After an Uber or Lyft accident in Pennsylvania, take these steps: call 911 to report the crash, get medical care immediately, preserve all evidence, report the accident to Uber or Lyft through the app, notify your own insurance company, and contact a Pennsylvania Uber and Lyft accident attorney.
These steps protect both your health and your legal rights. Between Pennsylvania’s choice no-fault insurance rules and evolving rideshare regulations, understanding what to do after an accident is essential—whether you’re a passenger, the rideshare driver, or another motorist.
When you’re involved in a car accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, don’t wait. Contact Munley Law today to schedule a free consultation.
Step-by-Step Actions to Take After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Follow these steps to protect your rideshare accident case:
Step 1: Call 911 and Report the Crash
Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746, Pennsylvania law requires immediate reporting of any accident involving injury or significant property damage. Even if injuries seem minor at the scene, call 911 and request both police and medical assistance. The responding officer will create an official accident report documenting the scene, identifying all parties involved, and potentially including preliminary fault determinations.
As a passenger, you have every right to insist that police be called, even if the driver suggests handling the matter privately. When speaking with the responding officer, provide factual information about what you observed, but avoid speculating about fault or the extent of your injuries.
Step 2: Get Medical Care Immediately
Seek medical evaluation immediately, even if you feel fine after the accident. Many serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage, may not produce immediate symptoms. Whiplash injuries often don’t manifest pain until 24-48 hours after the collision.
Prompt medical attention creates a medical record directly linking your injuries to the accident. Insurance companies routinely argue that delayed treatment indicates injuries were not serious or were caused by something other than the accident. Follow all treatment recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments.
Step 3: Preserve Evidence
If you’re physically able, gather as much evidence as you can from the accident scene. Take photographs of the scene, including the vehicles, traffic signs and signals, skid marks, or debris. Make a note of the road conditions and weather at the time of the accident. Also, take photos of any visible injuries.
Take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft app showing trip details, including the driver’s name and photo, pickup and dropoff locations, trip route and fare, and the timestamp of your ride. This information proves you were a passenger and helps establish the driver’s status at the time of the accident. Take note of any nearby businesses or traffic cameras that might have captured the accident.
Step 4: Gather Information from All Parties
Exchange information with everyone involved in the accident. Obtain the rideshare driver’s full name, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle insurance information, and license plate number. Get the same information from any other drivers involved.
Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident occur. Independent witness testimony can be crucial if there are disputes about how the accident happened or who was at fault.
Step 5: Report the Accident to Uber or Lyft
Both Uber and Lyft have in-app accident reporting features. Submit a report through the app as soon as reasonably possible, providing basic factual information about the time, location, and general nature of the accident.
However, be extremely cautious about what you say. Do not give a recorded statement to anyone representing Uber, Lyft, or their insurance companies without first consulting an attorney. Never admit fault, apologize, or speculate about what caused the accident.
Step 6: Notify Your Own Insurance (Even as a Passenger)
Pennsylvania operates under a choice no-fault insurance system, which means your own Personal Injury Protection coverage may be the first source of compensation for medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the accident.
Your PIP coverage provides immediate payment for medical expenses and wage loss up to your policy limits, typically without requiring proof of fault. If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance coverage, your uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation.
Step 7: Contact a PA Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer
Consulting with an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney should be one of your first steps after ensuring your immediate medical needs are addressed. Rideshare accident claims involve detailed insurance coverage questions, multiple potential defendants, and insurance companies with sophisticated legal teams.
An attorney can immediately begin preserving critical evidence, including obtaining the rideshare company’s trip data, securing dashcam or traffic camera footage, and identifying all potentially liable parties. Time is critical, as data may be deleted and witnesses’ memories may fade.
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 generally allows a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within 2 years of the accident.
Contact an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Munley Law Helps After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Munley Law has extensive experience handling complex rideshare accident cases throughout Pennsylvania. We conduct a comprehensive review of all available evidence, including police reports, medical records, witness statements, and data from the rideshare companies.
We identify all applicable coverage sources and determine the priority of payment among multiple policies. Rideshare accidents may involve the driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s commercial policy, other drivers’ insurance, and your own coverage.
We handle all communications with insurance companies, protecting you from tactics designed to minimize your claim. If insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation, we have the trial experience and resources to take your case to court.
We handle all rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Why Choose Munley Law as Your Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer?
At Munley Law, our award-winning car accident attorneys have more than 250 years of combined experience. With multiple board-certified lawyers and deep knowledge of Uber and Lyft insurance policies, we handle complex liability issues and fight aggressively for full compensation. Our results include some of the largest settlements and verdicts in the country, including $20 million for a commercial vehicle accident.
Best Lawyers in America, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and the National Board of Trial Advocacy consistently recognize our attorneys for our outstanding work in personal injury law. Lawdragon has named multiple Munley Law attorneys to the 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers list. Marion Munley, the firm’s managing partner, currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice and has been named a Top 10 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2023.
For more than 65 years, we’ve stood with injury victims and their families, ensuring they never face powerful corporations like Uber or Lyft alone.
Call today for a free consultation.
Talk To an Uber or Lyft Accident Attorney New
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do After an Uber/Lyft Accident
What If the Uber/Lyft Driver Refuses to Report the Accident?
If a rideshare driver refuses to call the police, call 911 yourself. Pennsylvania law requires accident reporting in cases involving injury or significant property damage, and you have every right to ensure this legal requirement is met.
What If I Didn’t Get the Driver’s Information?
You can access much of this information through your Uber or Lyft app by viewing your ride history. Additionally, the police report should contain information about all parties involved. An attorney can also issue formal requests to the rideshare company for complete driver and trip records.
Do I Have to Talk to the Rideshare Company’s Insurance Carrier?
You are not legally required to give a statement to the rideshare company’s insurance carrier. Politely decline recorded statements and explain that you will cooperate through your attorney.
Will My Insurance Rates Increase?
Your insurance rates should not increase simply because you were a passenger in an accident where you bear no fault. Filing a PIP claim through your own insurance should not be considered an at-fault accident.
Munley Law is Here to Help You with Your Uber or Lyft Accident Case
If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Pennsylvania, don’t face the daunting task of seeking justice alone. The experienced rideshare accident attorneys at Munley Law are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning personal-injury attorney and champion of plaintiffs’ rights. For decades he’s won multi-million verdicts and settlements and is recognized as a national leader in truck and rideshare litigation,including a record $26 million truck settlement in Northeastern Pennsylvania and a $20 million recovery in 2024 for life-altering commercial-vehicle injuries.
