Uber and Lyft accident cases in Massachusetts can involve complex questions about rideshare coverage, driver responsibility, and state insurance requirements. Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers helps injured clients by reviewing the collision, determining who may be liable, and seeking the compensation available under Massachusetts law.
Why Clients Trust Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers
For more than 30 years, our firm has represented injured people throughout Massachusetts, including clients hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes. We understand the issues that make rideshare accident claims different from standard car accident cases and provide clear guidance from the first consultation through each stage of the legal process.
Client-Centered Advocacy
Rideshare accident cases can involve multiple insurers, competing accounts of the crash, and questions about which coverage applies. We listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and provide regular updates so you know what is happening and what comes next.
A Proven Legal Team
Our Massachusetts rideshare accident attorneys have decades of combined experience handling cases in state and federal courts. In Uber and Lyft accident claims, we examine the key details, including how the collision occurred, who may be responsible, and which insurance policies may cover your losses.
Experienced Trial Lawyers
Many rideshare accident claims settle, but some require litigation when insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation. We prepare each case as though it may need to be presented in court, helping us build a stronger position from the beginning.
No Upfront Fees
You do not pay anything to start your case. We handle rideshare accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning legal fees are owed only if compensation is recovered for you.
Schedule a free legal consultation with our personal injury team.
What to Know About Rideshare Accidents in Massachusetts
Rideshare accident claims are often more complex than typical car accident cases because several insurance policies and responsible parties may be involved. Available coverage can depend on important facts, including whether the Uber or Lyft driver was using the app, had accepted a ride, or was carrying a passenger when the crash occurred.
Depending on the facts, compensation may be available through:
- The rideshare driver’s personal auto insurance policy
- Uber or Lyft’s commercial insurance coverage
- The insurance policy of another driver who caused the accident
Our Massachusetts rideshare accident lawyers review each part of the claim, including the police report, medical records, photos, video footage, witness information, and available app or trip activity.
Who Is Liable After a Rideshare Accident in Massachusetts?
Insurance coverage after an Uber or Lyft accident in Massachusetts often depends on the rideshare driver’s app status at the time of the crash. Whether the driver was offline, waiting for a request, on the way to pick up a rider, or transporting a passenger can affect which insurance policy applies and what coverage may be available.
- The driver was not using the app
If the rideshare driver was not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, the claim is generally handled through the driver’s personal auto insurance policy. Uber or Lyft coverage usually does not apply when the driver is off duty.
- The driver was logged in but had not accepted a ride
If the driver was online and available for ride requests but had not yet accepted a trip, Uber and Lyft may provide limited third-party liability coverage. This coverage may include:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
- The driver had accepted a ride or was transporting a passenger
Once the driver accepts a ride request or has a passenger in the vehicle, Uber and Lyft generally provide up to $1 million in liability coverage for covered claims during that trip period.
If another motorist caused the crash, that driver’s insurance may be the first source of compensation. Depending on the facts, rideshare insurance may also involve uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Our Massachusetts rideshare accident lawyers can review the driver’s app status, available policies, and accident details to determine what coverage may apply.
Most Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Massachusetts
Uber and Lyft accidents can involve many of the same careless driving behaviors seen in other motor vehicle crashes, but rideshare drivers also face unique distractions and time pressures. Throughout Massachusetts, drivers often use their phones for GPS directions, ride requests, and passenger messages while also trying to reach pickup and drop-off locations quickly.
- Distracted driving, such as texting, checking the Uber or Lyft app, following navigation, or making phone calls
- Speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and other aggressive driving behaviors
- Driver fatigue caused by long shifts, late-night driving, or extended time behind the wheel
- Unsafe pickup or drop-off decisions, including sudden stops, double parking, or pulling over in dangerous locations
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or impairing substances
- Dangerous weather, poor visibility, or unsafe road conditions
- Negligence by another motorist involved in the collision
No matter what caused the crash, our legal team can help investigate what happened. Whether you were injured as a passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, rideshare driver, or occupant of another vehicle, we work to gather the evidence needed to prove negligence and liability.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Massachusetts Rideshare Claim?
An Uber or Lyft accident can cause losses that go beyond the first medical bills. If you were injured in a Massachusetts rideshare crash, you may be able to pursue compensation for both the financial costs of the accident and the personal impact it has had on your life.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the measurable financial losses connected to the crash, including:
- Medical expenses, such as emergency care, hospital bills, surgery, diagnostic testing, medication, rehabilitation, physical therapy, follow-up appointments, and future medical care
- Lost wages for the time you were unable to work while recovering
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to return to the same job, work the same hours, or earn the same income in the future
- Vehicle repairs or replacement costs
- Damaged personal property
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Mobility devices, assistive equipment, and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the personal effects of the accident that are harder to measure in dollars, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, trauma, or sleep disruption
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced independence
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent limitations that affect your work, relationships, hobbies, or daily activities
Our Massachusetts rideshare accident attorneys review both economic and non-economic damages, document the full impact of your injuries, and handle insurance negotiations while pursuing fair compensation on your behalf.
Over $500 Million Recovered for Our Clients
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers has recovered over $500 million for injury victims in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Our legal team brings decades of trial experience and tough negotiation to rideshare accident claims and other severe injury cases.
Real Clients. Real Justice
Meet the people we’ve been honored to serve and get their unique perspective on our capabilities. We share these stories to help potential clients make an informed decision about choosing our legal firm to represent them.
Speak With Our Legal Team
You do not have to handle a rideshare accident alone. Contact our Massachusetts rideshare accident lawyers today for a free consultation. Tell us what happened, and we can explain your legal options, review the next steps, and discuss how we may help you pursue compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rideshare accident cases often raise questions about who may be responsible, which insurance policy applies, and how the claims process moves forward. Our Massachusetts rideshare accident attorneys provide clear guidance and answer common questions about what to expect after an Uber or Lyft crash.
Can I seek compensation if I was a passenger in an Uber or Lyft crash in Massachusetts?
Yes. Your options depend on who caused the collision and what the rideshare driver was doing in the app at the time. If the Uber or Lyft driver had accepted a ride or was transporting a passenger, rideshare company insurance may provide up to $1 million in liability coverage for covered claims when that driver is at fault.
What if another driver caused the rideshare accident in Massachusetts?
You may be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Depending on the rideshare driver’s app status and the insurance policies involved, Uber or Lyft coverage may also be relevant to your recovery.
Can I bring a claim if I was hurt during pickup or drop-off in Massachusetts?
Yes. Accidents during pickup or drop-off may still give rise to a rideshare injury claim. Our ridesharing accidents attorneys in Massachusetts review where the incident happened, how the driver acted, and the trip status to determine who may be liable and what insurance coverage may apply.
What is the deadline for filing an Uber or Lyft accident lawsuit in Massachusetts?
In most Massachusetts rideshare injury cases, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Speaking with a ridesharing accident lawyer in Massachusetts early can help protect your claim and preserve key evidence.
