A Pittsburgh Lyft accident lawyer can make all the difference when a routine ride suddenly turns into a traumatic crash. Rideshare services like Lyft have become part of everyday life, but when accidents occur, figuring out who is responsible and how to get compensated can quickly become complicated. From dealing with insurance policies to understanding Pennsylvania’s no-fault rules, there’s a lot at stake after a crash.
Unlike a typical car accident, Lyft cases often involve multiple layers of responsibility. The driver, another motorist, and even corporate insurance policies may all come into play, depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. Add in factors like app usage, driver fatigue, and unfamiliar routes, and it becomes clear why these claims can be more difficult to resolve without experienced legal counsel.
After a ridesharing accident, most people are focused on recovery, not paperwork, insurance disputes, or pushback from large companies. That’s when our skilled Lyft accident lawyers make a huge difference. With extensive experience handling serious injury claims, our team works to protect your interests from the start, handling the details, dealing with insurers, and pursuing fair compensation so you’re not left carrying the financial burden alone.
Contact our award-winning Pittsburgh personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today.
How Common are Rideshare Accidents in Pittsburgh, PA?
Accidents are, of course, a reality of the road. In 2024, Pennsylvania reported 110,765 traffic crashes, with 1,127 fatalities. Of those accidents, 70,343 involved passenger cars, with 315 vehicle occupants dying in the incidents. Allegheny County accounted for 73 fatalities.
According to a study reported by the CDC, every 100 rideshare trips could be associated with a 4.6% increase in traffic crashes. This may be partly due to the fact that there are more drivers around, and they are spending more time on the road, which inherently increases the likelihood of an accident.
Research shows that the rate of Lyft accidents is higher than the average, and that the existence of Lyft has actually increased the rate of accidents. The MIT Technology Review performed a study in which they looked at the rate of accidents in a particular city before Uber and Lyft launched there, and compared them to the rates after these services launched in that area. The study purports that the advent of Uber and Lyft increased the rate of accidents across the US by 2 to 3% since 2011.
In regard to Lyft, a phenomenon known as “deadheading” refers to the amount of time a driver spends driving around simply searching for their next passenger. This MIT study shows that drivers spend 40% to 60% of their time “deadheading”. It makes sense that with so many drivers circling aimlessly as they await a new passenger assignment, more accidents would occur.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What are the Different Types of Lyft Accidents?
There are a few different common types of accidents involving a Lyft driver:
- Injury to a person who is a passenger in a Lyft
- A pedestrian hit by a Lyft vehicle
- A bicyclist hit by a Lyft vehicle
- A motocyclist hit by a Lyft vehicle
- Another motorist involved in a two-car accident with a Lyft driver or other rideshare driver
How Are Rideshare Accidents Different From Other Car Accidents?
Lyft accidents are treated differently than an accident with a normal vehicle or traditional commercial vehicle. Most Pennsylvania rideshare companies, including Lyft, have $1 million in liability insurance for their drivers. In most cases, this policy covers the driver as long as they are:
- Taking a rider on a trip when the accident occurs
- Waiting to accept a ride request in the app
- On the way to pick up a rider
Therefore, as a passenger, any injuries you sustain in a rideshare accident will likely be covered by Lyft’s insurance policy. But often, Lyft still chooses to fight the claim and denies liability. This can occur even if the driver is at fault and on duty when the accident occurs.
Rideshare companies help millions of Pennsylvanians get to work, restaurants, doctors’ appointments and more. They are a constant presence on our roads, at airports, bars and stadiums. However, when rideshare drivers cause an accident, it can be more difficult for injured victims to receive damages than they would think.
How is Liability Determined in a Pittsburgh Lyft Accident?
There are several parties that may potentially be liable when a Lyft accident occurs. In some cases, multiple of these parties may share some degree of fault and liability. Liable parties can include:
- The Lyft driver
- Another driver
- Pedestrians or cyclists
- Government agencies( for instance, the agency responsible for maintaining roadways may be liable if the accident occurred due to poor road maintenance)
- Companies responsible for defective products
- Employers of negligent third parties
Depending on the specifics of your accident, you may be able to recover compensation from any of these parties, as well as from the insurance provider of the Lyft driver or another driver.
As mentioned above, it’s possible for multiple parties to share varying degrees of fault for an accident. For instance, imagine that a pedestrian darts across a busy road where there is no crosswalk, and because the Lyft driver is distracted and sending a text, they notice the pedestrian too late to come to a full stop and end up colliding with them. In this case, both the pedestrian and the Lyft driver made poor and reckless decisions, both of which contributed to the accident occurring. If you were a passenger in this Lyft, you may be eligible to receive compensation from both the pedestrian and the distracted driver.
Who Pays for Injuries in a Lyft Accident?
After a Lyft accident, many people assume the rideshare company will automatically cover their injuries. In reality, who pays depends on fault, insurance coverage, and the driver’s status in the app.
Pennsylvania’s Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (75 Pa.C.S. Chapter 17) requires drivers to carry first-party medical benefits. This means your own insurance may cover initial medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident.
