Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Scranton

Protect Your Rights After an Uber or Lyft Collision—We Help Injured Passengers and Drivers Throughout Lackawanna County

Uber and Lyft collisions in and around Scranton often look like “just another car accident,” but the insurance rules and liability questions can be far more complicated. Coverage can change depending on whether the rideshare app was off, on, and waiting for a ride, or actively transporting a passenger, and those distinctions can determine which insurer pays and how much coverage is available. 

If you were hurt as a passenger, another driver, a pedestrian, or even as the rideshare driver, you may be dealing with multiple adjusters, competing stories, and delays while companies argue about trip status.

At Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen P.C., we represent injured people in the Scranton/Clarks Green area and across Northeast Pennsylvania with a focus on thorough investigation and aggressive claim handling. If you need help after an Uber accident or Lyft accident, the next step is to speak with a lawyer early, so critical evidence is not lost.

Protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve by calling (570) 712-5545 or reaching out online to speak with an experienced Scranton rideshare accident lawyer. We offer a free consultation—Serving from our offices located in Clarks Green, Milford, Stroudsburg, Tunkhannock and Mt. Pocono.

Understanding Rideshare Accident Laws in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania treats rideshare companies as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), governed specifically under 53 Pa. C.S. Chapter 57A. Unlike a standard car accident, the amount of insurance coverage available in a rideshare claim depends entirely on the driver's activity on the app at the exact second of impact. 

As your rideshare accident attorney in Scranton, we focus on identifying which "Period" the accident falls under:

• Period 1 (App On, No Request): If the driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a passenger, Pennsylvania law requires lower contingent liability limits—typically $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury.
• Period 2 (Ride Accepted, En Route): Once the driver hits "Accept," the coverage levels jump significantly. In 2026, Uber and Lyft typically maintain primary commercial policies of up to $1 million that cover third-party liability during this phase.
• Period 3 (Passenger in Vehicle): From the moment you close the door until you exit at your destination, the full $1 million commercial policy is in effect. This policy is designed to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Who is Liable in a Lyft or Uber accident: Driver vs. Rideshare Company

Liability in a Lyft or Uber accident often starts with the same question as any crash: who was negligent? The driver may be liable for speeding, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, or failure to yield, and another motorist may share or carry full fault depending on what happened. 

Pennsylvania follows a comparative negligence model, meaning responsibility can be divided among multiple parties, which is one reason a thorough investigation matters.

Many clients also ask whether the rideshare company is liable. In most cases, Uber and Lyft argue that drivers are independent contractors, so the company should not be directly responsible for the driver’s negligence in the way an employer might be. 

However, the rideshare company’s insurance can still be required to pay based on the driver’s app status, and there are scenarios where corporate liability may be explored (for example, negligent hiring/supervision theories or policy-related failures, depending on the facts).

If you’re unsure whether the driver, another vehicle, or the rideshare company’s coverage should apply, we can evaluate liability, preserve evidence, and identify every responsible party—reach out for a claim review as soon as possible.

Choice No-Fault and Rideshare Exceptions

Pennsylvania remains a "choice no-fault" state, meaning your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) usually pays for your initial medical bills. However, a critical exception often applies to rideshare passengers: under the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (MVFRL), individuals injured while occupants of a "motor vehicle other than a private passenger motor vehicle" (like an Uber or Lyft) may be considered "Full Tort" regardless of the option they selected on their own policy. 

This allows you to seek non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, without having to meet the "serious injury" threshold required in other cases.

Key Elements the Prosecution or Opposing Counsel Must Prove

In a civil personal injury claim, the burden is on us to prove that the rideshare driver or another party was negligent. To secure a settlement or verdict, we must establish four core elements:

• Duty of Care: We must prove the driver owed you a duty to operate their vehicle safely. Rideshare drivers, as "common carriers" or quasi-commercial drivers, are held to a high standard of safety.
• Breach of Duty: We use evidence such as app data, GPS logs, and witness testimony to show the driver was speeding, distracted by the app, or otherwise negligent.
• Causation: We must link the driver's breach of duty directly to the accident. In 2026, we often subpoena digital "black box" data from the vehicle to prove exactly how the collision occurred.
• Damages: We provide a comprehensive breakdown of your losses, including medical records, expert vocational testimony for lost earning capacity, and documentation of physical and emotional distress.

Recoverable Damages in a Scranton Rideshare Accident

When we take on your case, our goal is to identify every financial and personal loss you have suffered. Pennsylvania law allows for a comprehensive range of damages designed to "make the victim whole" again.

Economic Damages

These are the objective financial costs that can be verified with receipts, bills, and pay stubs:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Loss of Earning Capacity
• Property Damage

Non-Economic Damages

These are subjective losses that impact your physical and emotional well-being. Because of the "Full Tort" exceptions often available to rideshare passengers in Pennsylvania, these are frequently the largest part of a settlement:

• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life
• Disfigurement and Scarring

If a rideshare collision results in a fatality, surviving family members may have options through a wrongful death claim.

Our Comprehensive Approach to Rideshare Accident Defense in Scranton

At Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen P.C., we treat every rideshare case as a high-stakes commercial litigation matter. Our methodology includes:

• App Status Verification: We don't take the company's word for it. We analyze electronic timestamps to prove exactly which insurance period was active at the time of the crash.
• Accident Reconstruction: We work with engineers and forensic experts to recreate the accident scene, proving liability even when the at-fault driver denies responsibility.
• Comprehensive Damage Evaluation: We look beyond the immediate bills. We factor in the "hidden" costs of an accident, such as loss of enjoyment of life, household services you can no longer perform, and future inflation for medical costs.
• Aggressive Advocacy: We are known for our proven experience and our refusal to back down from corporate giants. We hold Uber, Lyft, and their insurers to the terms of the policies they are legally required to maintain.

What to Do After an Uber Accident As a Passenger

If you’re an Uber passenger and a crash happens, your safety and documentation come first. Call 911, request medical assistance, and accept evaluation even if symptoms feel minor—concussions, back injuries, and soft-tissue trauma can worsen over the next 24–72 hours. 

If you can, take photos of vehicle damage, the roadway, license plates, and the rideshare driver’s information, and ask witnesses for names and numbers before people leave the scene.

Next, document your trip status inside the app. Save screenshots of the trip screen, time stamps, driver profile, route, and the trip receipt—these details can later help prove the driver was working at the time of the accident and trigger the correct rideshare insurance phase. 

Report the crash through the Uber or Lyft app, but avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurer until you understand what’s at stake; adjusters may ask questions designed to minimize your injuries or shift blame. For guidance tailored to your situation in Scranton, Clarks Green, or elsewhere in Lackawanna County, contact our office, and we’ll walk you through the next steps.

Talk with a Scranton Rideshare Accident Attorney Today

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft crash, don’t let rideshare companies and insurers control the narrative about who was at fault, what coverage applies, or what your injuries are “worth.” Abrahamsen, Conaboy & Abrahamsen P.C. will investigate trip status, identify all liable parties, handle Uber/Lyft insurance communications, and pursue full compensation under every available policy. 

The next step is simple: contact our Clarks Green, Milford, Stroudsburg, Tunkhannock or Mt. Pocono office to schedule a consultation and get clear answers about your claim, your medical bills, and your legal deadlines.

If you have been injured, an Uber and Lyft accident attorney in Scranton can help you navigate the complex insurance layers of your claim. Call (570) 712-5545 or reach out online today to take advantage of our bilingual services in English and Spanish and our five convenient locations.