How to Collect Evidence Post-Rideshare Collision

You never expect a routine Uber or Lyft ride in Rock Hill to end in flashing police lights and an injury. In the confusion after a crash, it is easy to focus on getting home and overlook how your early decisions can affect your claim.

At Lewis Law Firm, LLC, we have over 80 years of combined experience in handling personal injury cases. In this guide, we walk through the most important types of rideshare accident evidence in Rock Hill, how to collect them safely, and what we can do to help when some pieces are already missing.

Why Evidence After a Rock Hill Rideshare Crash Matters So Much

First Steps at the Scene: Stay Safe While Preserving Key Details

Your first priority after a rideshare crash in Rock Hill is safety. If you can move, get yourself to safety. Call 911 if you or anyone else may be injured, or if there is significant vehicle damage. Even if the crash seems minor, having law enforcement respond creates an official record that can be important later. 

While waiting for help, take note of key details. Identify your location in Rock Hill by nearby intersections, businesses, or landmarks. Pay attention to the time, weather, lighting, road conditions, construction, and whether traffic signals are working. You do not need perfect recall, but specific details can be helpful if questions arise later.

When an officer arrives, give honest, factual answers about what you saw and felt, but avoid guessing about things like speed or exact distances. 

What to Photograph & Record Before the Scene Changes

If you are physically able and it is safe, your phone can be your most powerful tool at the crash scene. Tow trucks, emergency responders, and even other drivers will change what the area looks like within minutes. By taking a series of quick photos and short videos, you capture details that no one can recreate later. This visual evidence often becomes one of the most persuasive parts of a rideshare accident claim.

Be sure to take photos and videos of the following:

• Wide shots: Photograph all vehicles involved, showing where they came to rest. Include roadway lines, intersections, landmarks, or street signs to establish the Rock Hill location.
• Vehicle damage: Take multiple-angle photos of each vehicle, including dents, scratches, broken lights, and any other damage—not just the most obvious areas.
• Road evidence: Capture skid marks, broken glass, loose parts, and debris to help show how the crash occurred and estimate vehicle speed.
• Surrounding conditions: Take pictures of traffic lights, stop signs, and lane markings. Document weather, lighting, or glare conditions, such as rain, fog, or sun, which could affect visibility.
• People and paperwork: Photograph license plates and any insurance cards provided. Be sure to also screenshot the rideshare app showing the ride in progress and other relevant details.
• Injuries: Have a trusted friend or family member photograph visible injuries like bruises, cuts, or swelling as soon as possible.

Using Your Rideshare App as a Powerful Source of Evidence

One thing that makes rideshare crashes different from other wrecks on Rock Hill roads is the amount of digital information involved. Your rideshare app quietly tracks the route, logs time stamps, and stores driver and vehicle details that can all become critical evidence. The challenge is that this information is not always easy to retrieve later in the exact format you see it on the day of the crash.

As soon as you can after the collision, open the rideshare app and take screenshots of every screen connected to that trip. 

This can include:

• Trip details: Screenshot the page showing the date, time, pick-up and drop-off locations, and fare amount.
• Route map: Capture the map of the route taken during the trip.
• Driver information: Take screenshots of the driver’s profile, including their name, photo, vehicle make and model, and license plate number as shown in the app.
• In-app messages: Save any messages exchanged with the driver or rideshare company, including reports about the driver’s behavior, road conditions, or the crash itself, as these can be important evidence later.

Collecting Witness, Driver & Vehicle Information the Right Way

While your phone is out, it is also time to capture key information about the people involved. 

Capture photos of the following:

• Drivers’ details: Ask to see the driver’s licenses and insurance cards from the rideshare driver and any other involved drivers. Carefully record or photograph full names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company names and policy numbers.
• Witness information: Politely request names and contact details (phone or email) from any bystanders who saw the accident. Note a brief description of what they witnessed while it’s fresh.

Do your best to keep these conversations calm and factual. Avoid arguing about fault or pressuring anyone to take your side. Anything you say could be repeated later, and strong emotions in the moment can lead to statements that do not reflect what actually happened. 

Digital Evidence Beyond the App: Cameras, Texts & Social Media

Not all valuable rideshare accident evidence in Rock Hill comes from the scene or the app. Much of it exists in digital systems that overwrite data quickly. Knowing where to look and how to preserve it can strengthen your case.

Other types of evidence can include:

• Surveillance cameras: Note nearby businesses, gas stations, restaurants, and residential cameras that may have recorded the crash. Record their names, approximate locations, and the direction they face so timely preservation requests can be made.
• Digital communications: Save texts, emails, and app messages with the driver, rideshare company, or insurers. Screenshots and cloud backups help protect this evidence if your phone fails.
• Social media caution: Avoid posting about the crash, injuries, fault, or settlement online. Even casual posts can be used to downplay your injuries.
• Symptom and daily life log: Keep a simple journal of missed work, limited activities, sleep problems, and emotional or cognitive changes. This record helps connect the accident to your real-life impact.

From a legal standpoint, this kind of record helps connect the dots between the collision and the real impact on your life, which is something adjusters will not see just by looking at a few medical bills. 

Medical Records & Injury Documentation That Support Your Claim

Medical evidence is just as important as photos and app data, and it heavily influences how insurers value a Rock Hill rideshare accident claim. Even minor soreness can seem manageable, but delaying care gives insurers a reason to argue your injuries are not serious or came from another source.

Doing the following can help preserve your injury documentation:

• Seek prompt medical evaluation: Visit an emergency room, urgent care clinic, or your regular doctor as soon as possible. Report all symptoms, including neck stiffness, headaches, dizziness, numbness, or difficulty concentrating; no detail is too minor.
• Keep thorough records: Save discharge instructions, prescriptions, physical therapy plans, imaging results, and specialist referrals. Follow through on recommended treatment to avoid gaps insurers could use against you.
• Document visible injuries: Take periodic photos of bruises, swelling, or scars to show how injuries evolve over time.
• Track daily impact: Note any limitations in work, childcare, or regular activities in Rock Hill. This helps demonstrate the real effect of your injuries beyond medical bills.

How Lewis Law Firm, LLC Uses Your Evidence to Build a Strong Rideshare Case

You do not have to sort through ride data, camera footage, and medical files alone while trying to heal. If you have been hurt in a rideshare collision in Rock Hill, we invite you to reach out. 

Dial (803) 327-1103 to learn more about how we can assist you. We offer free consultations and services in English and Spanish.