organ damage
This harm may be minor or severe, but it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately after a rideshare accident. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is the best way to determine if you suffered any significant injuries in the accident, and the visit will begin the necessary documentation of your medical complaints.
Types of Compensation An Injured Person May Recover
Many factors will contribute to the amount of compensation you can receive. Some of these factors include the circumstances surrounding the accident, the type and severity of the injuries you suffered, and who is deemed at fault for the accident. In an accident that involves a rideshare driver, there are various expenses for which you may be compensated:
- Current medical bills
- Potential future medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and income
- Permanent disability as a result of the accident
Contacting an experienced attorney in rideshare accident claims can assist you in obtaining fair compensation for your full medical expenses.
Tactics Undertaken by Rideshare Companies and Their Drivers To Avoid Liability
If a rideshare driver is involved in an accident that caused your injuries, it is important to determine if you are entitled to compensation for those injuries. Insurance companies will almost certainly attempt to settle the claim for as little as they can to limit their losses. Two of their common strategies are relaying a low settlement offer or disputing the fault of the accident:
Contacting you early after the accident with a low settlement offer. When insurance companies review a car accident claim, they will always offer a low offer early on in the claim process. They will do this at a time where you are stressed and vulnerable from the impact the accident has caused you. This is the time to contact an attorney to discuss the incident before accepting or signing any paperwork.
Denying fault and blaming somebody else. Often, insurance companies will claim that they are at not fault for the accident. Rideshare companies’ insurance providers will likely claim that somebody else was responsible for it instead of the rideshare driver. These can prove to be very difficult claims and can impact your ability to recover compensation.
Cost of a Winnsboro Rideshare Accident Lawyer
After an accident, many expenses will come your way. You may find yourself worrying about medical expenses, lost income, rental car fees, and additional expenses related to your injuries. You may even be concerned about an attorney costing more than the medical expenses. Pete Strom and the Strom Law Firm provides free initial consultations to analyze the details of your case and any potential paths for financial recovery.
Most cases are taken on a contingency fee, where you will not pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries. These fees will be paid from the settlement amount, so will never be owed upfront by you. This allows you to proceed through your medical treatment and return to your life without worrying over the details or paying upfront for your representation.
Typical Mistakes of Injured Parties Filing Rideshare Accident Claims
You can file a rideshare accident claim for yourself; however, many become frustrated with how difficult the process can be. As with other accident claims, it is easy to make a mistake when filing rideshare accident claims, while going through the process without an experienced attorney. The size and capabilities of rideshare companies make bringing a claim alone that much more difficult.
Waiting to Seek Medical Treatment
One thing that insurance companies look for is whether you sought immediate medical attention. This does not mean you need to go to the hospital by EMS directly after an accident, rather you should go to the doctor as soon as reasonably possible and address your medical situation if emergency treatment is unnecessary. Failing to seek out a medical professional to look at your injuries could end up costing you credibility with the insurance company. They will believe that, since you did not receive immediate care, your injuries may not be as severe or serious as you’ve asserted.
Being Persuaded Into Admitting Your Own Fault
Accident victims typically discover that insurance claims are complicated, and insurance companies are tricky. The insurance company will often act as if they are your friend by showing compassion, sincerity, and empathy toward your injuries and suffering. At some point, it will become apparent that they are trying to pay you the least amount they can get away with. To do this, the agents ask questions that could deceive you into admitting fault. They will also ask you to give a recorded statement that may later be used against you in mediations or proceedings.
Sharing Details on Social Media About Your Accident
Social media has become a huge asset in all kinds of cases, mainly for insurance companies. Many accident victims fail to realize that what they post in social media will likely come back to bite them and affect their claim. Insurance companies will review social media sites and posts by riders in an effort to see if there is any information to collect that may potentially hurt a person’s claim. You do not want to put any information about a rideshare accident on social media and always ensure that your privacy settings are set to be sure that you know who can see your posts.
Consult an Experienced Winnsboro Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Columbia
If you or someone you know has been injured in a rideshare accident in Winnsboro or anywhere else in South Carolina, call Pete Strom immediately at (803) 252-4800 and schedule a free consultation. One of the experienced Winnsboro Rideshare Accident Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm will be happy to work closely with you or your loved one to examine the issues of fault and decide what next steps are needed to obtain compensation for your claim.
