Scranton Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Personal Injury Lawyers / Scranton Personal Injury Lawyer / Scranton Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Were You Injured While a Passenger in a Rideshare in Scranton?

If you have been injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft accident, you need an experienced Scranton rideshare accident lawyer on your side. Unlike car accidents, these cases can be complicated to resolve and find fault for your injuries. You’ll be dealing with multiple parties, potentially more than one insurance company, large rideshare companies, and more. It’s not a fight you should have to go alone.

For more than 60 years, the Scranton car accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have obtained the maximum compensation for injured victims in all types of accidents, including car accidents. Regardless of how the accident happened, you should report the incident to Lyft or Uber through their app as soon as possible. Then, hire an expert Scranton rideshare accident lawyer who can help you navigate building your case so you get the compensation you deserve.

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How is Fault Determined in Scranton Uber Accident Cases?

While apps like Uber and Lyft help us get from point A to point B more efficiently, they can also contribute to a growing safety issue. According to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), “Uber and Lyft are behind a sharp rise in US traffic deaths.” Uber and Lyft drivers can work long hours; be distracted by navigating an app wile driving; and even end up in unfamiliar territory causing them to drive unsafely. These types of car accidents can also cause thousands of passengers to suffer serious injuries, tremendous pain, and astronomical expenses.

Litigating rideshare accidents in Scranton can be tricky because these collisions are treated differently than an accident with a regular passenger vehicle or traditional commercial vehicle.

Ride-share companies that operate in Scranton, like Uber and Lyft, offer $1 million in liability insurance. However, there are limitations to when this coverage applies and who will be covered. Liability may change depending on your unique circumstances.

Your injuries will likely be covered by the company insurance policy. However, even if your ridesharing driver is at fault and on duty at the time of your accident, the ridesharing company may still fight the claim and try to deny liability. This is why it’s so important to have an experienced Scranton Uber or Lyft accident lawyer who will fight on your behalf.

It’s also important to note that even if a Scranton Uber or Lyft driver does not have a passenger in the vehicle, they are still considered “on duty” from the time they accept a ride until they drop their passenger off. This includes the time they are “en route” to pick someone up.

If you were hit by an off-duty Uber or Lyft driver, you may have to seek compensation via the driver’s personal insurance policy, rather than the company policy. Still, an experienced Scranton Uber accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will investigate your Scranton accident and pursue every possibility to make sure you get the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

What are the Main Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Scranton?

Uber and Lyft drivers in Scranton are vetted by driving history background checks. But, they are also prone to the same accident risks as anyone else on the road. However, there are some additional dangers that may affect Scranton rideshare accidents and Uber and Lyft drivers specifically. These include:

Drowsy driving. Scranton rideshare drivers often work multiple jobs, making them especially prone to driver fatigue. Drowsy driving has been shown to affect alertness and reaction time. The impact can be as much as driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Distracted driving. Ridesharing is, of course, based on smartphone apps. Drivers rely on smartphones for directions, for tracking their time on duty, and for arranging their next pickup. This close tie to their ridesharing apps creates an environment ripe for driver distraction.

Uber and Lyft Driver Standards and Vehicle Requirements

Services like Uber and Lyft require their drivers to meet certain standards. This is in order to help ensure the safety of the apps’ users, and avoid ride share accidents in Scranton. These standards include:

Meet the minimum age requirement. For Lyft, drivers must be at least 21 years of age; for Uber, drivers must meet or exceed the minimum age for the city in which they work
Have a valid driver’s license
Have at least one year of licensed driving experience (Uber requires three years if the driver is younger than 23)
Provide proof of insurance, vehicle registration, and valid inspection
Pass a safety screening and driving history background check

In addition, vehicles used for Uber and Lyft must meet certain standards. In general, they must be four-door vehicles in good condition, less than 10-15 years old.

What To Expect in a Vehicular Case?

