Pennsylvania Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Representing Victims of Uber & Lyft Accidents Throughout the State

When you hire an Uber or Lyft, you’re putting your life into someone else’s hands. Unlike a taxi or limo driver, a ridesharing driver doesn’t receive any additional training; they can be anyone with a license and a car. You are trusting that they will take you where you need to go safely without any problems.

However, this is not always the case, especially in Philadelphia and other heavily populated areas throughout Pennsylvania. Accidents occur every day on the Schuylkill, the Blue Route, and in the downtown area—and these accidents often involve ridesharing vehicles.

At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we represent victims of Uber and Lyft accidents in Pennsylvania, including in Philadelphia, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre. Or maybe you’re the one who’s behind the wheel. You just wrecked your personal vehicle while driving for Uber or Lyft—that’s an insurance nightmare. Will workers' compensation pay your medical bills?

Our lawyers are highly experienced at handling all types of motor vehicle accident cases. We understand the difficulties surrounding ridesharing accidents, and we have a proven track record of negotiating high settlements and winning favorable jury verdicts on behalf of car accident victims.

Learn how we can help you with your ridesharing accident claim today; call (877) 989-4878 or contact us online to request a free consultation with a member of our team.

Ridesharing Accidents Involve Complex Insurance Issues

When it comes to hired vehicle drivers, such as taxi or limo drivers, there are very strict rules drivers need to follow; they must meet all state and city insurance requirements. As such, if the vehicle gets into an accident, then there are laws that determine who is liable for both passengers’ and drivers’ injuries.

However, ridesharing vehicles, such as Uber and Lyft, do not fall under these requirements. These are personal vehicles being used by ridesharing drivers—not by the companies that hired them. And, although Uber and Lyft do have insurance, the drivers are required to have their own personal car insurance in case of an accident.

But the rules of liability in regards to an Uber or Lyft accident can be very convoluted. Sometimes, Uber drivers use the company insurance as only secondary to their own coverage.

If this is the case, the following factors must be in place for Uber or Lyft’s coverage to apply:

• The driver is using the app and is considered on duty. In other words, the driver needs to be working in order to use Uber or Lyft’s insurance.
• The driver has logged in and accepted a ride. However, if the driver has not accepted a ride yet, the ridesharing company uses a reduced or “contingent” policy.

The policy is in effect between the time the driver accepts the ride and drops off the passenger. So, if there is an accident during this time and the Uber driver is found at fault, the ridesharing company’s policy will cover the driver’s and passenger’s injuries. However, if another driver was at fault, the driver’s personal policy will cover both the driver’s and the passenger’s injuries.

Since many Uber and Lyft drivers use personal insurance policies, there can be a variety of issues with coverage options. For example, if you are a passenger in a Lyft vehicle that gets into an accident and the driver only has basic coverage, there may not be enough money to pay your medical bills. This means you will have to use your own insurance to pay your medical bills.

Insurance Issues for Ridesharing Drivers

As for ridesharing drivers, they may have a fight on their hands with their insurance company. Since their personal policies may not cover commercial use of the vehicle, the insurance company may not pay the driver’s claim after an Uber accident because the vehicle was being used for commercial purposes.

But what about workers’ compensation for the driver? In the case of a ridesharing driver, that option is not available to you. Generally, Uber and Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors instead of an employee, which means they cannot apply for workers’ comp benefits.

Injured in a Ridesharing Accident? We Can Help.

If you’ve been injured in an accident while driving or riding in an Uber or Lyft, our Pennsylvania Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can fight to get you the compensation you deserve. At Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, we have decades of experience fighting for car accident victims in Philadelphia, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and across the state. We have a winning record, having secured more than $110 million on behalf of our clients over the years, and we are prepared to advocate tirelessly for you and your recovery.

Don’t delay another second! You only have two years to file your ridesharing accident claim (in most cases). Reach out to our team right away to learn more about your legal rights and learn how we can help you fight for justice and fair compensation. We can begin investigating your claim and building your case right away.

To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, contact us online or call (877) 989-4878 today.