When you book a rideshare trip, you entrust your safety to someone else. While these services are convenient, the risk of an accident is an ever-present threat—especially when you consider that many of these operators are fatigued, rushing to maximize their profits, or distracted by their phones.

However, while a rideshare driver’s mistakes may have put you in the emergency room, it’s important to remember that your own errors could leave you on the hook for your damages. Even minor missteps may hurt the strength of your claim, leaving you to face disputes, delays, and other issues during proceedings.

In this article, we look at a few mistakes claimants commonly make and provide you with tips on how to avoid these costly errors:

Admitting Fault

Even if you believe you played a role in causing the accident, you should never vocalize these thoughts. This applies to the moments immediately after the collision, conversations with the insurer, and even social media messages you send to friends. Taking responsibility for the wreck could be a mistake that haunts you from the moment you open your mouth as this confession will hand evidence to opposing parties to challenge your credibility.

Settling Too Quickly

The insurer may offer you a settlement in the early stages of the claims process. As your costs are probably adding up at a rapid rate, it’s tempting to accept their offer and move on with your life.

However, until you’ve had a chance to assess your damages, this settlement may fall short of covering the full extent of your costs stemming from the accident. An attorney can assess your situation, investigate the wreck and review the available evidence to help approximate a reasonable sum for the damages you’ve incurred.

Failing to Preserve Evidence

Gathering evidence to support your claim is a crucial step in building a strong rideshare accident claim. From taking photographs of the wreckage to writing down eyewitness statements, there are many types of proof you can collect immediately after the collision. If your injuries prevent you from taking these steps on your own, contacting a lawyer as soon as possible could be a wise decision as they will usually visit the scene themselves to gather evidence on your behalf.

Ignoring Your Doctor’s Orders

In Florida, personal injury claimants are required to take sufficient steps to mitigate their damages. As such, you will need to do everything in your power to ensure that you don’t inadvertently contribute to your losses. For instance, you should always follow your doctor’s orders as any deviations from their instructions will probably result in disputes over failure to mitigate damages.

Speak to a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Miami Today

Were you hurt in a wreck involving a rideshare driver? It may be wise to reach out to a Florida Uber and Lyft accident attorney.

At Viñas & DeLuca, PLLC, we have decades of collective experience representing personal injury victims, arming us with the necessary knowledge and expertise to provide reliable guidance during the weeks ahead. Not only can we handle the logistics of your claim, but we can also provide tenacious representation at all stages of proceedings. Dial (305) 372-3650 or jump to our contact page HERE to request a free case review today.