Despite the complexity of navigating faults in an accident, these collisions are often treated similarly to other car accidents in Scranton. Therefore, you can expect much of the same when pursuing a rideshare accident claim as you would any other motor vehicle collision in the Electric City.

Following an accident, you are going to want to assess yourself, the other passengers, and the driver for serious injuries and call the authorities. If you are all right, you will also want to begin the process of collecting evidence. This includes photos, videos, and connecting with any witnesses at the scene.

Even if your Uber or Lyft driver was not at fault, you will want to get all driver’s information including name, insurance information, car make and model, and license plate number. From there, report the accident on the rideshare app.

The more of this you can accomplish at the scene of the accident, the smoother your claim process will be.

Once you are ready, you’ll want to file a claim with the insurance company–depending on fault, it may be with your own insurance, the driver’s insurance, or the rideshare company. But remember, all of the insurance adjusters are going to want to place blame elsewhere to avoid paying out for your losses. This is when it is a good time to call a Scranton Lyft accident lawyer.

A Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Scranton rideshare accident lawyer can help you by:

Negotiating and communicating with the insurance companies
Gathering evidence and witness testimony
Determining fault and liability
Represent you in court

Uber and Lyft are large companies that will have their own team of lawyers at the ready the second your accident claim comes through. Because of this, you’ll want to also be prepared with your own legal representation.

How Long Does this type of Case Take to Settle?

Much like any other car accident case, the time it takes to reach a settlement will ultimately come down to the severity of your case. If you suffered severe injury or financial loss, your claim will take longer to reach a settlement because the insurance company will continue to lowball you. But, if you utilize legal representation from a Scranton personal injury lawyer, your case will go a lot more seamlessly.

In general, collision claims can take anywhere from weeks to months for minor injuries and damages and upwards of years to settle a major claim.

Rideshare Accident FAQ

Because of the growing popularity of rideshare apps, collision claims in Scranton are becoming all too common. Learn more about what you need to know if you have been involved in a car accident while in a rideshare vehicle, or with a rideshare driver in Scranton.

Q. Do I Have to Hire a Lawyer?

A: Like any other personal injury case, you are never required to hire an attorney to represent you during negotiations or in court. However, it can be highly beneficial to do so.

A Munley Law Personal Injury Attorney can help you calculate the short-term and long-term losses following the accident by reviewing your medical expenses and property damage, handling communications and negotiations with the insurance company, or representing you in court if it comes to it.

Q. How Can I Afford a Rideshare Accident Lawyer?

A: At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we don’t believe your financial state should stop you from seeking justice for an accident you did not cause. With that in mind, we work on a contingency basis, which means we do not receive a fee from you until we reach a settlement or verdict in your case. If we are unable to reach a successful conclusion for your claim, you do not owe us a fee.

Further, your first consultation is always free.

Q. What Compensation Am I Eligible to Receive in a Claim?

A: After a car accident, you may be entitled to two forms of compensation– economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are monetary losses you may have received following an accident. This may include:

Medical bills
Property damage
Loss of wages
Loss of earning potential
Wrongful death

Non-economic damages are non-monetary losses you have suffered. Because of the subjective nature of these losses, it is difficult to assign a monetary value to them. However, when done successfully, you may be able to recover compensation for:

Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment
Loss of consortium
Mental anguish

Keep in mind that if you accept a settlement before meeting with an attorney, you are unable to recover additional compensation.

Q. What if Another Driver Was Responsible for the Accident?

A: If you were hurt in an accident while a passenger in an Uber or Lyft but your driver was not responsible, the other driver would be held at fault. In these cases, your insurance may still pick up the tab for your losses, but, in severe cases where legal action is necessary, you may be able to take that other driver to court. For this reason, navigating these cases can be difficult. Insurance companies want to get accident victims to take their first offer and close the claim quickly.

However, proving fault in these cases can be particularly difficult, so connect with a Scranton lawyer as soon as possible. Do not wait to file your claim. Time is of the essence to preserve the evidence needed to secure your settlement.

