Navigating the Complexities of Rideshare Accident Claims

Ride-sharing has transformed transportation around Philadelphia. Although the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) still has a significant market share, ride-sharing giants like Uber and Lyft have started to appeal to more residents, commuters, and visitors alike in our city and throughout the United States.  According to a study, over one-third (1/3) of people surveyed in the U.S. reported that they have used ride-sharing apps to hail a ride. This number has only continued to increase. While this is a positive thing for many individuals, our ride-sharing accident attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, know that it, unfortunately, comes with a grimmer side.

Uber, Lyft, and ride-share accidents have become more prominent in Philly. Victims injured in rides suffer from broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other damages due to a negligent car accident. This is backed up by a fatal traffic study which found that ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft have increased overall traffic fatalities in the United States by up to 3%. While that does not sound like a high figure, statistics from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that there are already over 6.7 million motor vehicle accidents each year in the United States.

But the 3% increase in traffic fatalities is not the only issue with ride-sharing accidents. Companies like Uber and Lyft also make it harder for victims and their families to recover compensation in a crash—on purpose.

Our Uber accident lawyers and Lyft accident lawyers know that these ride-sharing companies make it harder to establish liability against them. This is because they do the following:

• Label drivers as independent contractors or freelancers, not employees (employees make an employer vicariously liable, whereas independent contractors do not)
• Get users to agree to “terms and conditions” which acknowledge limited liability between the rider and the company
• Insulate themselves by requiring the driver’s insurance policy to be primary
• Hiring some of the largest insurance carriers and defense law firms to protect their rights, and
• Using other tricks and borderline unethical tactics to undermine or invalidate an otherwise valid claim

If you or a loved one were seriously injured in an Uber or Lyft accident occurring anywhere in Pennsylvania, call our ride-sharing attorneys for help. We have a proven track record of success going against some of the largest insurance carriers and defense law firms in Pennsylvania, if not the United States. We will not let these large ride-sharing companies enjoy hefty profits while skirting all liability in a crash.

We can help prove your claim by:

• Aggressively pursuing Uber and Lyft after an accident
• Demonstrating you were involved in an active ride through the app
• Use experts to establish liability
• Consulting with your treating physicians to establish your damages and future needs, disability, and potential health complications
• Seeking your legal remedies in court
• Holding drivers, ride-sharing companies, and other third-parties who may be liable for your injuries accountable
• Preventing dangerous drivers from continuing to operate in Philly, and
• Recovering the compensation you need for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, property damage, and other expenses

Ride-sharing accidents are not like regular car accidents. They are significantly more complex and often more challenging to prove because of the sheer number of defendants who will fight back against your injury claim. Whether you live in Philadelphia or were a visitor, injuries caused in a Philadelphia Uber accident or a Lyft accident will likely have to be brought to Pennsylvania courts. Learn how our experienced auto accident lawyers in Philadelphia, PA, can help you by calling (215) 561-3600 or by using our “contact us” box available here to schedule our FREE consultation.