Philadelphia Rideshare Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in an accident involving an Uber, a Lyft, or another rideshare vehicle in Philadelphia, what do you do?

If you were seriously injured, you should consult a Philadelphia rideshare accident lawyer to find out what your legal rights are in your situation. The laws about who is responsible for a rideshare accident are extremely complex.

A consultation with an experienced rideshare attorney will give you the clarity you need to make an informed decision about what to do next. It’s hard enough to deal with the injuries from an accident and having your life disrupted, needing to get medical treatments, maybe being in pain, and maybe losing income.

Add to that the difficulty of trying to figure out if you are eligible to seek compensation for your injuries in a rideshare accident situation, and it can feel overwhelming. Let the experienced rideshare accident lawyers at Wapner Newman handle the legal aspects of your injuries for you.

A consultation with an experienced rideshare accident attorney will give you the clarity you need. Call Wapner Newman today at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation and case review.

Why Choose a Philadelphia Rideshare Accident Attorney at Wapner Newman

When you need a team of rideshare accident lawyers in Philadelphia, look for a law firm that gets results. The accident lawyers at Wapner Newman have an outstanding record of helping our clients get life-changing compensation.

Our injury attorneys have won many awards and have been recognized as top lawyers in Philadelphia, state-wide, and nationally. We are dedicated to getting fair settlements for our clients to provide them with the financial security they need to go on with their lives.

We have decades of experience fighting for the rights of people injured in accidents in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania and have won millions of dollars for our clients.

How We Can Help

If you become our client, we will assign your case to a principal partner who has extensive experience handling car accident cases.

Your partner will work with their highly trained legal team to leave no stone unturned in our quest to see that you get all the compensation for your injuries that you deserve.

We will:

  • Investigate the accident, find out who was at fault, and gather evidence to prove the at-fault party’s negligence.
  • Negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf, using our negotiation experience and skills to fight for your right to receive fair compensation from the at-fault party.
  • Refuse to accept a settlement offer that is too low.
  • Recommend medical specialists for your needs.
  • Gather evidence of your expenses and losses, including expert witness testimony when necessary.
  • Calculate realistic and fair estimates of your “non-economic damages,” which are losses you have suffered that don’t have a specific price tag, such as your present and future pain, suffering, and lower quality of life.
  • Support you throughout the legal process.
  • Give your case personal attention, keep you updated on important developments, and answer any questions you may have.

Who is at Fault in a Philadelphia Rideshare Accident?

When an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident, the fault usually lies with the rideshare driver and/or the driver of the other vehicle. If you were the passenger, the accident is very unlikely to have been your fault.

Rideshare drivers, like all drivers, have a legal responsibility to use reasonable care to drive safely when they are on the road. If they fail to use reasonable care, and this failure causes or contributes to an accident, then they are considered negligent.

Common causes of rideshare driver negligence in Philadelphia include:

  • Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Driving while drowsy
  • Using cellphones while driving
  • Being distracted by anything else
  • Speeding
  • Not stopping at red lights or stop signs
  • Breaking other traffic laws
  • Not driving safely for the road and weather conditions.

Sometimes, there is more than one cause of an accident. If you are not sure of the cause, or if you think the accident may have been partially your fault, you should talk to a Philadelphia rideshare accident attorney to find out what your rights are.

Under Pennsylvania law, if both you and the other driver were at fault for the accident, you may still be able to obtain compensation, as long as your share of the fault is not more than 50%.

If both you and the other driver were at fault for the accident, you may still be able to obtain compensation for your injuries.

Who is Financially Responsible for Injuries Caused in a Rideshare Accident?

In most car accidents, if you are injured because of another driver’s negligence, then you would sue the other driver for compensation. Your settlement or award would be paid by the negligent driver’s insurance company.

With accidents caused by rideshare drivers, it’s more complicated. In 2016, new laws were passed in Pennsylvania that regulate various aspects of the rideshare industry. Part of these laws deal with insurance requirements, and these are found in the following:

These laws require either the driver or the rideshare company, on the driver’s behalf, to carry automobile insurance for a specified amount.

There are different rules depending on the factors like:

  • Whether the driver had a customer in their car at the time of the accident
  • Or, the driver was on his/her way to pick up a passenger
  • Or, the driver had his/her app turned on but hadn’t yet accepted a request for a ride.

To make it even more complicated, Pennsylvania is a no-fault insurance car insurance state. Drivers are allowed to opt out of the no-fault system, but most drivers choose no-fault insurance (also called limited tort insurance).

However, even if you have no-fault insurance, you may still be able to sue the other rideshare driver or company in a personal injury lawsuit if your injuries from the accident are serious.

You don’t need to try to figure all this out on your own. The experienced rideshare accident lawyers in Philadelphia law firm Wapner Newman would be glad to provide a free case review and let you know if you have a good case for seeking compensation from the at-fault driver or rideshare company.

Even if you have no-fault auto insurance, you may still be able to sue the negligent party for compensation. Call us at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation to discuss your case.

How Much Money Can I Expect to Obtain After a Rideshare Accident in Philadelphia?

The amount of money that you can expect to receive in a settlement or jury award as compensation for your rideshare accident injuries will depend on the following factors:

  • How severely you were injured
  • The kind of medical treatment you need
  • How long you are expected to continue to need treatment or other assistance
  • Whether you are losing income because of your injuries
  • Other ways that your injuries affect you and your family.

You may be compensated for past, present, and future expenses and losses. Your rideshare accident attorney will gather and present evidence showing the extent of your expenses and losses, in the past, present, and future.

These Include:

Medical Expenses

These expenses include Emergency Department treatment, surgery, in-patient hospital stays, doctor appointments, medication, other treatments, rehab services, home care, and equipment such as wheelchairs or canes.

Income Losses

These include having to take a lower-paying job, having to cut back on your work hours, or not being able to work at all.

Pain, Emotional and Mental Suffering

These types of losses include pain, emotional and mental suffering, disability, scars, lower quality of life, and your family members’ loss of your companionship, affection, and support.

What Should You Do After an Accident Involving a Rideshare Car?

If you are injured in a crash with a rideshare car, you should seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think you were hurt, you may have injuries that won’t show up until later, so it’s a good idea to get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.

If your medical condition allows, you should get contact and insurance information from the other driver(s), contact information from any witnesses, and take photos or videos of the accident scene and of your injuries.

Here are the things to consider after an accident:

  • Don’t apologize for the accident, because that could be taken as an admission of fault.
  • Don’t talk to any representatives from the rideshare company or insurance company before talking to a lawyer.
  • Keep copies of any records, such as the police report.

Once you get a medical evaluation and begin healing from your injuries, contact a rideshare accident attorney for help with your case.

Call our rideshare accident lawyer at Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to discuss your legal options after a ridesharing accident.

Contact a Philadelphia Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Whether the driver or the company can be held financially responsible depends on the circumstances of the accident. A Philadelphia rideshare accident attorney can help you sort it out.

Contact a rideshare accident lawyer at Wapner Newman today for the help you need. Call us at (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation and case review.