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An Uber ride should make getting where you need to go easier. When that ride ends in an accident, you can be left dealing with injuries, medical bills, missed work, and insurance companies that give you different answers about who should pay.
Whether you were an Uber passenger, another driver, a pedestrian, or a cyclist, Flager Law can help you understand your options. Our attorneys represent people injured in rideshare accidents in Philadelphia and throughout New Jersey, helping them pursue compensation and move forward.
Rideshare claims can involve several insurance policies, disputed accounts of the crash, and questions about whether the driver was actively using the app. You should not have to sort through those issues while recovering from an injury.
Call 215-953-5200 or request a free case evaluation to discuss your Uber accident with Flager Law.
After an Uber accident, determining which insurance company should handle your claim is not always straightforward. The answer may depend on who caused the collision, whether the driver had accepted a ride, and the insurance policies in effect.
A passenger may have a claim involving the Uber driver, another motorist, or multiple parties. Someone struck by an Uber vehicle may need evidence showing whether the driver was waiting for a request or traveling to pick up a passenger.
An attorney can investigate those details, identify potential sources of compensation, and address attempts to shift responsibility.
At Flager Law, we can help by:
Our goal is to build a claim that reflects what happened and how the accident has affected your life.
Uber and Lyft connect passengers with drivers through an app. Although the ride may feel similar to taking a taxi, the insurance arrangements can be different.
Many rideshare drivers use their own vehicles. Their personal auto insurance may exclude certain business activities, while coverage maintained through the rideshare platform can change depending on the stage of the trip.
The driver’s app activity is therefore an important part of the investigation. Relevant questions include:
An empty back seat does not necessarily mean rideshare coverage is unavailable. A driver may already have accepted a request and be on the way to collect a passenger.
The state involved also matters. A crash in Philadelphia and a crash in New Jersey may raise different insurance questions, even when they involve the same rideshare company.
A rideshare crash can happen during a short trip through Center City, a pickup in Northeast Philadelphia, or a ride between Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Congested intersections, highway merges, unfamiliar routes, and busy pickup areas can create difficult driving situations. Drivers must remain attentive whether they are navigating city streets, approaching a bridge, or traveling on I-95, I-76, I-295, or the New Jersey Turnpike.
An Uber accident can involve:
General traffic crash totals should not be treated as Uber-specific statistics. For official Pennsylvania crash information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Crash Information Tool.
Whatever the broader numbers show, your claim depends on the evidence from your accident.
Rideshare drivers rely on their phones for requests, directions, and passenger communications. Looking at a screen instead of the road can cause a driver to miss stopped traffic, a pedestrian, or a changing signal.
Driving too fast or leaving too little space between vehicles reduces the time available to respond to a hazard. These choices can lead to rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, and serious injuries.
Stopping in a travel lane, pulling away without checking for cyclists, or making an abrupt turn toward a waiting passenger can put others at risk.
A tired driver may have trouble concentrating, judging distances, or responding quickly. Long driving hours can become relevant when investigating how a collision occurred.
Drivers may cause crashes by turning across traffic, entering an intersection without the right of way, or failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
Alcohol, drugs, and certain medications can interfere with judgment and vehicle control. An impaired driver may be responsible for injuries caused by those limitations.
Worn tires, defective brakes, and other maintenance problems can contribute to a crash. Investigators may need to examine the vehicle and its service history.
Rain, snow, ice, and reduced visibility require drivers to adjust their speed and following distance. Dangerous conditions do not excuse careless driving.
The steps you take after a crash can help protect your health and preserve information needed for a claim.
If your injuries prevent you from gathering information, focus on getting care. An attorney can discuss other ways to investigate the crash.
There is no single answer that applies to every rideshare crash. Potential coverage depends on fault, the driver’s activity, the location of the accident, and the policies involved.
When a driver is not using the Uber app, the driver’s personal auto insurance generally applies to ordinary personal driving. Rideshare coverage ordinarily does not apply simply because the person sometimes drives for Uber.
Coverage during this period differs from coverage for an accepted trip. An investigation should establish the driver’s app status and identify the policies that apply to that stage.
Higher liability limits generally apply during an accepted rideshare trip. Uber describes liability coverage of at least $1 million for covered rideshare accidents while a driver is traveling to a pickup or transporting a passenger. State requirements may be higher.
You can review Uber’s insurance information and state-specific certificates for additional details. Commercially licensed services may have different insurance arrangements.
New Jersey has its own transportation network company insurance requirements, including a $1.5 million minimum liability requirement during a prearranged ride.
These figures describe insurance limits, not guaranteed settlement amounts. Coverage must be evaluated under the applicable policy and law.
If another motorist caused the collision, that driver’s liability insurance may be a source of compensation. Other potentially applicable benefits or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage also need to be reviewed.
Flager Law can investigate the available policies rather than relying solely on an insurer’s initial explanation.
An Uber accident can cause injuries ranging from temporary pain to permanent disability. Potential injuries include:
The effect of an injury is not always apparent at the scene. Medical records, treatment history, and information about your daily limitations can help establish its full impact.
