What to Do if Your Car Accident Involves a Rideshare Driver (Uber/Lyft)
March 18, 2025
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are highly popular throughout the country. They allow people to get fast rides to wherever they need to go, at affordable rates, but the popularity of these services can also mean sharing the road with potentially distracted drivers searching for their next fare or destination. Rideshare car accident claims have been rising steadily as more people get into collisions with Uber and Lyft drivers, but they’re complex processes that could involve more than one liable party.
If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident that involved a rideshare driver, it’s vital that you hire experienced personal injury lawyers. At Wapner Newman, our team has years of experience with Uber and Lyft accident lawsuits, so we know how to tackle these complex legal actions.
Contact Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to learn more about rideshare car crash claims.
Liability in Car Accidents Involving a Rideshare Driver
Can You Sue the Company?
One of the most common questions our car accident lawyers get is whether it’s possible to file a lawsuit against companies such as Uber and Lyft. The answer can depend on numerous factors, beginning with the type of insurance policy you have.
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that has a hybrid insurance system, allowing you to choose whether you would like limited tort or full tort insurance. Limited tort insurance is more affordable, but it requires that you file claims against your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance if you’re involved in an accident. Although you don’t have to demonstrate fault, you can receive coverage only for medical expenses and lost wages — and only up to your policy limit.
The exception to this would be if you sustained serious injuries. In Pennsylvania, this means suffering disfigurement, the severe impairment of a bodily function, or death. These injuries would allow you to step outside of your limited tort insurance and pursue a lawsuit.
If you have full tort insurance, however, you’re able to file a lawsuit against the liable party, no matter what injuries you’ve experienced. You do have to demonstrate, however, that the other party was negligent in their conduct.
The second complication that arises with rideshare accident claims is whether you can hold the company liable for the actions of their driver. It’s important to look at whether the driver was working as an employee at the moment of the accident. If they were picking up a fare or driving them to their destination, it may be possible to hold Uber or Lyft liable. If the driver had the app turned off, however, you can only hold the individual responsible for the collision, not the company.
At Wapner Newman, our team of experienced attorneys can investigate the accident and gather essential evidence so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
What to Do After an Accident Involving a Rideshare Driver
There are some essential steps to take to protect yourself and your Lyft or Uber accident lawsuit.
Ensure Safety and Get Medical Attention
The shock of the accident can leave you stunned, and you might not even realize your vehicle is in the middle of the road. This puts you in danger of being in a second accident. Your first thought needs to be to get yourself and any passengers to safety. The only instances when you shouldn’t move are if you’re actively bleeding, feel severe pain, or think you hit your head or injured your spine. Spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries can get much worse if you move.
Once you’re safe, contact emergency medical services. Do this even if you don’t think you’re injured. It’s very common for adrenaline to kick in, blunting your pain. You may not realize that you’ve suffered a concussion or have a fractured bone, but a medical professional will be able to spot some of the signs. If the paramedics recommend that you go to the hospital, ensure you do so.
Aside from making certain you receive the treatment you need right away, having emergency medical technicians at the site of the accident also means having a record of your injuries from the start. It can prevent any questions about causation.
Call Law Enforcement
In Pennsylvania, you are legally required to call the police if an accident results in injuries, death, or at least $1,000 in property damage. It’s always a good idea to get law enforcement to the accident scene because it ensures they begin their report. You will need this report to file your claim or lawsuit.
When you speak with the police officer, offer as much information as you can, but don’t mention fault. The officer will conduct an investigation and write what they think happened. The last thing you want is to confuse them. Instead, stick to the facts and let them do their job.
Gather Evidence
Getting as much evidence as you can from the site of the crash is very helpful. Take pictures of the rideshare driver’s vehicle as well as yours, along with skid marks on the road, traffic signs, and your injuries. It’s a good idea to also document your thoughts, how much pain you feel, and any details of the accident that you remember. You can do this via a voice note on your phone or by writing it down. Remember, as the hours pass and the adrenaline wears off, you may forget some details that could help your case, so recording them right away is important.
If there are witnesses, you should also get their contact information. Your personal injury lawyers can use their testimonies later on in your claim.
Let Your Insurer Know
Letting your insurance company know that you were in an accident is important. It’s a good idea to get this out of the way as soon as possible. Take a few minutes to think about what to say. The call should be short and to the point. Let them know the basics of the accident and that you’re receiving medical care. As with the police, don’t mention fault.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
As soon as you can, call a lawyer to help you begin your claim. People sometimes delay in doing this, and that could put your case at risk. You will generally have two years to start a claim, but there could be circumstances that shorten the time you have. To avoid missing the deadline, hiring a lawyer quickly is vital.
Trust Wapner Newman With Your Car Accident Claim
Call Experienced Pennsylvania Attorneys for Complex Rideshare Collisions
All car accident claims are complicated in Pennsylvania because of the state’s hybrid insurance policies, but it can be even more difficult when a collision involves a rideshare driver. To have the greatest chance to recover the damages you deserve, hire experienced lawyers who can aggressively fight for fair compensation.
At Wapner Newman, our team has decades of combined legal experience and a fierce dedication to all of our clients. If you’re struggling with injuries, lost wages, and emotional trauma, let our team offer the support you need.
Contact our car accident lawyers by calling us at (215) 569-0900.