Knoxville Rideshare Accident: What You Need to Know
We are Knoxville Car Accident Lawyer, a local firm dedicated to representing victims of Knoxville rideshare accidents and other motor vehicle injuries in East Tennessee. Our team focuses exclusively on helping clients navigate the aftermath of collisions involving Uber and Lyft, handling claims for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and other losses. We understand Tennessee traffic laws and insurance coverage rules, including how to manage cases with multiple parties and conflicting insurance policies. We offer a free consultation, and our experienced rideshare accident attorneys act quickly to preserve evidence, meet filing deadlines, and work toward fair compensation under Tennessee law.
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are common across Knoxville and East Tennessee, but accidents involving these vehicles are rising. A Knoxville rideshare accident can leave passengers, drivers, and others facing serious injuries, high medical expenses, and confusing insurance disputes. Knowing what to do in the moments after a crash is critical.
In this blog, we outline essential steps to take after a Knoxville rideshare accident and explain how working with an experienced Knoxville rideshare accident lawyer can help you secure medical care, gather evidence, and pursue fair compensation under Tennessee law.
Step 1: Ensure Safety and Report the Accident
The first step after a Knoxville rideshare accident is to protect yourself and others at the scene. Safety and proper reporting are critical for your health, the people around you, and any future injury claim.
Move to a Safe Location
If possible, move yourself and others involved to a safe area away from traffic. Keeping distance from moving vehicles reduces the risk of further harm. If the rideshare vehicle is operable, move it to the side of the road.
Call 911 Immediately
Tennessee law requires drivers to report accidents that cause injury, death, or property damage. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-106, you must notify law enforcement. Emergency responders will check for injuries and create a police report, which is valuable evidence in rideshare accident cases.
Check on the Parties Involved
Check on the rideshare driver, other passengers, and other drivers involved. If anyone is injured, give basic assistance until medical help arrives. Recording details about the accident scene will also help later when determining liability and insurance coverage.
Secure the Scene for Evidence
While waiting for help, take note of road conditions, traffic signs, and any hazards such as adverse weather conditions. This information will support your case if you need to work with a rideshare accident lawyer or file an injury claim against the rideshare company or their insurance providers.
Step 2: Seek Medical Attention and Keep Records
Prompt medical care is one of the most important actions after a Knoxville rideshare accident. It protects your health and strengthens your injury claim.
Visit a Doctor Immediately
Get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. Injuries from rideshare accidents such as whiplash, concussion, or internal bleeding may not be obvious at the accident scene. A medical exam creates a clear link between the crash and your condition.
Keep Medical Records Safe
Save every record connected to your treatment, including test results, prescriptions, and receipts for medical expenses. These records are evidence of your injuries and the cost of care. They also help your rideshare accident lawyer prove damages when dealing with insurance providers.
Continue Medical Treatments
Follow all treatment plans and attend every appointment. Consistent care shows you are taking your recovery seriously. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies and the rideshare company an argument to reduce or deny coverage for your claim.
Be Aware of Legal Deadlines
Tennessee law allows only one year to file a personal injury claim. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, missing this deadline can block recovery of medical expenses, lost wages, and other compensation. Getting treatment right away creates the documentation needed for your rideshare accident attorney to pursue fair compensation.
Step 3: Collect Evidence and Information
Strong evidence is essential after a Knoxville rideshare accident. The information you gather at the scene can determine how liability and insurance coverage are handled later.
Take Photos of the Accident Scene
Use your phone to capture the rideshare vehicle, other cars, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries. Photos of property damage and adverse weather conditions help show what caused the crash.
Gather Driver and Insurance Information
Ask the rideshare driver and any other drivers for their names, insurance information, and license details. Record the rideshare app ride request information, including the driver’s status at the time of the accident. This will help clarify which insurance policy applies.
Get Witness Contact Details
If anyone saw the accident, ask for their names and phone numbers. Witness accounts are valuable when multiple parties are involved or when insurance providers dispute liability.
Request the Police Report
When law enforcement arrives, they will prepare a report. Ask how to obtain a copy of the police report, as it includes facts about the crash and statements from the drivers involved. This document is often used by a rideshare accident lawyer to support your injury claim.
Step 4: Understand Liability and Insurance Coverage
Determining liability in a Knoxville rideshare accident is often complicated. The driver’s status in the rideshare app and the type of insurance coverage available will decide who pays for injuries and damages.
Driver’s Status in the Rideshare App
Liability depends on whether the rideshare driver was logged in:
- If the driver was offline, their personal insurance policy applies.
- If the driver was waiting for a ride request, limited liability insurance may apply from the rideshare company.
- If the driver was en route or carrying passengers, Uber and Lyft provide up to $1 million in liability coverage.
Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law
Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-101 et seq., all drivers must carry liability insurance. This law ensures that coverage exists, but disputes often arise when multiple insurance providers are involved.
Multiple Insurance Policies
Rideshare accidents often involve multiple parties and overlapping coverage. A passenger, the rideshare company, the Uber or Lyft driver, and other drivers may all have policies that provide coverage. Sorting out which policy applies is key to recovering fair compensation.
Role of a Rideshare Accident Lawyer
A rideshare accident attorney can examine insurance policies, the accident scene, and the police report to identify responsible parties. This legal assistance is critical for injury claims involving medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Step 5: Contact a Knoxville Rideshare Accident Lawyer
When you face a Knoxville rideshare accident, contacting our firm, Knoxville Car Accident Lawyer, is the most important step you can take to protect your rights and pursue fair compensation.
Expert Guidance from Our Firm
We are Knoxville Car Accident Lawyer, a firm dedicated to injury victims across Tennessee. We handle accidents involving rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft. Our team brings deep knowledge of Tennessee traffic laws and insurance rules to these cases. We serve clients in Knoxville and East Tennessee with focused legal support based on our experience and local presence.
We Handle Claims for Injuries and Losses
Our lawyers work to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other costs arising from a rideshare accident. We know how to build claims involving multiple insurance policies from the rideshare driver, the company, and other parties. We handle disputes over liability and coverage so that you can focus on recovery.
We Know Tennessee Law and Deadlines
We work under Tennessee’s rules, including the modified comparative fault law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-11-103) and the one-year deadline for personal injury claims (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104). When you hire us, we act quickly to preserve evidence, file claims, and negotiate with insurance providers to protect your legal rights.
Free Evaluation and Client Support
We offer a free evaluation so you can understand your options with no cost or obligation. You can reach us by phone or through our website to arrange a consultation. Our team is ready to review your case, gather the facts, and explain how a rideshare accident attorney from our firm can help you seek fair compensation.
Contact Our Knoxville Rideshare Accident Lawyer Team Today!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Knoxville rideshare accident, our team at Knoxville Car Accident Lawyer is here to help. We provide focused legal assistance for cases involving Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing services. Our attorneys know Tennessee traffic laws, insurance coverage rules, and the challenges of handling claims with multiple parties involved.
Contact us at 864-444-2062 for a free case review today!
