Injured in a Rideshare Accident? Here’s What to Do.

By O’Cathain Law Group

A Doordash driver runs the red light and crashes into your car? An Uber driver crashes into the back of your car? A Lyft driver doesn’t stop at the intersection and rams into your car?

What do each of these accidents have in common? You’re going to need a personal injury lawyer who knows how to handle rideshare crashes.

Now, let’s look at 3 things to help you get the right lawyer for your case.

First, you need to know that your lawyer has experience handling car crash cases. When you call our office, you can ask for a free personal injury consultation with a certified civil trial lawyer. Our personal injury law practice has a team of lawyers and paralegals who only handle personal injury cases. We have litigated these cases – most of them settled, but many have also gone to trial in front of a jury.

What makes a lawyer a ‘certified civil trial lawyer’? The New Jersey Supreme Court Board on Attorney Certification lists these credentials:

• be a member in good standing of the New Jersey Bar for at least five years
• take a specific number of continuing legal education courses in the three years prior to filing an application
• demonstrate substantial involvement in preparation of litigated matters
• demonstrate an unblemished reputation by submitting a list of attorneys and judges who will attest to the applicant’s character and ability
• pass a written examination covering various aspects of practice in the designated specialty

Second, you need to know if the personal injury lawyer knows how to maximize the value of your case. Insurance companies know what plaintiff lawyers and law firms bring cases to trial in front of a jury. Why would an insurance company pay more money for a case where the plaintiff lawyer doesn’t know how to bring the case to trial? Make sure your lawyer handles personal injury and tries cases in front of a jury. You are entitled to know.

Third, you need to know if the law firm will respond to you. At our firm, your case will have a designated paralegal who can respond to your questions and make sure that the lawyer knows that you are reaching out.

Now that you know you will hire us, here is what the litigation in your rideshare personal injury lawsuit will look like.

First, the law firm will file your lawsuit and the rideshare company – such as Uber, Lyft, Doordash – will hire a lawyer to file an Answer.

Second, the lawyers will turn over written answers and questions so that both sides know what the other side is alleging. After that, there will be depositions where the lawyers for the rideshare company ask you what happened and how the injuries from the crash impact your life.

Third, the lawyers will see if they can settle the case for a fair value. If that does not happen, the case will go to a jury and the jury will decide a fair value for your injuries if the rideshare is at fault for the crash. During settlement discussions or at trial, you will be very happy that you went with the lawyer who knows how to try cases and get full and fair value.

Before you pick up the phone to call us or fill out our intake sheet online, you should ask yourself these questions:

• Is the police report ready?
• If the police report is not ready, do I have a number to give my lawyer at O’Cathain Law Group to get it?
• Have I gone to see any doctor about my injuries?
• If there has been no doctor appointment, do I need the help of a lawyer to find a doctor?
• Do I have photographs or video of the damage from the crash?

Now you are ready to contact us.