Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney Represents Victims of Rideshare Accidents in Allegheny County, Erie County, Butler County, and Throughout Western PA

Rideshare apps — including Uber, Lyft, and many others — have fundamentally changed the transportation industry in Pennsylvania and in the United States at large. More and more often, users are taking advantage of rideshare services as an alternative to both taxi services and to operating their own vehicle. Given that rideshare services have become increasingly ubiquitous, it is important to consider the liability issues that may arise in situations where an Uber or Lyft driver commits a negligent act and thereby causes an auto accident.

Have you suffered injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident in Western Pennsylvania? You may be entitled to significant damages, depending on the particular circumstances of your case. Here at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC, our Pittsburgh Uber & Lyft accident lawyers have extensive experience handling such litigation, and we have secured favorable verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients in a range of similar disputes. We represent motor vehicle accident victims in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Erie, Cranberry Township, and everywhere else in PA. Contact our firm today to set up a free and confidential consultation.

Suing the Driver (and Rideshare Company) for Damages in Butler, Pennsylvania

Rideshare service disputes have, for some time, been viewed with suspicion or concern, in part because the companies involved in the provision of such services occupy a complicated position. In a great many ways, companies like Uber and Lyft act in a manner similar to that of a traditional taxi employer; however, legally speaking, they are not defined as an employer in relation to the driver.

What does this mean for your Uber or Lyft accident claims? If the driver is negligent, and such negligence causes you to suffer injuries, then you are entitled to compensation pursuant to a lawsuit brought against the driver. Were Uber or Lyft considered employers, however, then you could also sue and recover damages from the rideshare company pursuant to the doctrine of vicarious liability, which allows you to impose the negligence-related liability of an employee on their employer.

As Uber and Lyft are not technically employers, you may only hold them liable for independent instances of negligent conduct that actually contributed to your injuries. For example, if Uber fails to perform an adequate background check of a driver (which would have revealed that the driver is not properly licensed to drive), and that driver’s incompetence subsequently led to the collision and your various injuries, then you may be entitled to bring an independent civil action against Uber for damages.

Insurance Coverage and Limitations in Erie Uber and Lyft Accident Claims

It should be noted that Uber and Lyft (and other rideshare services) typically carry liability insurance in the event that an accident does occur and where the driver is liable for negligence. Although these rideshare companies generally encourage drivers to obtain their own personal insurance coverage, and they do not guarantee coverage in the event of an accident, the reality is quite different. Should you be involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, it is quite possible that your damages will be covered under the liability insurance plan ($1 million in total).

The liability insurance coverage provided by Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies is rather variable, however, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Consider the following factors:

• If the Uber or Lyft driver is not logged onto the rideshare app and is not actively working as a driver for the company, then the liability insurance coverage at issue will likely not apply.
• If the Uber or Lyft driver is logged onto the rideshare app and is actively working (i.e., looking for customers, contacting customers, etc.) but has not yet accepted a ride request, then the liability insurance coverage would probably be reduced to just $100,000 in total.
• If the Uber or Lyft driver is logged onto the rideshare app and is actually transporting a passenger, then the full $1 million insurance coverage should apply.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Experienced Pittsburgh Personal Injury Attorneys About Your Lyft or Uber Accident

If you have been injured in an auto accident where the defendant (or your own driver) may have been working for Uber, Lyft, or another ridesharing company at the time of the accident, then you could be be entitled to recover damages pursuant to Pennsylvania law. When litigating an auto accident claim in PA, however, you may find that the defendant has access to a number of arguments that could obviate their liability. Reasonable efforts must be made to ensure that the case is pursued doggedly and comprehensively.

Here at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC in Pittsburgh, PA, our attorneys have decades of experience advocating on behalf of injured clients throughout Western Pennsylvania. We have an extensive track record of success in handling claims that involve complex third-party liabilities — such as ridesharing accidents — and we are more than capable of helping resolve such disputes for your overall benefit.

Call (412) 471-4300 or submit a brief description of your claim online to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a seasoned Pittsburgh personal injury attorney at Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC. We look forward to assisting you with your Pennsylvania ridesharing accident claim.