After an injury in a rideshare accident, you have the legal right to sue the driver for compensation for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
Uber and Lyft Accident Injuries in Pennsylvania
There are now over a million Uber drivers throughout the U.S., with billions of rides each year. The rise in the use of rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, particularly in major Pennsylvania cities like Philadelphia, Allentown, and Pittsburgh, has coincided with a rise in rideshare accident injuries.
Now, thousands of rideshare passengers are wondering how they can claim compensation as they seek to restart their lives after an accident in a rideshare vehicle.
Comparing Injury Insurance of Rideshare and Taxi Companies
Taxi companies operating in Pennsylvania must follow strict guidelines for hiring drivers, insurance coverage, and driver training. Rideshare companies are not obligated, as yet, to follow these guidelines. Rideshare drivers use their personal vehicle, and are generally covered by their own private insurance when another driver is at-fault for a rideshare accident.
If the rideshare driver is held responsible for an accident on the road, the following conditions must be met for Uber or Lyft to cover your injury costs:
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- The driver is “on duty” and using the app to provide rides to passengers.
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- The driver is logged in and has accepted a ride at the time of the accident. In cases where the rideshare driver has yet to accept the ride, a continent policy is applied to the coverage.
Uber may provide up to $1 million in insurance coverage per accident when the two above stipulations are met.
How Can I File a Rideshare Accident Injury Claim?
Although $1 million might seem like a large amount, you can only access a settlement from the rideshare accident if you file a claim, your driver has coverage at the time of the accident, and you have full tort coverage.
A further complicating factor in rideshare accident claims is that if you suffer a serious injury as defined under Pennsylvania personal injury law, you may file a claim directly against the at-fault driver, even if you have limited tort coverage. Read our post regarding full tort and limited tort as it applies to Pennsylvania injury law for further details on this complex topic.
Below are the Initial Steps to Take to File a Rideshare Accident Injury Claim
Collect the Rideshare Driver’s Name and Contact Details
After an accident, collect the driver’s name and contact details. If possible, screenshot the app and the time of the accident, as the app should provide you with the driver’s identification details. Ask for the names and contact information of all other parties involved in your rideshare accident. For example, get the details of other drivers and any witnesses to the accident.
Report the Rideshare Accident to the Police
Report your accident to the police so they can conduct their own investigation. Police can then collect the information of all parties involved and will file an accident report that will then aid your future injury claim.
Visit a Doctor As Soon as Possible After the Accident
On the day of the accident, visit a doctor to undergo tests for potential injuries. Give the doctor as much information as possible about your accident and any pains you’re experiencing in the hours immediately afterward. The doctor may recommend X-rays, physical examinations, and ultrasounds to check for potential internal injuries. Ask the doctor for copies of all reports and keep these documents in a secure location.
Book a Rideshare Accident Lawyer Consultation
Many rideshare accident victims make the mistake of filing a claim with Uber or Lyft before speaking with an accident lawyer. When filing your claim with the rideshare company, you may provide details that limit your access to compensation and block your case before you can file a claim.
When you file the claim with the rideshare firm, their insurance team will likely contact you in the following days to get further details and potentially offer a settlement. This initial rideshare accident settlement offer will likely be well below the potential case value.
What Happens During a Rideshare Accident Injury Consultation?
During your rideshare accident consultation, your lawyer can assess your case and provide strategic legal guidance for filing your claim. They can guide you through filing while safeguarding your rights to fair compensation.
Your rideshare accident lawyer can also handle all future communications with the company and their legal teams, protecting your privacy and ensuring you focus solely on your injury recovery as the settlement continues.
Call Pennsylvania Rideshare Accident Lawyer Jeffrey Penneys After a Rideshare Accident
Don’t let the complexity of rideshare accident claims stop you from recovering compensation for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
Jeffrey Penneys offers 24/7 office hours to rideshare accident victims because he understands your need to speak with a skilled accident lawyer immediately in the hours after an accident.
Your rideshare accident lawyer consultation is free, and there’s no obligation. Secure the information you need for successful injury settlement recovery. Call The Law Offices of Jeffrey Penneys today.