Collisions involving rideshare trips bring questions about injuries, billing, and insurance. When injuries result from Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents in Allentown, the driver’s app status at the time of the crash often controls which policy applies. Busy pickup zones and in-app demands add risk. You should not have to handle the claims process while you are healing. A car crash attorney could organize records, contact insurers, and keep your claim moving forward.
Rideshare crashes are considered motor vehicle accidents, and the same principles of fault apply. However, the coverage can vary depending on the driver’s status in the app. Clear communication and early evidence preservation are essential to prevent disputes later on. Our lawyers with experience in ride-share accidents request updates at each stage of the process and assist in gathering the records that link the collision to your injuries.
In Allentown and elsewhere, insurance limits for collisions depend on the ride-share driver’s app status. According to 53 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 57A07, when the app is on and no ride is accepted, primary automobile liability is at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage, with first-party medical benefits of $25,000 for pedestrians and $5,000 for a driver. Once a prearranged ride begins, primary liability is at least $500,000, and first-party medical benefits apply on a per-incident basis, including $25,000 for passengers and pedestrians and $5,000 for a driver.
The state also requires first-party medical benefits on auto policies, with a minimum medical benefit of $5,000. This benefit may help pay early medical bills while the law investigates who is at fault.
Personal auto policies may exclude coverage when a vehicle is used for ride-share service. Our state’s statute allows insurers to exclude coverage while a driver is logged into a digital network or providing a prearranged ride, which is why the rideshare coverage is at its optimum during those periods.
Early documentation supports fault and damages. To reduce disputes over how the crash happened, our attorneys could move quickly to secure ride-share accident evidence, such as:
After the crash, our skilled Allentown lawyers could send written preservation notices to the transportation network company, such as Uber or Lyft, and the driver to retain trip data, inward- and outward-facing video, telematics, and maintenance records. We could also request that the vehicle be secured for inspection, so an independent professional could evaluate the brakes, tires, suspension, and lighting.
Rideshare crashes can involve several responsible parties. Our attorneys could identify fault by sequencing the event with app timestamps, GPS data, dashcam video, and scene measurements. We could request phone-use and trip records, maintenance and inspection files, and any inward- or outward-facing vehicle video. When needed, independent reconstruction professionals could review speed, steering inputs, and impact points to clarify whether a sudden lane change, a short stop for a pickup, or a distraction triggered the collision.
Insurance questions often drive disputes. A lawyer could confirm the driver’s app status, tender claims to the correct carriers, and track notice and proof-of-loss deadlines. Accident coverage may include the transportation network company’s policy, the rideshare driver’s personal policy (if they were at fault rather than the business, such as Uber or Lyft, they worked for), and your Allentown uninsured or underinsured motorist protection. We could coordinate first-party medical benefits, address health-insurer subrogation, and keep adjusters from contacting you while we build your case.
If you suffered injuries in a wreck, you know that Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents in Allentown can lead to complicated legal claims. Immediate action to obtain evidence and verify app status can make a difference. Our law firm could send preservation notices, request trip data, and coordinate with your providers to document the full impact.
Contact Soloff & Zervanos for a free consultation. We could inform you about next steps and timelines and offer guidance about how to pursue compensation under the available rideshare coverages.
