Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer in Pittston & Wilkes-Barre, PA

Uber and Lyft have made it easier to get around Pittston, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton without a car, from nights out downtown to rides home from the airport. But when a rideshare trip ends in a crash, the insurance picture gets complicated fast. Several policies may apply, and which one pays can depend on what the driver's app was doing at the moment of impact. Joyce, Carmody & Moran is a Pittston law firm that helps people hurt in rideshare crashes throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

Why rideshare claims are different

The app status matters. Pennsylvania sets different insurance requirements depending on whether the driver was offline, logged in and waiting for a request, or carrying a passenger on a trip.

Coverage steps up during a ride. While the driver is logged in and waiting, state law requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in liability coverage. While a passenger is being carried on a prearranged ride, the required coverage rises to at least $500,000. The rideshare companies' own policies may carry more.

Several insurers may point at each other. The driver's personal policy, the rideshare company's policy and your own auto policy may all be involved. Personal policies often exclude rideshare driving, which can create gaps and finger-pointing.

The driver may be an independent contractor. That affects who can be held responsible and which policies apply.

Rideshare crashes we help with

• Passengers hurt while riding in an Uber or Lyft. See hurt as a passenger.

• Drivers and passengers in other cars hit by a rideshare driver

• Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a rideshare vehicle. See pedestrian accidents.

• Rideshare drivers hurt by another at-fault driver

• Crashes involving food and package delivery drivers. See Uber, Lyft and delivery driver accidents.

What a claim can include

• Medical bills and future care

• Lost wages and reduced ability to work

• Pain and suffering, depending on your tort option and injuries

• Property damage

What to do after a rideshare crash

• Get medical care right away.

• Take a screenshot of the trip in your app, including the driver's name, vehicle and time.

• Get the other driver's insurance and any witness names.

• Report the crash through the app and get a police report. See how to get your crash report.

• Be careful with statements to any insurer before you understand which policy applies.

Pennsylvania's two-year filing deadline generally applies to rideshare injury claims.

What it costs to talk to us

Rideshare accident cases are typically handled on a contingent-fee basis: the attorney's fee comes from a recovery, and if there is no recovery there is no attorney's fee. Clients may still be responsible for certain case costs depending on the outcome and the written fee agreement, which we explain before you sign.

Where we help

We help people hurt in rideshare crashes in Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Dickson City, Moosic and throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. See all areas we serve.

Talk it through with someone local. If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash, call our Pittston office at 570-602-3560 or request a free consultation. We'll review what happened and explain your options, with no cost for the first conversation and no obligation.