Liability in Ridesharing Accidents

Closeup of a caucasian and holding and iPhone with the Uber App open, symbolizing the need for a liability lawyer in personal injury cases.
A smartphone displaying the Uber App

Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have changed the way many of us get around. They have made commuting more convenient for millions. Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft drivers can get into accidents just like anyone else, often leaving victims with serious injuries and no idea where to turn. Fortunately, a Philadelphia car accident attorney can help victims make sense of who is responsible for their accident-related damages and ensure they get the compensation they are entitled to.

Our Philadelphia car accident lawyers have nearly twenty years of experience in handling car accidents in Philadelphia, across Pennsylvania, and throughout New Jersey. Our experienced legal team can fight to get you the compensation you deserve if you have been injured in an Uber of Lyft accident. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.

Accidents Caused By Other Drivers When You are a Ridesharing Passenger

If you are a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle and another driver causes an accident, you will likely be able to recover by making a claim on the other driver’s insurance company. While these types of claims may seem to be straightforward, it is still vital for victims to retain an attorney to ensure they obtain the full value of their claim. There is a lot of work that must be done immediately to preserve evidence, investigate the crash, and to pursue damages from the driver responsible for the collision.

Even if an Uber of Lyft driver did not directly cause or contribute to the accident, there may be additional insurance available through the Uber or Lyft car's policy. This may be in the form of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) provides money for your damages when the person who hit your car does not have insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) provides additional money for your injuries when the person who hit you does not have enough insurance available to fully pay for your damages.

An experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer can evaluate these potential claims to make sure you receive the best possible outcome in your case. Contact our firm today to see what our team of car accident attorneys can do to help you.

Accidents Caused by Ridesharing Drivers

When accidents are directly caused by Uber driver or Lyft drivers, things can get much more complicated, quickly. Both Uber and Lyft have similar corporate insurance policies that may cover their drivers, depending on what the driver was doing when the accident occurred.

App Off or Offline

If an accident happens while an Uber or Lyft driver's app is off or he or she is offline, the driver's own insurance policy will provide coverage for any accident he or she causes.

App on and Waiting for a Ride

If the driver has the app on and is waiting to accept a ride, both Uber and Lyft provide 3rd-party liability coverage in the following amounts should the driver’s personal auto insurance not apply:

  • $50,000 bodily injury per person
  • $100,000 per accident
  • $25,000 for property damage

En Route to Pick Up a Passenger or Providing a Ride

If the ridesharing driver is on his or her way to pick up a passenger or in the process of providing a ride, both Uber and Lyft provide $1,000,000 in primary 3rd-party liability coverage.

How Do You Know Who is At-Fault for an Accident?

Determining fault in a ridesharing accident can be complicated. Under Pennsylvania law, a person is at fault when his or her negligence causes an accident, and negligence occurs when a person fails to use the degree of care that would normally be used by a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances. In plain English, this means that a person is at fault when his or her carelessness or mistake resulted in a crash.

Some of the more common forms of driver negligence that can result in an accident include:

In many cases, liability is so clear that the only issue that needs to be resolved is how much the at-fault insurer will pay victims, while in others, the entire matter will need to be litigated in court. Even in clear cases, defendants often try to argue that a person's injuries are unrelated or pre-existed the accident.

Regardless of the circumstances of your case, it is always in your best interest to retain a Philadelphia car accident lawyer to represent you. We have experience in fighting against insurance companies to get our clients compensated.

Protecting Your Rights after a Ridesharing Accident

If you have been hurt in an accident involving a ridesharing driving, whether as a passenger, another motorist, pedestrian, or bicyclist, there are certain things you should do to protect your rights. The most important of these include:

  • Call 911. It’s important that police respond to the scene and determine whether any of the drivers involved were intoxicated or violated traffic laws.
  • Seek medical attention. You should see a physician and request a full medical evaluation after an accident, even if you don't think your injuries are that serious. The insurance company will want to see documentation of your injuries and their severity.
  • Do not accept a settlement offer before talking to an attorney. You only get one chance to settle your case, and the insurance company will be happy to settle for less than your case is worth.
  • Call a Philadelphia car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

A Philadelphia Uber Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Our lawyers and staff have nearly twenty years of experience in handling car accident cases. Our lawyers tirelessly fight for our clients to get them the compensation they deserve. Whether a case involves a fender bender or a major pile up, our team has successfully recovered money for our clients in car accident cases through the years. Put our experience to work for you.

Philadelphia Uber accident lawyer

From the outset of your case, our legal team will perform a thorough investigation. This can involve obtaining the police report, tracking down witnesses, hiring experts, and taking photos of the damaged vehicles and the accident site. At times we can data from an event data recorder, which is like a black box for a car, that records certain information to explain how an accident occurred.

Preserving evidence can be time-sensitive. Vehicles may be scrapped, witnesses may move away or forget important details, and other evidence may be lost if it is not preserved. This is another reason why it is important to contact a Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyer as soon as possible after a collision.

When you hire the ridesharing car accident lawyers at Mattiacci Law, we also assist with opening your medical claim. A claim for medical benefits mus be opened with an auto insurance company in order to get medical bills paid. Our firm will assist with that process, which can often be frustrating for people who are dealing with injuries and treatment.

Our personal injury lawyers have handled many serious vehicle accident cases over the years. While every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts, we will fight to maximize our clients' recoveries. Some of these past recoveries include:

  • $21+ million - passengers of bus injured in turnpike accident
  • $10+ million - driver injured by tractor trailer
  • $1.25 million – car struck by truck
  • $900,000 – truck driver injured in a car accident
  • $825,000 – car struck by truck
  • $750,000 - trucking accident claim
  • $395,000 – trucking accident on North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA
  • $285,000 – sideswipe collision
  • $250,000 – Side impact car accident
  • $240,000 –pedestrian hit by passing pickup
  • $240,000 - pedestrian struck by work truck
  • $200,000 – airport shuttle collision

If you have been injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, contact our firm today. The initial consultation is completely free. Put our experience to work for you.

Injured in a Uber or Lyft Accident? Call Us Today for a Free Consultation with a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in an accident involving an Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing vehicle, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. At Mattiacci Law, LLC, we are dedicated to helping accident victims get the compensation to which they are entitled under Pennsylvania law.

To schedule a free case evaluation with a car accident attorney in Philadelphia, call our office today at 215-709-7915 or 856-219-2481. You can also send us an email through our online contact form.

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