Rideshare Injury
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, GrubHub, and other gig economy platforms have changed the way people get around and get their food, but when one of their drivers causes a crash, getting fair compensation is rarely as simple as filing a claim with the driver’s personal insurance. These cases involve an extra layer of law that most personal injury firms rarely encounter: figuring out whether a multi-billion-dollar company can be held responsible alongside the driver who caused your injuries.
Attorney David Zimmaro has over 25 years of experience handling serious personal injury and motor vehicle accident claims throughout Pennsylvania, including cases involving rideshare and delivery platform drivers. If you were hurt as a passenger, a driver, or another motorist on the road, we can help you understand what you’re entitled to and go after every source of recovery available to you.
What Is a Rideshare or Gig Economy Accident Case?
“Rideshare case” is the term most people use, but it actually covers two related categories of gig economy services:
- Rideshare companies: Uber and Lyft, where drivers transport paying passengers
- Delivery platform companies: Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and similar services, where drivers deliver food or goods rather than passengers
In both categories, the driver is using their own vehicle to perform a service for a company they don’t technically work for. When that driver causes a crash, the accident itself is handled like any other motor vehicle collision if the driver was negligent, you have a claim against them and their personal auto insurance. The real question, and the reason these cases are more complex, is whether you can also recover from the company itself.
That question matters because most drivers only carry state-minimum liability coverage and few have significant personal assets. If you’ve suffered a serious injury, that coverage frequently isn’t enough. Rideshare and delivery companies bring an entirely different level of insurance and assets into the picture, which is why identifying company liability is often the most important part of these cases.
Rideshare Passenger vs. Third-Party Accident
You were a passenger in the Uber or Lyft. You have the strongest position. In addition to vicarious liability and direct negligence claims, you can also pursue an ostensible agency claim, since you were a customer relying on the company’s representation of its driver.
You were in another vehicle and were hit by a rideshare or delivery driver. Ostensible agency isn’t available to you, since you weren’t a customer of the service. You can still pursue vicarious liability (if the driver is found to be an agent rather than a true independent contractor) and direct negligence claims against the company.
Delivery platform accidents (DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats). Because there’s no passenger relationship in a delivery scenario, ostensible agency generally isn’t available at all but vicarious liability and direct negligence theories still apply.
Why Work With Zimmaro Law
Rideshare and delivery accident cases require identifying every available theory of liability, every layer of insurance coverage, and moving quickly enough to preserve your right to bring in the responsible company before time runs out. Attorney David Zimmaro has the experience to investigate these cases thoroughly and pursue full compensation on your behalf.
Contact Zimmaro Law for a Free Consultation Washington Office: 724.222.1221 | Pittsburgh Office: 412.391.6670