What to do at the scene of a for-hire crash

In priority order

If you can only do a few things, do them in this order.

• Get medical attention if there's any question. Nothing else matters as much
• Screenshot the app — trip record, driver, vehicle, timestamps, route — before you do anything else if you were a passenger
• Photograph the plate, then the medallion or livery number, then any company markings
• Call the police and make sure a report is generated. Tell the officer it's a for-hire vehicle so it goes in the report
• Photograph both vehicles, their positions, the damage, the road, signals, and skid marks
• Get the driver's name, license, insurance card, and for-hire license number
• Ask the driver directly whether the app was on and whether they had a passenger. Write down their answer verbatim
• Get contact details for every passenger and witness. Passengers are neutral and hold app records
• Note any cameras — dashcams in the vehicle, businesses, traffic cameras, doorbells
• Report it through the app if applicable, and keep the confirmation

What not to do

Don't apologize or discuss fault. Don't accept a cash offer to skip reporting. Don't give a recorded statement to any insurer before you understand your injuries. Don't sign anything with the word release on it. And don't post about it.

The next few days

Get the police report number and then the report itself. Keep every medical record and bill. Write down your account while it's fresh, including what the driver said. Get the app receipt emailed to yourself so it exists outside the app.