Auto accidents occur every hour of every day.  More and more Uber and Lyft rideshare vehicles are competing to get your business.  The nature of ridesharing requires drivers to be constantly checking their apps, looking at screens and rushing to pick up passengers.  Sometimes they are exhausted as I can tell you from personal experience.  When I travel to the airport for work or vacation, it is often 4 am- 6 am.  Some of the rideshare drivers have been on the road without sleep since midnight.  That can't be good.  Drivers responsible for the accidents are liable for any damages, whether that's personal bodily injury or property damage. Insurance payouts that are fair and adequate can cover the costs of some damage, but oftentimes, it's not enough. When it's not enough, you may need a personal injury lawyer who has specific experience with rideshare auto accidents. 

At Worthington Law Group, our auto accident attorney in PA can help you file a solid, well-supported personal injury claim to ensure you receive just and fair compensation. Contact Worthington Law Group online or at 215-576-5150 to schedule a free, no-strings-attached consultation about your Uber or Lyft case today.

Common Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) Accident Injuries in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, PA

Injuries sustained from auto accidents involving a rideshare vehicle can range anywhere from minor to fatal. The types of immediate bodily injuries often involved in personal injury claims include:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations and cuts
• Nerve damage
• Whiplash
• Spinal injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Chronic pain

Any and all of the above injuries can be serious and life-threatening. All bodily injuries – regardless of their severity – are compensable if you are the victim of the accident. In many cases, psychological, mental, and emotional injuries are also compensable.

Types of Auto Accidents in Pennsylvania

The type of injuries a victim sustains depends on the type of car accident. Common types of crashes include:

• Head-on collisions, which are among the most devastating types of collisions can result in serious and life-threatening bodily injuries
• Rear-end accidents, which are among the most common and frequently result in neck and back injuries
• Side-impact collisions, which are common, usually occur at intersections and can result in a range of injuries depending on where the vehicle was struck
• Roll-over accidents, which are less common but often result in head and neck injuries
• Sideswipe accidents, which are less common and occur when one of two or more vehicles traveling parallel with each other swipes the side of the other vehicle
• Blind spot accidents, which are less common and occur when one vehicle fails to spot another vehicle while changing or merging into another lane
• Pedestrian accidents, which occur when an inattentive or negligent driver fails to see a person walking on a road can result in severe injuries or death

The type of car accident can indicate liability for property and bodily damages. It's important to remember, though, that accidents can be complex events, and so though the type may initially and seemingly indicate fault, a thorough investigation must be conducted for a clear understanding of where liability falls.  

Common Causes of Rideshare Auto Accidents in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks County

Car accidents happen for many reasons. Typically, causes can be grouped into three categories: drivers, vehicles, and environment.

Drivers

• Intoxicated driving (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, illicit drugs)
• Distracted driving (e.g., eating, texting, unruly passengers)
• Drowsy driving or falling asleep while driving
• Speeding or reckless driving
• Decision error (e.g., driving too fast for the conditions, misjudging another driver's actions)
• Recognition error (e.g., inattention)
• Performance error (e.g., overcompensation, poor directional control)

Vehicles

• Tires/wheels-related
• Brakes-related
• Steering/suspension/transmission/engine-related
• Manufacturer defects

Environment

• Slick roads (e.g., ice, loose debris)
• Glare
• View obstructions
• Signs/signals

Most crashes are the direct result of a driver. Aside from crashes caused by drivers, vehicles, or environmental conditions, there are other reasons that don't fall within these categories. For instance, pedestrians can sometimes be the cause of an accident. In other circumstances, the cause cannot be determined. 

When the cause of an auto accident is easily identified, liability will also tend to be easily identifiable. More complex auto accident cases, however, require the insight of an experienced auto accident attorney and the knowledge and expertise of expert witnesses.

Benefits of Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Pennsylvania

After a car accident, whether a rideshare accident or not,  insurance companies will investigate the cause of the wreck to see who was at fault. They will then offer to cover the victim's expenses. Insurance companies, however, are for-profit entities. They make money by bringing in premium payments and increase profit margins by minimizing the amount of money they pay out in settlements.  In other words, they don't want to pay claims at all!

When an insurance company offers a settlement, that offer may not represent the true value of fair compensation a victim deserves.  If an insurance adjuster thinks he can offer a low-ball settlement because an accident victim is under financial or other pressure, he will use that to the advantage of the insurance company.  No matter how "nice" the adjuster seems, the goal is to NOT PAY A DIME to an injured party.   Victims should be compensated for their:

• Medical bills, past, and future
• Property damage
• Lost wages, past, and future
• Reduced earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• And more

Frequently, insurance settlement offers made directly to claimants (without lawyers) only cover property damage and medical bills, and only those expenses incurred to date. Sometimes the settlement will also include lost wages, but again, it may only include the wages lost to date and not future wages or loss of earned income. Much of it depends on the insurance comverages on the vehicles involved.  And rest assured, to even get that kind of offer, you will be required to sign a LOT of paperwork including a medical release  which the insurance company will use to try to find prior injuries or conditions to blame for the ones suffered by the accident victim.  This invasive practice will be used on accident victims who are not represented by experienced legal counsel.  We never let our clients sign such medical releases except in very specific circumstances.  Worthington Law Group protects you from the privacy violations of blanket medical releases from insurance companies by making sure you don't sign.

By hiring a lawyer and pursuing these other forms of compensation, accident victims can fight for what they really deserve. 

Finally, you may not be aware, but most rideshare companies will require non-disclosure of any settlement on a case in which their driver caused the accident.  Why?  Most likely to prevent negative publicity for the rideshare company.  

Contact Worthington Law Group in the Philadelphia, Montgomery County or surrounding counties in PA Today

Auto accidents can be straightforward or complex. Regardless of which, it is in your best interests to speak to an experienced Pennsylvania auto accident attorney. At Worthington Law Group, we work hard for our clients to obtain fair and just compensation. Contact us using our online form or by calling us directly at 215-576-5150 to schedule a relaxed, free consultation today.  Our Flourtown office, just outside the city limits has unlimited free parking and an elevator if you need it.  We also offer remote consultations for the convenience of all our Pennsylvania clients.