If another driver is at fault, their liability insurance may be responsible for additional damages. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, coverage may come from other available policies, including those required for rideshare operations during active trips.
Lyft has third-party liability insurance for occasions when the driver’s personal insurance does not apply to at least:
- $50,000/person for bodily injury
- $100,000/accident for bodily injury
- $25,000/accident for property damage
If the app is on and the driver is on their way to pick up passengers or during rides, Lyft offers the following types of coverage:
- At least $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability
- First-party coverages (uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, PIP,
MedPay, and/or Occupational Accident coverage)
For drivers with comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal car insurance policy, Lyft maintains contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual value of the car with a $2,500 deductible.
When a Lyft driver is at fault and actively transporting a passenger, the rideshare company’s liability coverage may apply. However, claims are not always straightforward, and insurers may dispute responsibility or the extent of damages.
Identifying every available source of coverage early can have a major impact on the outcome of a claim.
What are the Common Causes of Lyft Accidents in Pittsburgh?
As with all car accidents and collisions, there are many, many ways that Lyft accidents can occur. However, some of the most common causes include:
- Distracted driving
: Distracted driving is an issue for all drivers across the board, but it’s an even more heightened risk for Lyft drivers. You may have seen your Lyft driver constantly glancing at their phone and the Lyft app in order to confirm all the information they need to get you to your destination. This constant distraction can be a problem. - Navigating unfamiliar roads and areas: Lyft drivers often take passengers to locations and areas they themselves are unfamiliar with, which means they may be relying heavily on the map and navigation system, causing their eyes to leave the road.
- Speeding: Lyft drivers may speed in order to fit in as many trips as possible, or in order to ensure a higher tip and rating by getting their passenger to their destination quickly. But speeding always increases the risk of an accident.
- Driver fatigue: Lyft generally allows drivers to drive for 12 hours before they are required to take a 6-hour break. But a 12-hour stretch of driving followed by only 6 hours off may not be enough to ensure that a driver is properly rested before returning to the job, and 12 hours is an extremely long time to stay behind the wheel. A driver who is fatigued is always more likely to experience or cause an accident.
- Bad weather: Most drivers are more susceptible to accidents when navigating roads in inclement weather. If a driver is already on unfamiliar roads or constantly looking at an app for directions, it can make it even riskier.
- Rideshare vehicle maintenance issues: Accidents can be caused by poor vehicle maintenance, leading to brake system failure or other issues.
What To Do Immediately After a Pittsburgh Lyft Accident
- Call emergency services:If you are physically able, you should call the police immediately after the accident. This is an important step, as once there, they will draft an official report of the accident that can be extremely useful later on.
- Photograph the scene and damages: Include things like photographs of where the vehicles are situated and any visible injuries.
- Witness testimonies and information: Collect witness information and testimonies as evidence.
- Make your phone calls: Contact both the rideshare company and your own insurance company, if you have automobile insurance.
- Hire an experienced Pittsburgh Lyft accident lawyer: Contact Munley Law as soon as possible.
Recovering Your Losses after a Pittsburgh Lyft Accident
Once you have sought medical help, your next step is most likely to seek compensation via insurance coverage. But where you begin in recovering compensation after a Lyft accident depends on several factors, such as where the accident occurred and who caused it.
PA is a “No-Fault” State
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. This means that each driver is required to carry insurance that will pay out for their own medical coverage in the wake of an accident. In fault-based states, in comparison, the at fault party’s insurance company pays out to the victim. So if you are injured as a passenger in a Lyft accident in Pittsburgh, your own insurance provider may pay for your medical expenses, up to the limits of your coverage. However, if you do not have insurance or if you are underinsured, you would likely be covered under the driver’s insurance company.
In no-fault states such as Pennsylvania, there are some limitations on your ability to seek compensation via a personal injury suit. Your injuries must meet a certain standard of severity and be dubbed a “serious injury” in order to make you eligible for filing a personal injury suit against the at-fault party, whether that be your Lyft driver, the other driver, or a third party. The state defines serious injury as “personal injury resulting in death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement.” in 75 Pa.C.S. Vehicles § 1702.
As you may be able to tell here, it’s less about the specifics of the injury and more about how that injury impacts a person’s bodily function; in other words, in order to be considered “serious”, the injury or injuries must substantially impact a person’s ability to perform their daily life for an extended period of time. If you meet this threshold, you may choose to seek compensation via filing a personal injury suit. This is often a wise course of action because in the case of a severe injury, the compensation you can receive through insurance may not be enough to sufficiently meet your needs.
What Compensation Are You Entitled to After a Lyft Accident in Pittsburgh?
