RSG074: Bryant Greening on Dealing with Uber and Lyft Accidents

While most rides go off without a hitch, the more you drive, the more susceptible you are to getting into an accident, whether it’s your fault or not. You can’t control the other drivers on the road, but what do you need to know to prepare yourself for this eventuality? In this episode, I talk with Bryant Greening of Legal Rideshare about how to handle the aftermath of an accident.

If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.

While most rides go off without a hitch, the more you drive, the more susceptible you are to getting into an accident, whether it's your fault or not. You can't control the other drivers on the road, but what do you need to know to prepare yourself for this eventuality? In this episode, I talk with Bryant Greening of Legal Rideshare about how to handle the aftermath of an accident.

Intro

  • One of the things you quickly realize the more you rideshare drive is how many bad drivers are out there. You might be a great driver, but it’s almost inevitable that someone else won’t be – and it could become your problem
  • No one enjoys dealing with accidents, but the process certainly is a lot easier when you know what to do and who to call
  • Today, I’m speaking with Bryant Greening of LegalRideshare about how to handle accidents with Uber and Lyft
  • Hopefully, your accident won’t be serious, but if it is, there are precautions you can take. Bryant is going to walk us through everything we need to know in case we get into an accident, and he’ll discuss how his firm works with drivers
  • One thing I wanted to mention now that tax season is over… Stride Tax! Stride Tax helps you track all your mileage, your expenses and pretty much everything else you might need. It’s built for rideshare drivers – and it’s free. You can check it out here!

Interview with Bryant Greening

  • Bryant Greening is the co-founder of LegalRideshare, the only law firm in the US entirely dedicated to Uber and Lyft accident and injury claims
  • LegalRideshare helps drivers and passengers recover costs associated with medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering after rideshare accidents
  • Bryant initially practiced as a personal injury lawyer, but he began to get a lot of questions from Uber/Lyft drivers as they were going through legal claims after accidents and injuries
  • Started the site LegalRideshare, which became a practice, and as Uber/Lyft kept growing, so did LegalRideshare
  • Bryant also drives for Uber and Lyft!

How Can Drivers Protect Themselves From the Start?

  • The more often you’re on the road, the more likely you will be involved in an accident
  • Important to protect yourself up front with rideshare insurance – may cost more initially, but it will pay off if/when you’re in an accident
  • Look for a company that’s used to writing rideshare insurance policies, and make your decision based on which company offers you the best rate
  • Highly recommend drivers get a dash camera as well
  • Yes, there is an upfront cost to insurance + dash camera, but it’s worth it and the dash camera can help prove your story if anything happens

What Happens After You’re in an Accident While Rideshare Driving?

  • The first thing is to stop driving and call the police – you want the report written at the scene, especially if it wasn’t your fault
  • If you feel any pain or jarring sensation, let the officer know so that can be included in the report – some people say “I’m fine” but then have pain a few hours later – better to get everything written down at the time of the accident
  • This goes for your passengers, too – if you have passengers in the car, try to get them to stay, report their injuries – and get their contact information
  • Take photos of both cars (yours and the other person involved in the accident)
  • Also will need to let Uber/Lyft know you’ve been in an accident to trigger the insurance coverage policy
  • If passengers are in your car at the time of the accident, Uber or Lyft is going to be the primary insurance you contact

After an Accident

  • First, if you’re injured, get medical treatment
  • Next, move on to your damaged vehicle – you’ll want to go through the insurance claims process and open a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance comapny
  • So let’s say the driver who hit you has State Farm, you’ll want to call State Farm and let them know your insured driver caused an accident and you need your car fixed as soon as possible
  • If you go through the insured driver’s insurance instead of Uber or Lyft, you won’t have to pay Uber/Lyft’s deductibles
  • If you’re at fault, it’s a little trickier because you will go through Uber or Lyft and you will have to pay their deductibles

When Do You Need a Lawyer?

  • If you have medical bills, lost wages – could be a good idea to hire a lawyer
  • Insurance companies don’t want to pay out any more than they have to
  • Basically, lawyers have the experience to navigate the insurance world
  • A rideshare lawyer will work with insurance companies on auto policies, with networks of medical providers, and with the injured party. It’s a lot to coordinate, but if you hire a lawyer, it’s one less thing for you to worry about
  • If you’re looking for lost wages, the lawyer will want you to gather your pay stubs and show what you’ve been making weekly/monthly to prove all the money you’ll be out of because you can’t work for a week (or longer, depending on the accident)

About LegalRideshare

  • LegalRideshare works on a contingency basis – never gets paid by the client
  • LegalRideshare charges a fee at the end of the case, and if they don’t win, they don’t get paid
  • Bottom line: if you’re injured, you should get a lawyer. In many cases, you could handle property damage on your own
  • LegalRideshare works with people all over the country, although they’re based in Illionois
  • If you want to get in touch with Bryant, you can visit LegalRideshare or send him an email at bryant@legalrideshare.com. You can also call him at 312-767-2222.

Outro

  • Thank you again to Bryant Greening for coming on and sharing more information about LegalRideshare and what to be aware of before, during, and after an accident
  • Getting into an accident is something no one wants to experience or maybe even think about, but being prepared and knowing what to do/who to call can save you time, frustration, and even money
  • It’s nice to know Bryant also provides consultations to drivers who’ve been in accidents – he can help point you in the right direction even if you don’t end up working together
  • Another way to take care of your business and yourself at tax time: Stride Tax! Stride Tax helps you track all your mileage, your expenses and pretty much everything else you might need. It’s built for rideshare drivers – and it’s free. You can check it out here!
  • Follow me on FacebookTwitter and YouTube and you can always contact me if you have questions – I like to hear from you all!

Show Notes

If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.

-Harry @ RSG