Hazleton Lyft Accident Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyers / Hazleton Personal Injury Lawyer / Hazleton Lyft Accident Lawyer

With the growth of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft in Hazleton, drivers and passengers should know what to do in case of an accident involving a Lyft driver.

The experienced Hazleton Lyft accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have been representing injured people in Hazleton and throughout Luzerne County since 1959. We have earned a reputation nationwide as some of the best personal injury attorneys in the industry, especially with cases involving transportation accidents and commercial vehicle insurance. We work tirelessly to make our communities safer by holding negligent drivers and commercial entities accountable when innocent people get hurt.

If you or your family member were injured in a crash involving a Lyft driver in Hazleton, contact Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. We will review the details of your Lyft accident case and advise you about what to do next. We only get paid when we win your case. We have an office location in Hazleton, and we offer virtual consultations as well.

Types of Lyft Car Accidents in Hazleton

The Lyft injury attorneys at Munley Law handle all kinds of Lyft-related cases. We can help you if:

I was a pedestrian hit by a Lyft in Hazleton

Under Pennsylvania law, pedestrians have the right to sue the at-fault driver if they were hit by a car. Pedestrians can sue for medical damages, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

I was a passenger in a Lyft; my Lyft driver caused the accident

Lyft drivers undergo background checks and must adhere to certain safety rules in order to drive for the rideshare company, but they are just as susceptible as anyone else to causing a car accident. Some may argue that Lyft drivers are even more prone to behaviors like distracted driving, as they navigate unfamiliar routes and rely on their mobile device for their next ride request. If you were injured in a car accident caused by your own Lyft driver, you can report it to the company. Then, be sure to call an attorney who can explain your legal rights and ensure that the at-fault parties don't escape responsibility. In an accident caused by a Lyft driver while the driver was transporting a passenger, Lyft's commercial insurance should provide coverage.

I was a passenger in a Lyft; another driver caused the accident

Not every crash involving a Lyft is the Lyft driver's fault. If you were injured in a car accident while riding in a Lyft and the crash was caused by another driver, you have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver's insurance just as you would if you were riding in your own vehicle. A Hazleton car accident lawyer at Munley Law can help you file your claim and make sure you receive full, fair compensation.

I was in a personal vehicle and was hit by a Lyft driver
If you were driving in your own vehicle and were injured in a crash caused by a Lyft driver, be sure to report the crash to Lyft and to your own auto insurance. Under Pennsylvania's no-fault insurance system, you would first seek compensation for your medical bills from your own insurance policy. Once that coverage is exhausted, you can seek additional compensation from the at-fault driver's insurance. You can sue for economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A Hazleton Lyft accident lawyer will help you determine whose insurance should pay, and how much compensation you may be entitled to.

Whose Insurance Pays for Injuries in a Lyft Accident?

The question of whose insurance will pay for a victim's injuries sustained in a Lyft car accident is one of the biggest challenges in this type of case. Because Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors instead of regular employees, Lyft does not take responsibility for harm caused by their drivers. While Lyft drivers are required to carry their own personal auto insurance, they do not have to have commercial driver's insurance. However, most individual auto policies will not cover a driver while they are using their vehicle for business purposes – like driving for Lyft. So if a Lyft driver causes an accident, who pays?

Lyft does provide some insurance coverage of up to $1,000,000 for their drivers, but only under certain conditions. The insurance coverage available to you will depend on the driver's status at the time of your crash.
Lyft Insurance Depends on the Driver's Status
The driver was off-duty – If the driver who caused your accident was a Lyft driver but they were not logged into the app at the time of the crash, they are considered “off duty” and therefore not covered under Lyft's commercial insurance. You would most likely proceed with a car accident claim as you would with any other driver. You may seek compensation from the at-fault driver and their personal auto insurance, but not from Lyft.

The driver was on-duty and waiting for a ride – If the Lyft driver was logged into the app but had not yet accepted a ride request at the time of your crash, Lyft provides a limited amount of coverage. 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.

The driver was on-duty and transporting a passenger – If the Lyft driver responsible for your accident was logged into the app and was transporting a passenger, or had accepted a ride and was en-route to their next pick-up, then they are likely covered by Lyft's liability insurance for up to one million dollars. Still, getting the company to pay won't necessarily be simple. A Hazleton Lyft accident lawyer can handle all aspects of investigation, preparation, and negotiation on your behalf.

Hazleton Lyft Accident FAQs

Can I sue Lyft for an accident in Hazleton?

In most cases, if you were injured in a car accident caused by a Lyft driver in Hazleton, you would sue the Lyft driver, not the rideshare company itself. However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.

In Pennsylvania, Lyft drivers must undergo a criminal background check and a review of their driving history in order to drive for the company. Drivers are instructed to adhere to all state safety laws and the company boasts a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol behind the wheel. However, if you suspect that Lyft ignored documented safety concerns against a driver or was otherwise negligent, you may also be able to pursue a case against the company. An experienced Lyft accident lawyer can help you understand your options and guide you on the best path to take.
How much compensation will I receive for a Lyft accident?

A serious car crash involving a Lyft driver can leave you with severe injuries. These injuries may not only require expensive medical treatment, but they might also keep you out of work for weeks or months. You may never be able to perform your job duties the same way again. On top of that, you may experience persistent physical pain, emotional stress, and mental anguish from your injuries. A car crash can put a strain on your entire family. When you experience this type of strain as the result of someone else's negligence, the negligent party owes you compensation.

As the victim of a Lyft accident, you may sue the at-fault driver for damages including medical bills, emergency care, physical therapy, follow-up treatment, adaptive equipment, lost wages, lost earning power, pain and suffering, and more.

The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the available insurance coverage, as well as the individual factors unique to your case, including the extent of your injuries and the ways they have affected your health and your life.

Do I need a Lyft accident lawyer to represent me?

Having the right lawyer on your side can be the difference between receiving the compensation you need to recoup your losses and rebuild your life with peace of mind, and receiving the bare minimum – or nothing at all. The Lyft accident lawyers at Munley Law can conduct a thorough investigation, review your medical records, calculate maximum damages, demand what you deserve from the insurance company, and fight for you at trial if necessary.

 But how do you know if you need a lawyer?

As a general rule, if your injuries are severe enough to warrant hospitalization, you should call a lawyer as soon as possible to secure your best chance of financial compensation for hospital bills and other damages. The insurance company's offer is rarely sufficient to cover the financial losses you have experienced and will continue to experience in the future as a result of your injuries.

If you're still unsure, the best way to find out if you need a lawyer is to meet with one. At Munley Law, the initial consultation is completely free, so you can get answers to your questions and learn what you need to know about the legal process.

I need a lawyer who speaks Spanish. Can you help me?

The Hazleton personal injury attorneys at Munley Law serve Spanish-speaking communities across Northeastern Pennsylvania. We have a translator and interpreter on staff, and two of our attorneys have working proficiency in Spanish. We believe all people deserve justice and we will never allow a language barrier to stand in the way of that.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

197 N Cedar St.
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 536-9498