If you have been involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for economic and non-economic losses caused by the accident, such as:
- Repairs to your vehicle or a vehicle replacement
- Compensation for any loss of income due to the accident, such as lost time at work for injury, pain or doctors’ visits
- Direct medical costs related to the injury caused by the accident
- Pain and suffering resulting from the accident
- Loss of or damage to property as a result of the accident
- Cost of mental health treatment
- Cost of physical therapy following an injury related to the accident
- Cost of rental vehicles or other transportation costs due to loss or damage of your primary vehicle in the accident
Economic damages:
These are objective, quantifiable damages suffered by Lyft accident victims and can include lost wages from missing work due to injury or doctor visits and subsequent medical bills.
Non-economic damages:
Non-economic damages mean anything that cannot be quantified by money or numbers in Lyft accident claims. These damages can be more difficult to prove. Having a qualified and experienced Pittsburgh Lyft accident lawyer on your side will help you understand non-economic damages, such as:
- Emotional distress, also known as mental anguish– This is legally defined as “a highly unpleasant emotional reaction (as anguish, humiliation, or fury) which results from another’s conduct and for which damages may be sought.”
- Pain and suffering– This can include physical and mental pain
- Lost or diminished earning capacity– This can be any decrease in income as a result of an injury that affects your ability to continue doing your current job or robs you of career prospects for the future. If you have sustained an injury as a result of an accident caused by a Lyft driver, you may experience diminished earning capacity
Permanent damages – These are any damages which indefinitely restrict you or your loved one’s employment or other normal activities. In a lawsuit to recover damages caused by the negligence or intentional wrongful act of another, such as a driver working for a rideshare company, a permanent injury can be a major element in the award of damages - Disabilities– Any damage caused by your car accident in or involving a Lyft vehicle that substantially reduces your capacity to engage in one or more major life activities of anyone, such as Lyft accident victims
- Psychological or psychiatric harm– This is defined as a psychological or psychiatric condition that developed as a result of a traumatic event. The condition is severe enough that it impacts your ability to perform routine life or work tasks
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Suit After a Lyft Accident?
Most states have a statute of limitations on filing a personal injury suit of any kind. This means, in essence, that you have a specific amount of time after the accident or incident in which you can file a suit. Once that period of time lapses, you forfeit your right to sue any parties involved for this specific incident.
In Pittsburgh (and the state of Pennsylvania as a whole), the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury suit after a Lyft accident is two years under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. The two-year clock begins at the time of the accident. However, if you and your attorney decide that filing a personal injury suit does seem like a wise course of action for you, it’s best to act quickly. It may take some time to gather the necessary evidence, file all the paperwork, and more.
Why Choose a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Pittsburgh Lyft Accident Lawyer?
At Munley Law, we have nearly seven decades of experience fighting for victims’ rights in Lyft accidents. Medical care after an accident alone can be extremely expensive, alongside other costs like property damage, lost wages, and more. As an injured party, you should not have to bear that financial burden.
- We have secured millions in compensation for accident victims, including $20 million for a reckless driving case and $7.5 million for a child injured in a car accident.
- Munley Law has received multiple awards and accolades from many legal institutions, including Super Lawyers, Best Law Firms, the Multi-Million-Dollar Advocates Forum, and more.
- All of our attorneys have received awards from Best Lawyers, with Marion Munley being named Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation and other categories.
- We have memberships in several prestigious legal organizations, highlighting our reputations for excellence in practice and professional ethics. These include the National Board of Trial Advocacy, American Board of Trial Advocates, Litigation Counsel of America, and the American Association for Justice, to name a few.
- We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we win. There are also no upfront costs.
Contact Munley Law’s Pittsburgh Lyft Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a Lyft accident in Pittsburgh, you may be entitled to compensation. But in the aftermath of an accident, when you’re overwhelmed and just trying to figure out how to get back to your life, it can feel impossible to know where to begin. That’s where Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys comes in. Let an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer do the heavy lifting so that you can focus on recovery.
We can help you at every step, from guiding you through the insurance process to filing a personal injury claim in Pittsburgh, PA. We can even protect you in court if necessary.
Contact us today for a free initial case evaluation. Remember, you don’t pay our accident lawyer unless we win.
Personal Injury Claims We Handle in Pittsburgh, PA:
- Pittsburgh car accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh truck accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh motorcycle accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyer
- Pittsburgh bicycle accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh rideshare accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh Uber accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh Lyft accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh brain injury lawyer
- Pittsburgh catastrophic injury lawyer
- Pittsburgh nursing home abuse lawyer
- Pittsburgh premises liability lawyer
- Pittsburgh bus accident lawyer
- Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyer
- Pittsburgh construction accident lawyer
Daniel W. Munley
Daniel W. Munley is an award-winning auto accident lawyer and advocate for auto accident victims. Widely recognized as a national leader when it comes to truck and rideshare accident cases, Daniel has been rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, alongside being named to Best Lawyers in America since 2013 and in 2020. Daniel has helped recover millions for injured auto accident victims, such as a $17.5 million jury verdict for a teen death caused by a car accident, and another $4.4 million settlement reached for car accident case. As well as this, Daniel has advocated for victims through speaking arrangements such as “Pennsylvania Practice Program: Auto and Trucking Cases.”