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an Uber accident claim may include compensation for:
Emergency treatment, hospital care, surgery, diagnostic testing, medication, rehabilitation, and other accident-related medical expenses may be relevant to your claim.
Some injuries require ongoing treatment, assistive equipment, home modifications, or long-term assistance. Those needs should be evaluated before a claim is resolved.
If your injuries keep you from working, you may be able to seek compensation for lost earnings supported by employment and financial records.
A lasting injury may limit your ability to return to your former job, work the same hours, or pursue the same career.
Physical pain and the effect of an injury on your daily life may be compensable when permitted by the applicable law.
A serious accident can affect sleep, relationships, independence, and participation in activities you previously enjoyed.
If your vehicle or other property was damaged, a separate property damage claim may be available.
When a collision causes a death, surviving family members or the estate may have claims under the applicable wrongful death and survival laws.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey have different rules governing medical benefits and certain injury damages. The available recovery must be evaluated for the individual case.
A case’s value depends on the evidence, the extent of the injuries, and the available coverage. An insurance policy limit alone does not establish what a claim is worth.
Important considerations can include:
An early settlement offer may arrive before your long-term needs are clear. Evaluating the medical evidence and expected recovery can help you make an informed decision.
The settlement amount and the amount you ultimately receive are not necessarily the same.
Depending on your case and representation agreement, attorney fees, case expenses, outstanding medical obligations, and valid reimbursement claims may need to be addressed from the recovery.
Before accepting a settlement, you should understand what it resolves and how the proceeds will be distributed.
Flager Law can explain those considerations and help you evaluate an offer in the context of your documented losses.
A successful negligence claim generally requires evidence connecting another party’s careless conduct to your injuries and losses.
Relevant evidence may include:
For example, trip records may help establish that a driver had accepted a request before the collision. Video may clarify whether a vehicle ran a red light or made an unsafe turn.
Evidence should be preserved as early as possible. A claim can become more difficult when important records are lost or overwritten.
Flager Law has represented injured clients since 1990. Our team handles personal injury matters involving motor vehicle accidents, including Uber and Lyft crashes.
Our attorneys include Randall C. Flager and Adam D. Flager, who are admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
We understand that a serious injury affects more than a medical chart. It can change your ability to work, care for your family, and manage everyday responsibilities. Understanding those effects is part of preparing your claim.
We offer free case evaluations and handle personal injury matters on a contingency fee basis. You can review our contingency fee policy and discuss the terms with our team.
Call 215-953-5200 to discuss your accident and learn how we may be able to help.
In Pennsylvania, personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524.
New Jersey also generally applies a two-year filing period to personal injury claims under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2.
Exceptions and separate notice requirements may apply. Claims involving public entities can require action much sooner. Contact an attorney promptly to determine the deadlines for your situation.
Yes. A passenger injured because of a driver’s negligence may have a claim against the responsible party. Depending on the crash, that could involve the rideshare driver, another motorist, or multiple parties.
Being a passenger does not eliminate the need to establish liability, document damages, and identify applicable coverage.
That depends on the facts and the legal basis for the claim. Uber’s involvement in arranging a ride does not automatically make the company legally responsible for every collision.
A claim involving insurance maintained through Uber is also different from proving that Uber itself is liable. An attorney can evaluate the potential defendants and available claims.
The driver may still have been working through the app. Coverage can differ depending on whether the driver was waiting for a request or had already accepted one.
Trip records and app activity can help establish the correct stage.
Possibly. Pennsylvania and New Jersey generally use modified comparative negligence rules. A person who is more than 50% responsible generally cannot recover damages on an ordinary negligence claim; a qualifying recovery is reduced by the person’s percentage of fault.
The application of those rules depends on the parties and circumstances. An insurer’s accusation is not a final determination of responsibility.
A trip across state lines can raise questions about applicable law, insurance benefits, and where a lawsuit may be filed.
Where the crash occurred is important, but other facts can matter too. Flager Law can review the trip, the parties, and the relevant policies.
Other coverage may be available, including uninsured motorist benefits under an applicable policy. Availability depends on the policy language, state law, and circumstances.
Report the incident promptly and preserve any information that may help identify the vehicle or driver.
No. You can evaluate an offer before deciding whether to accept it. Consider your medical needs, lost income, future limitations, and the scope of the release.
Once a claim is settled, obtaining additional compensation for the same injuries can be difficult or impossible.
Yes. Our rideshare accident practice includes claims involving Uber and Lyft. The relevant company’s policies and the driver’s activity must be reviewed for each accident.
Flager Law offers a free case evaluation. We can discuss what happened, explain potential next steps, and answer questions about representation and our contingency fee arrangement.
You booked a ride to get somewhere. You did not plan for an injury, an interruption to your income, or a dispute over insurance coverage.
Flager Law helps people injured in Uber and Lyft accidents understand their rights and pursue the compensation available to them. Whether the collision happened in Philadelphia, in New Jersey, or during a trip between the two, our team can review your situation.
Call 215-953-5200 or request your free case evaluation online.
Flager Law — Philadelphia Office
1500 JFK Blvd, Suite 1450
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-953-5200
Email: mail@flagerlaw.com
Representing injured clients in Philadelphia and throughout New Jersey.
