Uber/Lyft Rideshare Accident in Pittsburgh: Your Rights and Next Steps

Call 911 right away. Whether you are a passenger in the rideshare, a driver hit by a rideshare vehicle, or a pedestrian struck by one, you need a police report. Pittsburgh Bureau of Police responds to crashes within city limits, and Pennsylvania State Police handle highway incidents. Give the dispatcher your location — Pittsburgh's winding streets and neighborhoods can make this tricky, so use the address from your rideshare app or a nearby landmark.

Document the driver's rideshare status. This is critical because insurance coverage depends entirely on what the driver was doing with the app at the moment of the crash. Ask the driver whether they had a passenger, were on the way to pick up a passenger, or were just waiting for a ride request. Take a screenshot of your own rideshare app if you were the passenger — it shows the trip was active. Note the driver's name, license plate, and the rideshare company.

Take photos of everything: vehicle damage, the road, traffic signals, your injuries, and any other vehicles involved. Get contact information from witnesses. If you were a passenger, also photograph the inside of the vehicle. Do not discuss fault with anyone at the scene. Report the accident through the Uber or Lyft app — both apps have an accident reporting feature that creates a record of the incident.

See a doctor within 24 hours of the crash, even if you feel fine. Rideshare accidents often involve sudden stops, T-bone impacts at intersections, or rear-end collisions — all of which can cause whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries that do not produce immediate symptoms. Tell the doctor you were in a car accident and describe every symptom.

For serious injuries, Pittsburgh has two Level I trauma centers: UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland and Allegheny General Hospital on the North Side. For less severe injuries, visit an urgent care center or your primary care doctor. The important thing is creating a medical record that links your injuries to the rideshare crash.

Follow all treatment recommendations and attend every follow-up appointment. Insurance companies — whether the rideshare company's insurer or a personal auto policy — will look for gaps in treatment to minimize your claim. Consistent documentation of your injuries and recovery is essential.

Pennsylvania's Act 164 of 2016 establishes a tiered insurance framework for rideshare companies. The coverage available to you depends entirely on what the rideshare driver was doing with the app at the time of the crash. There are three distinct phases, and the difference between them can mean the difference between $50,000 and $1 million in available coverage.

Phase 1 — App off: When the driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, the rideshare company provides zero insurance coverage. Any accident is covered solely by the driver's personal auto insurance. Most personal auto policies exclude commercial use, which means the driver may effectively be uninsured. Phase 2 — App on, waiting for a ride request: The rideshare company provides contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. This contingent coverage only kicks in if the driver's personal insurance does not cover the claim.

Phase 3 — Active trip (en route to pickup or passenger in vehicle): Both Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in commercial liability coverage for injuries and damages. During an active trip, rideshare companies must also carry at least $25,000 in first-party medical benefits for passengers and pedestrians. This is the highest level of coverage and applies from the moment the driver accepts a ride request through dropoff.

If the rideshare driver caused the crash and you were a passenger, you file a claim against the rideshare company's commercial liability policy (the $1 million Phase 3 coverage). Uber and Lyft carry this coverage through large commercial insurers. The claims process starts when you report the accident through the app — the company will assign a claims adjuster.

If another driver caused the crash and you were a rideshare passenger, you file a claim against that driver's auto insurance first. If that driver is uninsured or their coverage is insufficient, the rideshare company's uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply during an active trip. Note that Lyft has eliminated UM/UIM coverage in Pennsylvania in recent years, which could limit your options if the at-fault driver is uninsured.

If you were driving your own car and a rideshare driver hit you, you file a claim against the rideshare company's liability coverage — but the tier depends on the driver's app status. If the driver was on an active trip, $1 million in coverage is available. If the driver was just waiting for a request, only the $50,000/$100,000 contingent coverage applies. Establishing the driver's app status at the time of the crash is critical and may require a subpoena of the rideshare company's records.

Pennsylvania's tort option choice affects rideshare accident claims. If you carry limited tort on your own auto insurance, your ability to sue for pain and suffering is restricted unless your injuries qualify as a "serious injury" under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1705 — defined as death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.

However, there are important exceptions. If the at-fault rideshare driver was convicted of DUI, you can recover pain and suffering regardless of your tort election. If you were a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a rideshare vehicle, the limited tort restriction generally does not apply. If the rideshare vehicle was registered outside Pennsylvania, the limited tort restriction may not apply.

The interaction between your personal auto insurance, the rideshare company's commercial policy, and Pennsylvania's tort system creates significant complexity. Multiple insurance policies may be in play — the rideshare company's commercial policy, the driver's personal policy, and your own policy. An attorney experienced in rideshare accidents can identify all available coverage and navigate the claims process.

Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of the accident (42 Pa.C.S. § 5524). This deadline applies whether you are suing the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, or another driver. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim.

Report the accident through the rideshare app immediately. Also report to your own auto insurance company within days. If you have PIP coverage ($5,000 minimum required in Pennsylvania), file a PIP claim to cover early medical expenses regardless of who was at fault. Keep copies of the rideshare trip receipt, your medical records, the police report, and all correspondence with insurance companies.

Want to understand your options after a rideshare accident in Pittsburgh? Get your free Injury Claim Check. You will answer a few questions about your accident, injuries, and circumstances. We will provide a personalized report covering your legal rights, potential claim value, and next steps — and connect you with a Pittsburgh-area attorney experienced in rideshare accident cases. The Injury Claim Check is free, confidential, and takes less time than a phone call with an insurance adjuster.