Ridesharing is very convenient when you are not able to drive yourself and when public transportation is not practical, but some ridesharing drivers are not as responsible as others. When you get into a car with a ridesharing driver, you might notice that the driver is intoxicated and this might also lead to a car accident. 

What to Do When the Driver Is Drunk

You are allowed to end the ride with the driver for any reason and the driver must pull over. If the driver does not agree to stop driving, you are allowed to call 911 at any time if you do not feel safe. However, if you are involved in an accident, you will want to contact an auto accident attorney as soon as possible. You may need to take legal action against the driver if they were responsible for the crash.

When the Police Arrive

Once the police arrive, you will want to inform them that your driver is drunk. This will allow the police to conduct an investigation and possibly arrest and press charges against the driver. This can be used as evidence that the driver was at fault for the accident. 

Where to File a Claim

The good news is that you will be able to file a claim against more than one party. The driver is required to maintain auto insurance and the ridesharing company will also provide compensation for any injuries you suffer as a result of the accident. Rather than contacting the ridesharing company directly, you should consider talking to an auto accident attorney about any steps you should take. You will want to act quickly to gather evidence to make sure that you can place the blame squarely on the responsible party.

Your Damages

You will need help from an auto accident attorney to calculate the damages you have suffered so you can receive compensation for your injuries. Even though the driver might be clearly at fault, you will still need to prove that the accident caused you to become injured and that your injuries are not the result of a pre-existing condition.

Because drinking and driving is a crime, you may be able to receive punitive damages if you sue the driver in court. With punitive damages, the judge will attempt to send a message by requiring that the driver pay a much substantial amount of money for the accident. Reach out to an auto accident lawyer to see if you have a case.