Were you or a family member injured in a car accident involving a rideshare service in Wyomissing, PA? Uber and Lyft offer convenient transportation options–but they can’t eliminate the risk of being injured in an accident entirely. If you were injured because someone else was careless, an experienced Wyomissing Uber accident lawyer can help you fight for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we have over 120 years of experience in personal injury law. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of accident victims across the state.
You pay nothing out of pocket to get the legal advice you deserve. Just contact our law offices in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania at (717) 388-2325 to schedule a free consultation today.
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Why Should I Hire Marzzacco Niven & Associates to Handle My Wyomissing Uber Accident Claim?
Car accident cases involving Uber and Lyft can be particularly challenging. When Uber’s commercial insurance company is involved, it’s often more difficult for victims to get the fair compensation they deserve. Higher coverage limits almost always motivate the insurance company to fight even harder to avoid paying fair compensation.
Our experienced Wyomissing personal injury lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates have decades of experience fighting for accident victims like you. We’ve been recognized for our exceptional legal representation by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers of America, and Rising Stars.
Hiring our Wyomissing personal injury attorneys give you an advocate who will:
- Investigate to determine the cause of your accident
- Assess your damages and determine how much your case is worth
- Work with leading experts who can strengthen your personal injury claim
- Identify the insurance policy that is available to cover your damages
- Protect you against blame-shifting insurance techniques and scare tactics
- Negotiate with Uber’s insurance company on your behalf
You deserve to be fairly compensated if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence. Our Wyomissing personal injury attorneys are well-prepared to help. Give us a call to schedule your free consultation to learn more today.
How Common Are Rideshare Accidents?
It’s not easy to find direct statistics on rideshare accidents. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation groups these crashes with auto accidents involving private vehicles. Uber’s own safety report found that Uber’s fatality rate is half the national average.
However, according to a University of Chicago study, Uber and Lyft may be increasing the number of traffic deaths. Fatal car accidents have increased by about 3% each year since rideshare companies were introduced across the U.S. That’s about 987 additional deaths each year.
That doesn’t mean that Uber and Lyft drivers are directly involved in these additional fatal accidents. The study does show, however, that rideshare drivers may be making the roads more dangerous in general.
How Much Money Will I Take Home if My Uber Accident Case is Successful?
Many factors can influence the value of your personal injury claim, including:
- The type of injuries involved
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Whether you miss work during recovery
- The value of your lost wages
- How the injuries are expected to impact your future earnings and quality of life
- The circumstances of the accident
- The amount of insurance coverage available
No two personal injury claims are exactly the same. Our lawyers will dig deep into the facts when we’re calculating your case value. If you have questions about how much money you should receive, contact our lawyers in Wyomissing to start the valuation process today.
How Do I Recover Compensation if I Was Involved in an Uber Accident in Pennsylvania?
Like any other car accident case, your compensation will probably come from an insurance company. Unlike other accident claims, however, multiple insurance policies could be involved.
Uber drivers are required to carry car insurance like anyone else. However, that personal insurance isn’t always available after a rideshare accident. That’s because the driver’s personal insurance carrier isn’t required to cover accidents that happen while the driver was using the car to make a profit.
If the driver was using the Uber app at the time of the accident, Uber’s commercial insurance will kick in. There are two possible insurance policies that could be available, depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident.
Uber App is On and Driver is Available to Accept Ride Requests
If the Uber driver is logged into the app, but has not yet accepted a ride, the following insurance coverage is available:
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
This coverage is available as third-party liability coverage, if your own insurance doesn’t cover your damages.
Uber Driver Has Accepted a Ride Request
Once the rideshare driver accepts a passenger’s ride request, the following insurance coverage applies:
- $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage
The larger $1 million policy is available while the driver is en route to pick up the passenger and during the ride itself. The $1 million policy is also available when an Uber delivery driver is en route to pick up deliveries and during the delivery trip itself.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Uber Accident Victims in Wyomissing?
Uber accident victims can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages under Pennsylvania law.
Economic damages are your financial expenses, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- The cost of repairing your vehicle
- Other types of property damage
Non-economic damages compensate for the emotional, non-financial losses that an accident can cause, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium
While punitive damages are rare, they may be available if the at-fault driver’s acts were especially shocking.
What is Comparative Negligence? Can Shared Fault Impact My Case Value?
Yes. However, Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence laws don’t always bar accident victims from recovering compensation if they share some of the fault.
If you were less than 51% responsible for the car wreck, your damages will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. Once your share of fault reaches 51%, you are barred from suing for damages.
Our Attorneys in Wyomissing Handle All Types of Uber Accident Injury Claims
After an Uber accident, you may be struggling with painful injuries like any other motor vehicle accident victim.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our car accident attorneys often represent clients in Berks County who have sustained:
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Burns
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Insurance companies often try to minimize the impact that these types of injuries can have on your life. Our Wyomissing Uber accident attorneys can help you fight for fair compensation. Call our law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.
What Causes Most Uber Accidents in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania?
Uber drivers don’t have any special driving abilities. However, they may spend more time behind the wheel, which can actually increase the likelihood that the driver will be tired or distracted.
Some of the most common causes of Wyomissing car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Stopping in dangerous locations for passenger pickups
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Road rage
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
Uber drivers aren’t always responsible for causing Uber accidents. It’s possible that a third-party motorist, pedestrian, or bicyclist might share some of the blame.
Regardless of the circumstances, our experienced car accident lawyers can help you determine the cause and identify the at-fault parties.
How Do I Prove Negligence if I Was Injured in an Uber Accident in Pennsylvania?
While Uber is required to carry additional insurance, you can only tap those insurance policies if you can prove that someone else was responsible for your accident. Most of the time, that means proving negligence.
Negligence means that:
- Someone owed you a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty
- The breach caused an accident
- You suffered damages
In Uber accident cases, you’ll also have the added burden of proving what the Uber driver was doing at the time of the crash so that you can establish which insurance policy applies in your case.
What’s The Time Limit for Filing an Uber Accident Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania is two years. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit–if you wait any longer, you lose your right to seek compensation entirely.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Wyomissing Uber Accident Lawyer Today
Were you injured in an accident involving an Uber driver in Wyomissing? An experienced Wyomissing Uber accident lawyer can help you navigate the complex insurance issues that will arise in your case. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates today to schedule a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights.