We primarily think of Lyft as a convenience, a means of getting from point A to point B at a reasonable cost. It can be easy to forget that when we get into a Lyft we are trusting a stranger with our lives and safety. Would you know what to do if your Lyft driver got into an accident? What if the accident was your Lyft driver's fault? Who should pay for your injuries? Will Lyft take any responsibility?
A Bethlehem Lyft accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can answer these questions, and more. Since 1959, Munley has been the most trusted name in law in Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Our attorneys understand the complexities of rideshare car accidents and can help you navigate this often-confusing situation. We have decades of experience handling serious injury cases involving big transportation companies and commercial insurance policies. Let us put that experience to work for you.
Contact Munley Law for a free Lyft accident consultation. We offer virtual and in-person meetings with an experienced injury attorney. There is no charge to meet with one of our lawyers, and we do not get paid for our services unless we win your case.
$32 Million Wrongful Death
$26 Million Truck Accident
$17.5 Million Car Accident
$12 Million Product Liability
$9 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$8 Million Truck Accident
$7.5 Million Auto Accident
$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident
$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
$5 Million Medical Malpractice
$5 Million Bus Accidents
Types of Lyft accidents in Bethlehem
As Lyft becomes more prevalent throughout the Lehigh Valley, the greater the chances that you may one day be involved in a car accident involving a Lyft driver in some capacity.
A Bethlehem Lyft accident attorney at Munley Law can help you if any of the following situations apply to you:
- You were struck by a Lyft driver as a pedestrian or bicyclist
- You were a passenger in a Lyft; your Lyft driver caused an accident
- You were a passenger in a Lyft; another driver caused an accident
- You were driving or riding in your own car; a Lyft driver caused an accident
- You are a Lyft driver; another driver caused an accident
Whose insurance pays for a Lyft accident in PA?
In many Lyft accident cases, this is the most challenging question. Insurance coverage in a Lyft crash case can be complicated. Lyft drivers are required to carry their own auto insurance, but it doesn't provide coverage while they are on the clock. Lyft provides a certain amount of coverage for their drivers, but only in certain circumstances. Depending on your situation, you may or may not have your own auto insurance as well. A Bethlehem Lyft accident injury lawyer can cut through the confusion and determine exactly which insurer(s) should pay.
In order to drive for a rideshare company like Lyft, drivers must have their own up-to-date car insurance. They are not required to carry a commercial policy. But, personal auto insurance policies usually do not cover drivers while they are using their vehicle for business purposes – such as driving for a rideshare service. Lyft provides their drivers with some coverage, but that coverage will only apply in certain situations.
Lyft's insurance policy will cover up to $50,000 in bodily injury per person, $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 in property damage while their drivers are logged into the app and waiting for their next passenger. Lyft provides at least $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage while their driver has accepted a ride and/or has a passenger.
Sometimes, Lyft accidents are not the Lyft driver's fault. If your Lyft accident was caused by another driver on the road, that driver's insurance may provide coverage for your losses. You may also look to your own uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage if the other driver does not have sufficient coverage on their policy.
Even if it seems clear who is liable for your damages, you may face resistance from the driver, the rideshare company, or their insurers. This is when it is very important to have an experienced Lyft accident lawyer on your side.
Damages in a Lyft Accident Case
The purpose of a car accident claim or lawsuit is to compensate the injured party for the damages they have suffered through no fault of their own.
The injuries you suffer in a Lyft crash can have lasting repercussions in many areas of your life. Lyft car accident injuries can range from whiplash and bruising to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. Medical treatment for these injuries can be expensive, even if you have insurance. Treatment might include emergency treatment and ambulance transport, surgeries, prescription medication, hospitalization, physical therapy, occupational therapy, in-home nursing care, adaptive equipment, and more. As the injured victim not at fault for the crash, you can seek compensation from the at-fault driver for these costs.
Your injuries can affect your ability to work and provide for yourself or your family. You may be placed out of work for weeks at a time, or you may not be able to go back to the same job you used to do before your accident. This can impact your earning power over the course of your lifetime.
In addition to the economic losses you have suffered, you may also be able to seek compensation for non-economic damages. The most common form of non-economic damages is pain and suffering. While it can be complicated to calculate, pain and suffering is often a significant portion of a personal injury settlement.
The experienced and highly skilled Bethlehem accident and injury attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys work with some of the nation's top experts to calculate the full extent of your damages, considering not only the losses you have thus far experienced by also the ways in which your injuries will continue to affect your life in the future.
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the extent and severity of your injuries, the available insurance coverage, and other factors.
Bethlehem Lyft Accident FAQs
What should I do if I get into an accident while in a Lyft?
If you were involved in an accident with a Lyft driver in any capacity, here are the steps you should take to protect yourself.
First and foremost, seek medical attention for any injuries you have sustained. This is important for two reasons. First, for your own health and safety, you need to seek medical treatment to prevent your injuries from becoming worse and to get checked for invisible injuries like head trauma. Secondly, refusing or delaying medical care can hurt your case later on if you do need to pursue a lawsuit.
Call the police from the scene of the accident and make sure they make an official report of the crash. This will be important in establishing the facts of the event.
If you are able, take photos of the scene and the vehicles involved. Obtain the names and contact information for any witnesses.
You can report the accident to your own insurance and file a complaint with Lyft, but do not provide a statement to the at-fault driver's insurer or Lyft's insurance company.
Contact a Lyft accident attorney to schedule a free consultation, during which you can ask questions, get advice, and decide what next steps to take.
How do I know if the Lyft driver was considered on-duty at the time of the crash?
Whether Lyft will provide insurance coverage and what amount of coverage they provide will depend on the status of the Lyft driver at the time of the crash. The experienced Lyft accident attorneys at our firm can conduct an investigation and obtain the driver's phone records to determine their status at the time of the accident.We will determine whether they were logged into and actively using the app and whether they had accepted a ride request. Then, we can use that information to prove who is responsible for your compensation.
Does Lyft screen their drivers?
Lyft has a set of requirements for drivers who wish to become Lyft drivers in Pennsylvania. Drivers must have a valid driver's license and be 25 years old or older. They must pass a driver screening which includes a background check and a review of past driving history. They must have a 4-door vehicle that is 2008 or newer and has fewer than 350,000 miles on the odometer. Drivers must also have valid documentation of their personal auto insurance, vehicle registration, and a current vehicle inspection sticker.
Lyft imposes drive-mode time limits for their drivers to mitigate the risk of driver fatigue-related accidents. Lyft drivers must take a break for six consecutive hours for every 12 hours in driver mode.
Lyft has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol for their drivers.
If you believe that Lyft failed to uphold their duty to their passengers, you may be able to bring a negligence claim against them as well. For example, if one of their drivers was arrested for drunk driving and the company allowed the driver to continue working for them, they may be considered liable if that driver causes a crash.
The other driver's insurance company offered me a settlement to pay my medical bills. Should I take it?
No. Do not ever accept a settlement offer without speaking with a lawyer first. Their offer may sound tempting, but it is almost certainly less than you deserve. And if you accept it, you waive your right to seek additional compensation.
