Globally, ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft have changed the game of the transportation industry by providing convenience and affordability to millions of passengers.
However, the rise in the use of rideshare has led to an increase in accidents involving these services.
If you are involved in a rideshare accident, whether as a passenger, driver, or third-party motorist, it can get quite overwhelming to navigate the complexities of legal and insurance claims. This is why you need to hire a rideshare accident lawyer.
The Physical Difficulties of Rideshare Accidents
The Physical Struggles After a Rideshare Accident
Accidents can leave you with a lot of injuries. Some are obvious, like broken bones, and others are harder to notice at first but still serious. Here’s what you could face:
- Broken Bones: A major accident can lead to broken arms, legs, or ribs. These can be pretty painful and may require casts or even surgery. You might need months to heal, and some breaks can cause long-term problems.
- Head Injuries: Even a small bump to the head can cause a concussion, but worse injuries can happen too. You might get headaches, dizziness, or even memory loss. These are things that can really affect your daily life for a long time.
- Neck and Back Pain: Whiplash is super common after a crash. You’ll feel a sharp pain and stiffness in your neck and back, and it could last for days, weeks, or even longer. It might even turn into something chronic, making it tough to do everyday things.
- Cuts and Bruises: The force of the crash can send glass flying or cause cuts from hitting hard surfaces. These might seem small at first, but they can leave deep wounds that take time to heal, and bruises can be painful for a while.
- Spinal Injuries: The spine is a delicate part of the body. If the crash is bad enough, you could end up with permanent damage, which might mean needing a wheelchair or other help to get around. It’s one of the more serious injuries that can happen.
- Internal Injuries: Sometimes the crash can hurt internal organs like the lungs, liver, or kidneys. You won’t always feel this right away, but it can be life-threatening and often requires emergency care.
- Burns: In rare cases, fires or airbags going off can cause burns. These burns can be serious, depending on how bad the accident was, and might need special treatment.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and tears in muscles, ligaments, or tendons are common in accidents. These might cause swelling, pain, and stiffness, and can make it hard to move around for a while.
The Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties of a Rideshare Accident
Your physical body is not the only part of you that suffers consequences. Here are some of the mental and emotional side effects of a rideshare accident:
- Anxiety: After the crash, you might feel scared to get back in another car, especially a rideshare. The fear of it happening again can be paralyzing, and it’s common to feel nervous every time you ride anywhere.
- Depression: If you’re hurt and have a long recovery ahead of you, it can lead to sadness or even hopelessness. You might feel stuck or isolated, especially if you’re not able to do the things you used to love doing.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Sometimes, the emotional pain lasts longer. Victims of serious accidents might have flashbacks, nightmares, or a real fear of riding in cars again. PTSD can make it tough to move on and keep living normally.
- Guilt: Even if you weren’t the cause of the accident, it’s common to blame yourself. You might feel like you could’ve done something to prevent it, and that guilt can weigh you down, even though you weren’t at fault.
- Financial Stress: Between doctor’s bills, car repairs, and missing work, the money side of things can be overwhelming. Financial stress can add another layer of pressure while you’re already dealing with pain and recovery.
- Grief: If someone close to you is seriously injured or killed, it can be absolutely devastating. Grief doesn’t always show up right away, but it can hit you hard, and it’s important to allow yourself to feel it and get support when you need it.