Uber, Lyft, and other Ridesharing Accidents
When it comes to determining liability in a rideshare accident in Pennsylvania, the same general principles of negligence apply as in any other car accident case. The key factor in determining liability is establishing who was at fault for the accident.
To establish fault, you need to prove the following three elements of negligence:
Duty of Care: The defendant had a duty of care to exercise reasonable caution to avoid causing harm to others while on the road. This includes all drivers on the road, including rideshare drivers.
Breach of Duty: The defendant breached their duty of care by failing to exercise reasonable caution while driving, resulting in the accident.
Damages: As a result of the defendant’s breach of duty, the plaintiff has suffered damages such as physical injury, property damage, lost wages, or other financial losses.
It’s important to note that Pennsylvania is a “modified comparative negligence” state, which means that if the injured party was partially at fault for the accident, their recovery may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them. For example, if the plaintiff is found to be 20% at fault for the accident, their damages will be reduced by 20%.
In Pennsylvania, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are required to provide insurance coverage for their drivers and passengers. This insurance coverage is contingent upon the driver being logged into the rideshare app and providing services to passengers. If the driver is not providing services at the time of the accident, their personal insurance policy will apply.
If the rideshare driver is at fault for the accident, the injured party can seek compensation through the rideshare company’s insurance policy. The amount of coverage available will depend on the specific circumstances of the accident, but Pennsylvania law requires that rideshare companies provide at least $1 million in liability coverage for accidents involving their drivers.
In summary, liability in a Pennsylvania rideshare accident depends on who is at fault for the accident. To establish fault, you must prove the three elements of negligence, and Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence laws may impact the injured party’s recovery. Rideshare companies are required to provide insurance coverage for their drivers and passengers, and the amount of coverage available will depend on the specific circumstances of the accident.
Rideshare Company Coverage
In 2022, both Uber and Lyft offer liability coverage up to $1 million for their drivers. However, the actual amount of coverage provided depends on the driver’s “period” of activity:
Period 0: If the driver is not logged into the Uber/Lyft app, there is no coverage provided by the rideshare company. Instead, the driver’s personal auto insurance may apply.
Period 1: If the driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride request, Uber/Lyft provides liability coverage up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 total liability per accident for any accidents that are the fault of the driver.
Period 2: When the driver has accepted a ride and is en route to pick up the passenger, the liability coverage increases to $1 million.
Period 3: When the passenger is in the car, the driver is covered by liability insurance of up to $1 million, as well as limited coverage for damage to the driver’s car and uninsured motorist coverage.
Pennsylvania Ride Share Lawsuit Won by Plaintiff
Frazier v. Uber Technologies, Inc., No. 2085 EDA 2017 (Pa. Super. Ct. Nov. 16, 2018).
In Frazier, the plaintiff was a passenger in an Uber vehicle that was involved in a collision with another vehicle. The plaintiff alleged that the Uber driver was negligent and caused the accident. The plaintiff also brought a claim against Uber, alleging that the company was vicariously liable for the driver’s actions.
The court ultimately found in favor of the plaintiff, holding that the Uber driver was negligent and that Uber was vicariously liable for his actions. The court noted that Uber exerted a significant amount of control over the driver’s activities, including setting rates, determining which riders to accept, and monitoring driver ratings.
The Frazier case is significant because it highlights the potential liability that rideshare companies like Uber can face in the event of an accident. It also underscores the importance of establishing the degree of control that a rideshare company exerts over its drivers, which can impact the company’s potential liability in the event of an accident.
Pennsylvania Ride Share Lawsuit Not Won by Plaintiff
Rauseo v. Uber Technologies, Inc., 325 F. Supp. 3d 568 (E.D. Pa. 2018).
In Rauseo, the plaintiff was a pedestrian who was hit by an Uber driver while the driver was in “period 1” – waiting for a ride request. The plaintiff brought a negligence claim against Uber, alleging that the company was responsible for the driver’s actions and should be held liable for her injuries.
The court ultimately dismissed the plaintiff’s claims, holding that Uber was not liable for the driver’s actions in this particular case. The court found that the driver was an independent contractor, not an employee of Uber, and that Uber did not exercise sufficient control over the driver’s actions to be held liable for her negligence.
The Rauseo case is significant because it highlights the complex legal issues that can arise in rideshare accident cases. Liability in such cases can depend on a variety of factors, including the driver’s status at the time of the accident, the degree of control exercised by the rideshare company over the driver, and the specific circumstances of the accident.
Other cases involving rideshare accidents in Pennsylvania have addressed issues such as insurance coverage and the liability of both the driver and the rideshare company. As the use of rideshare services continues to grow, it is likely that more court cases will arise involving rideshare accidents and the legal issues surrounding them.
Sexual Assault Cases and Ridesharing
One notable case occurred in 2018 when a former Lyft driver in Philadelphia was arrested and charged with raping a passenger. According to reports, the driver picked up the passenger from a bar and drove her to a secluded area, where he sexually assaulted her. The driver was later arrested and charged with rape, sexual assault, and related offenses.
The issue of sexual assault during rideshare sessions first gained national attention in 2014, when an Uber driver in India was accused of raping a female passenger. The incident sparked international outrage and led to calls for increased safety measures on rideshare platforms.
In the years since, there have been numerous reports of sexual assault and harassment on rideshare platforms, including allegations against both drivers and passengers. In response, rideshare companies have implemented a range of policies aimed at preventing sexual assault and improving the way they handle claims.
For example, Uber introduced a feature allowing riders to share their trip details with friends and family, as well as a panic button that connects users directly with emergency services. The company also developed a system for conducting background checks on drivers, although the effectiveness of these checks has been questioned.
Lyft has taken similar steps, introducing features like in-app emergency assistance, background checks for drivers, and a requirement that drivers complete sexual violence prevention training.
Despite these efforts, sexual assault claims continue to be a problem for rideshare companies. In 2018, Uber released a report showing that it had received nearly 6,000 reports of sexual assault in the United States over the previous two years. The report also showed that Lyft had received more than 900 reports of sexual assault during the same time period.
These numbers have led to increased scrutiny of rideshare companies and calls for more comprehensive solutions to the problem of sexual assault on their platforms. Some critics have called for rideshare companies to do more to prevent sexual assault, such as requiring drivers to undergo more extensive background checks and implementing in-car cameras.
Others have called for increased accountability and transparency, arguing that rideshare companies should be required to report on the number and types of sexual assault claims they receive and how they handle these claims.
As rideshare companies continue to grow and evolve, it remains to be seen how they will address the issue of sexual assault claims and what steps they will take to prevent these incidents from occurring in the future. However, it is clear that this is a complex and pressing issue that requires ongoing attention and action.
