New York City Rideshare Accident Lawyer

New York City Lyft Accident Lawyer

Rideshare services in NYC have given people a valuable choice in transportation options. However valuable, rideshare drivers are not professionally trained drivers–and accidents do happen. If you’re hurt, call Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers at (212) 514-5007 or fill out the contact form to get help recovering financial compensation for your injuries.

With over 40 years of experience, we have a proven track record of helping clients successfully recover fair verdicts and settlements. We are passionate about helping injured clients get what they deserve. 

It’s easy to get started. All you have to do is call our law firm to schedule a 100% free case review with our experienced NYC car accident lawyers. We represent clients across NYC and on nearby Long Island.

Hiring an Experienced New York Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Make it Easier to Get Fair Compensation

Hiring an Experienced New York Lyft Accident Lawyer Can Make it Easier to Get Fair Compensation

Getting compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering after an accident isn’t easy. Hiring a personal injury lawyer in NYC can make things easier. When the insurance company sees that you are represented by an experienced attorney, they tend to change tactics.

In other words, our lawyers understand your legal rights–and we know the law inside and out. Insurance companies know our reputation. They know we don’t back down from a fight and that we’re always prepared to argue your case in court if necessary.

While you’re recovering from your injuries, we put in the work needed to develop a comprehensive insurance demand claim.

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced NYC personal injury attorneys will:

  • Investigate to find out what caused the rideshare accident
  • Obtain data to determine the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the accident 
  • Identify all available sources of insurance coverage
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf
  • Work with NYC medical, financial and scientific experts to get a better idea of what your injuries will cost in the long run
  • Defend your rights if someone tries to pin the blame on you

Drivers for rideshare and other rideshare services, like Uber drivers, are subject to specific rules in NYC. Those laws tend to change over time, as new issues come into play. Our lawyers are proud to stay current to give you the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve.

Who is Financially Responsible After a Rideshare Accident?

New York negligence laws let you recover compensation from anyone whose actions contributed to the cause of a motor vehicle accident. That may include:

  • The rideshare driver
  • A third-party driver who caused the accident
  • Pedestrians
  • Bicyclists
  • Bus drivers
  • NYC transit authorities
  • Government agencies that are responsible for road repair, traffic signals, etc.

The person who directly causes a crash is not always the person who will eventually pay compensation after a rideshare accident. Many factors–and multiple parties–may be financially responsible.

Importantly, rideshare companies maintain insurance policies that may kick in to cover expenses after a rideshare accident. 

Our New York personal injury lawyers are here to help you better understand your legal right to compensation after a rideshare accident. Call us today to get legal advice and discuss options.

How Do I Get Money After an NYC Rideshare Accident?

How Do I Get Money After a NYC Lyft Accident?

Rideshare drivers use their own personal vehicles to transport passengers. Like any other driver, rideshare drivers have to purchase a car insurance policy in case of an accident.

Sometimes, rideshare drivers purchase typical personal car insurance coverage. That type of coverage usually excludes claims based on commercial activity–meaning driving for profit.

Rideshare drivers are independent contractors. That means you can’t recover money from rideshare based on employment law theories. Because of this, New York and other states require rideshare to purchase insurance.

Whether a rideshare insurance policy is available depends upon the driver’s status at the time of the accident. Coverage limits can also vary depending upon that status.

Rideshare App is Turned Off

Let’s use Lyft and Uber as an example of what coverage could be available in a rideshare accident. 

With both Lyft and Uber, if the app is turned off, the driver is considered off duty. At this time, the driver is treated like any other driver on the roads. In other words, the driver’s personal car insurance will apply. The Lyft or Uber policy will be unavailable.

Rideshare App is On: Driver is Available to Accept Passengers

Typically, if the rideshare driver is active on the app and available to accept passengers, a limited rideshare insurance policy will be available after a crash. 

Both Lyft and Uber’s policies provide the following coverage for accident victims if a driver’s app is on but they don’t have a passenger:

  • $50,000 per person in bodily injury coverage
  • $100,000 in bodily injury coverage for the entire accident
  • $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage

These maximum dollar values apply in addition to any other insurance that might be available. 

Rideshare App is On: Driver Has Accepted a Passenger

With Lyft and Uber policies, if the rideshare driver has accepted a passenger and is driving to pick them up, or is actually carrying a passenger, a much more generous insurance policy will be available. 

The comprehensive Lyft and Uber policies cover:

  • $1 million in third-party auto liability
  • Coverage for uninsured/underinsured motorists
  • Collision coverage up to the actual value of the damaged vehicles (a $2,500 deductible applies)

This insurance coverage is considered to be “excess” to the driver’s own insurance coverage. In other words, if the Lyft or Uber driver (or someone else) is at fault, the coverage will kick in if the at-fault party’s insurance is insufficient to cover your damages.

Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents

Common Causes of Lyft Accidents

Driving in NYC can be a challenge on the best of days. Still, drivers have a legal obligation to do their best to prevent accidents.

Certain types of challenges tend to cause more accidents than others. We help clients with NYC rideshare accidents involving:

If you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle, you might not be familiar with New York insurance laws. In New York, all drivers have to carry car insurance. After an accident, each victim first looks to their own policy to get reimbursed for things like medical bills and property damage.

After that, if your injuries are serious, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault party. That’s why determining the cause of your rideshare accident can be so important. 

What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Rideshare Accident?

Accident victims deserve to be fairly compensated for all costs associated with their injuries. New York personal injury law aims to make accident victims whole again. At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, we know this is never fully possible. We fight to get you as close as possible. 

Your claim for damages may include:

Our NYC personal injury lawyers work to get you the most compensation available. You can count on us to advocate fiercely on your behalf throughout the entire legal process.  

Ridehsare Accidents Often Cause Serious Injuries

Lyft Accidents Often Cause Serious Injuries

You might think that getting fair compensation after a rideshare accident must be easy. After all, rideshare companies are required to have these generous insurance policies in place. In practice, getting the money you need can be even more difficult if a ridesharing company is involved.

Rideshare companies are large corporations with teams of defense lawyers. Their commercial insurance providers are no different. They are hired to deny and/or reduce the value of injury claims. 

It is our job to prove that your injuries are extensive enough to justify fair compensation. Unfortunately, many rideshare accident victims in New York City suffer extensive, lasting injuries. 

Those injuries may include:

These types of injuries can heal with time–or they could create lifelong challenges for the accident victim. At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our NYC car accident lawyers provide trusted advice to accident victims across NYC. Give us a call today to talk about your case.

New York Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations limits the time period you have to sue for compensation after an auto accident. The “limitations period” starts running immediately–on the date of your accident. Under New York law, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is three years.

That might seem like a long time. In reality, it could take months before the doctors have a good sense of how your injuries will heal–or if they will heal. It’s a good idea to speak with an accident lawyer right away, while memories of the accident are fresh and evidence is available.

Call an Experienced New York City Rideshare Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation Today

Given the complexities of rideshare accident cases, it’s always best to speak with an experienced lawyer first. The insurance company might try to get you to sign documents or accept a settlement offer. Even if you want to accept, it’s smart to have a lawyer review the documents first.

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, we offer a free case review for all potential clients. We will review the facts of your case and listen to your story. To learn more about how we can help protect your legal rights, call an experienced NYC rideshare accident lawyer for a free consultation today.

Our personal injury law firm in NYC, NY also provides: