Lyft Accident Lawyers in Philadelphia County
Heavy demand for ridesharing services increased Lyft’s revenue 28 percent in 2022. Heavy demand also increases the risk of car accidents and other injuries. To handle the increased ridership, Lyft no longer carefully screens its drivers.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Lyft’s hiring standards were among the toughest in the country. Today, almost anyone with a valid driver’s license can be a Lyft driver.
As outlined below, these injury cases are extremely complex. Only an experienced Lyft accident lawyer in Philadelphia from The Cochran Firm should handle these matters.
Less experienced attorneys often look for an easy way out when they handle complex cases. But at The Cochran Firm, our Philadelphia legal team does not settle for anything less than the best possible results under the circumstances. You and your family deserve no less than our very best.
Why Choose Us?
Pennsylvania has one of the country’s highest number of lawyers per capita. Most lawyers have solid basic skills and are more than capable of handling a basic personal injury case. But Lyft accidents in Philadelphia usually involve intricate evidence and legal issues. At The Cochran Firm, our team easily handles such cases, because we have the right combination of:
- Dedication: Our founder, Johnnie Cochran, dedicated his career to upholding the legal and financial rights of individuals like you. Our team members share that commitment in all our personal injury cases. But we are not a one-trick pony law firm. Instead, we’re a full-service law firm here to meet all your legal needs.
- Experience: As the old saying goes, there’s no substitute for experience. Our team is familiar with all the complex legal doctrines and rules which apply in a ridesharing injury case. We’re also familiar with the unwritten rules that all judges have. Therefore, we can be aggressive and tenacious when fighting for you.
- Accessibility: Many large, nationwide law firms quickly refer cases to other, less experienced lawyers. Or they delegate most of the casework to junior associates or non-lawyer assistants. But at The Cochran Firm, our top Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyers assume primary responsibility for all the work done in your case. If you have questions or concerns, your lawyer addresses them.
This combination of skills, along with our proven methods, has produced life-changing results for our clients. We’re confident that we can achieve the same results in your claim.
What Causes Lyft Accidents in Philadelphia?
Most ridesharing crashes are not inevitable and unavoidable “accidents.” Instead, driver impairment or aggressive driving causes over 98 percent of ridesharing crashes in America.
Device distraction and excessive fatigue are the two most common driver impairment causes of Lyft accidents in Pennsylvania.
Most people are familiar with the hazards of using a hand-held device, like a GPS navigation device, while driving. A hands-free gadget is by no means risk free. In fact, driving while using such a device is as dangerous as driving drunk.
Driver fatigue is an issue as well. Most ridesharing operators are part-timers with full-time commitments elsewhere. So, by the time they slide behind the wheel and pick up passengers, they are dangerously drowsy. Fatigue, like alcohol, impairs judgment and slows reflexes. In fact, driving after being awake for eighteen hours in a row is like driving with a .05 BAC level. That’s above the legal limit for commercial drivers in the Keystone State.
The nature of ridesharing operations also encourages aggressive driving, mostly speeding. Lyft and other companies pay drivers for the trip. So, the more trips they complete, the more money they make. This financial arrangement encourages excessive speeding, which puts passengers at risk.
Speed reduces reaction time and increases the risk of a car crash. Additionally, according to Newton’s Second Law of Motion, speed multiplies the force in any collision between any two objects.
First Party Liability
A Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyer often uses the negligence per se principle to obtain compensation in aggressive driving cases. Frequently, emergency responders investigate a crash and issue a citation to the at-fault driver, sometimes many weeks later. Drivers who break safety laws and cause injuries could be liable for those injuries as a matter of law.
Attorneys still need substantial evidence in negligence per se cases to obtain maximum compensation. There’s usually a connection between the amount of proof a victim/plaintiff presents and the amount of compensation jurors award. (Read more on evidence in car crash claims below.)
Though dangerous, hands-free GPS device use and excessive fatigue normally don’t violate safety laws in Pennsylvania. So, a Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyer must use the ordinary negligence doctrine in these matters.
Basically, ordinary negligence is a lack of ordinary care. Lyft drivers, Uber drivers, truck drivers, and other commercial operators have a higher duty of care in Pennsylvania. Instead of avoiding accidents, they must take proactive measures to prevent them.
As another old saying goes, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. The higher duty of care makes it easier to prove negligence, or a lack of care, by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not.
Evidence in car crash claims usually includes the police accident report, medical bills, and witness statements. However, this evidence, by itself, usually isn’t enough to obtain maximum compensation.
Medical bills are a good example. Usually, Pennsylvania law requires a Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyer to prove the expenses were reasonably necessary. Additionally, prior bills indicate little or nothing about the need for future medical treatment.
To fill in these gaps, attorneys often partner with independent doctors. Usually, these physicians charge nothing upfront for their professional services.
Third-Party Liability
Lyft drivers are normally independent contractors for most financial purposes. But, since the company controls their behavior, these drivers are employees for negligence purposes. Therefore, the respondeat superior doctrine usually applies.
This legal doctrine holds employers responsible for injuries their employees cause while working within the course and scope of employment.
Vicarious liability is important in these claims because, as mentioned, companies like Lyft have deep pockets. Vicarious liability also makes these claims much more complex. Lyft’s corporate headquarters are in San Francisco, and the company has a small army of high-priced lawyers who do whatever it takes to reduce or deny compensation to victims.
A determined Lyft accident lawyer from The Cochran Firm in Philadelphia levels the playing field. We have handled many complex cases, and high-priced corporate lawyers don’t intimidate us.
FAQs
Many people have questions about their legal and financial rights after a Lyft accident. Below are some of the questions our Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyers often hear.
Can I sue the company for a Lyft accident?
Absolutely. The respondeat superior rule holds employers, like Lyft, financially responsible for car crashes and other injuries.
This rule applies if the tortfeasor (negligent driver) was an employee who was acting within the course and scope of employment at the time of the wreck. State law defines all these keywords and phrases in broad, victim-friendly terms.
How much is my case worth?
An injury claim’s settlement value begins with economic losses, such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. To determine a reasonable amount of pain and suffering and other noneconomic losses, most Philadelphia Lyft accident lawyers multiply the economic losses by two, three, or four, mostly depending on the facts of the case.
Why is it taking so long to settle my case?
Insurance companies delay the process as long as possible. Everyday settlement funds remain in their bank accounts and they earn substantial interest. Additionally, if a case settles too quickly, the settlement might not fully account for future necessary medical expenses. If that happens, the victim is financially responsible for these expenses.
These may not be your only questions; our attorneys will discuss your specific concerns in your initial consult.
Connect with A Diligent Philadelphia Lyft Accident Lawyer
Ridesharing collisions usually cause very serious injuries and are extremely complex. It’s good to know that the experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm are with you until the end of the line.
To schedule your free consultation and no-obligation case review, call us at 800-969-4400. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.