Q. Can I Sue for Wrongful Death Against Uber or Lyft?

A: Yes. If your loved one was a passenger in an Uber that was involved in an accident that resulted in the person’s death, you can sue the company or driver for wrongful death. Both Uber and Lyft have third party insurance for their drivers for amounts the driver’s own insurance will not cover. Further, you may be able to collect for funeral and burial costs up to a certain amount.

The statute of limitations begins at the date of death, so act quickly.

Q. Will I Be Banned From Uber or Lyft for Filing a Report Following the Accident?

A; Hypothetically, you should not be banned from Uber or Lyft for filing a report with the company following a car accident. However, if you are met with aggressions or discrimination following an accident as a passenger or the driver, we have a lawyer is available to help you understand your rights.

Q. What Steps Should I Take After a Rideshare Accident?

A: If you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle and were injured in an accident, there are some important steps you should take immediately following. First, call 911 so that any necessary emergency vehicles will come to the scene. You will also want the police to file a report on the accident so it’s on record.

Next, Uber and Lyft accidents should be reported to the ridesharing company through their app, preferably at the scene of the accident.

Seek medical treatment. Even if you don’t believe you are injured enough to see a doctor, you should still get checked out. Often after an accident, adrenaline is rushing and you may not even feel pain until days after the accident. Also, medical records will be very important to your case. After receiving medical attention, make sure you save everything: medical bills, prescriptions, etc.

Once you are able, contact a rideshare accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to learn what legal options are available to you. It’s imperative you engage with a lawyer quickly. Do not hesitate. The longer you wait after an accident, the more time it gives details and evidence to go missing or become less impactful. For instance, witness statements are often best given when the accident is still top of mind.

Be aware that the ridesharing company and the insurance company will try to reach out to you to learn about the accident. You are not under any obligations to speak with them until you first speak with a car accident attorney from Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. It’s in their best interest to settle cases with accident victims quickly. If they give you an offer, do not accept anything until you speak to a

If your car was hit by a Uber or Lyft driver and you were seriously injured, we can help you get the compensation you need to recover from your Uber or Lyft accident. We do not take a fee unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free consultation by calling or using our online form.

Q: I Am an Injured Driver in this type of case. What Can I Do?

A: Unfortunately, rideshare drivers may face a tough time getting compensation if they have been injured in an accident. Workers’ compensation does not apply in these cases because drivers are considered independent contractors.

However, Uber and Lyft do offer liability insurance coverage for their drivers. This only kicks in if your personal auto insurance policy denies your claim. If you are using your car for commercial purposes, like driving for a rideshare company, your personal insurance company could refuse to cover the accident or your injuries.

Regardless of your circumstances, navigating insurance and dealing with large insurance companies can be a complicated process. You will want someone on your side who can represent you in negotiations and ensure you get the justice you deserve. An Uber accident lawyer or Lyft accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Call us at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free case review today

It can be complicated to get proper compensation for your injuries after a Scranton Uber or Lyft accident. These are complicated issues. Having an experienced Scranton lawyer fighting your case will ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we help Scranton rideshare users protect themselves and their loved ones should they find themselves injured in a car accident. Our team works diligently to put together the facts of your specific case to ensure the negligent party is held accountable.

Furthermore, we take the pressure off of you by handling the communications with the insurance companies and even representing you in court if needed. And, we do all of this without charging you anything until a settlement or verdict has been reached.

Call us today for a free consultation or connect with us online. A Scranton rideshare accident attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will review the details of your case, answer your questions, and make sure the appropriate parties are held responsible.

The time to act is now. The rideshare company and insurance adjusters will be working fast to minimize the value of your claim so do not delay. To recover the compensation that is rightfully yours, act now.

Personal Injury Claims We Handle in Scranton, PA:

Scranton Practice Areas

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

227 Penn Ave,
Scranton, PA 18503
(570)865-4699