Ridesharing: What to know if you are in a Car Accident
Ridesharing apps have become increasingly popular; Forbes reports exponential growth in companies like Lyft and Uber, who jumped from 140 million rides in 2014 to over 6.9 billion in 2019. The last thing you’d expect when digitally hailing your lift is to be injured in a crash, but with more rideshare use comes an increase in the number of vehicle accidents and fatalities, according to a University of Chicago Booth School of Business study, and your risk is definitely raised. What should you know if you’re injured in a ridesharing accident?
Anatomy of an Auto Accident Injury
Accidents are just that, unfortunate incidents that happen unexpectedly, and the impact can result in a startling, terrifying shock to your system. Instantly, your body and mind respond to the fearful experience with a wave of hormones like adrenaline, which creates systemic hyper-arousal and can dull pain enough to help you to get yourself to safety. Because of this stress “high”, it can take hours, days, or weeks for the true extent of injuries like neck or lower back pain to present. Because of this delay, it’s very important to be checked out immediately after an accident even if you think you feel okay, and to monitor any changing sensations in the body over the following days. Also, only let your doctor sign off on your care, because anything that shows up after a medical release will be your financial responsibility.
Back Pain
The main axis of the body is the spine, and because of the forces involved in an accident, many of the injuries that are sustained will happen to the bones, muscles, and supporting soft tissues within this space. When the car is abruptly stopped by an impact, the head can continue moving forward and then whip back, resulting in incredible neck pain, headaches, and even lost sleep. Also, impacts from the side can cause mid and upper back pain if bodies happen to hit doors, seats, or each other. Lower back pain can be caused by sitting in a twisted or off-center position during the impact, which can make it difficult to walk, stand, or even sit without pain. The good news is that by working with a compassionate and experienced back pain relief team as soon as possible, many related challenges can be avoided or alleviated.
Injury Insurance
It’s normal to be concerned about how to afford the care you’ll need for back pain relief if you’ve experienced an accident injury, but ideally, both the driver and the company will have adequate insurance. Both Uber and Lyft require that their drivers carry private liability and uninsured/underinsured coverage that pays up to $1 million per accident, and themselves carry third party policies. Navigating the claims process can be an exhausting element of getting care, and at Midwest Pain and Anesthesia Specialists, we’re here to work with you every step of the way, providing the support you need with streamlined administrative assistance.
Your Pain Relief Partner
There’s no way to prepare for being involved in a car accident, which can be a terrifying and disorienting experience. Injuries can be complex and require comprehensive treatment, and the claims process alone can be overwhelming. At Midwest Anesthesia and Pain Specialists, your return to wellness is our main priority, and from our proprietary billing and medical expertise to our dedication to client care, you can anticipate a fast and easy return to health. Call us today to meet our physicians and to share your case!