NYC Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers

Santana Law Firm is a New York City personal injury law firm that represents people injured in Uber, Lyft, and rideshare car accidents.

Uber and Lyft dramatically changed the way people get around the five boroughs by allowing passengers to call for a car on their phone—but this new form of transportation comes with new risks. When you get into a yellow cab, you can be sure the driver is thoroughly screened, and the taxi is inspected and regulated.

Although Uber and Lyft take precautions before allowing drivers to work for them, the rideshare vehicles are owned, maintained, and operated by individual drivers. The regulations on car inspections, regular background checks, and drug screenings for Uber drivers are much looser than they are for cab drivers with NYC medallions.

Additionally, rideshare drivers may engage in unsafe driving behavior incentivized by the Uber app, such as using their phone while driving or stopping in unsafe areas to drop off passengers. No Uber or Lyft ride is 100% safe, and if you are involved in an accident, the process of recovering compensation for your injuries will be complex.

If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident involving a rideshare service, Santana Law Firm can help. We are dedicated to helping each of our clients find a resolution to their legal issues and recover the maximum compensation to pay for medical bills and emotional distress. We are prepared to aggressively take on the negligent parties that contributed to your injuries, so you can focus on healing.

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What Causes Uber and Lyft Accidents in New York?

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services are very popular in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding boroughs. Although ridesharing is a convenient and generally safe way to get around the city, accidents involving Uber drivers are more common than one might think. In addition to the normal risks of riding in a vehicle, rideshare drivers may be incentivized to engage in unsafe driving behavior, such as pulling over in dangerous areas to pick up passengers.

A rideshare driver may get into an accident due to:

In some cases, the accident may not be the fault of the Lyft driver but another negligent person or entity, such as a careless driver in another car, a biker who was riding dangerously, or a government agency that failed to maintain the road. Regardless of the exact cause of the accident, there is usually a way to recover compensation for your injuries.

Who Is Liable If I Get Hurt in an NYC Uber Accident?

When you have been harmed in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, your first thought is likely to sue Uber or Lyft. However, filing a lawsuit and pursuing compensation will almost certainly be more complicated (and involve more parties) than that. This is largely because rideshare companies will do everything they can to deny liability for your injuries. After an Uber accident, it is not always clear who should compensate the injured party.

Fortunately, New York State allows you to pursue compensation from any party
involved in the accident.
This may include:

  • Uber or Lyft driver
  • Driver in another car
  • Pedestrian
  • Bicyclist
  • The MTA
  • NYC Department of Transportation
  • Car manufacturer
  • Manufacturer of a piece of equipment

New York is a comparative fault state, which means the court will determine what percentage of fault each party carries and order them to pay corresponding damages. This means you can sue any and all parties whose negligence or carelessness contributed to your accident. It also means that if you share some portion of the fault, you may still be able to recover some compensation.

What if My Uber Driver Gets in an Accident?

Although Uber and Lyft will try to deny liability in the event one of their drivers gets in an accident, in some cases, you may be able to recover compensation from these companies’ insurance carriers. However, this is highly dependent on when the accident occurred and what the driver was doing at the time.

The driver wasn’t logged into the Uber app: If you were struck by a rideshare driver, you won’t be able to recover compensation from Uber or Lyft’s insurance carrier unless the driver was logged into the app at the time of the accident.

Lyft and Uber will take no responsibility if the driver was off duty, even if the car involved is sometimes used for ridesharing purposes. In this case, you will need to pursue compensation from the driver or the driver’s insurance company. You can also file a claim with your own auto insurance.

The Uber driver was logged in but waiting for a ride request: Once a driver is logged into the Uber app, Uber’s limited insurance policy kicks in. If you were injured by a driver waiting for a ride request, Uber’s limited policy will cover $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident for bodily injuries, and $25,000 per accident for property damages. Lyft has a similar policy.

The driver is picking up a passenger or has a passenger in the car: Uber and Lyft both have $1 million insurance policies that become effective once a ride request has been accepted. This policy covers injuries, damage, and death from the moment the ride request is accepted until the passenger leaves the vehicle and the trip ends in the app.

These insurance policies provide some peace of mind, but many people have had difficulty getting compensation from Lyft and Uber. This is why it’s important you have a lawyer who is well versed in working aggressively with the various insurance companies that may be involved in your case.

Santana Law Firm

helps victims of Uber and Lyft accidents focus on healing, while we take on insurance companies and negligent parties to secure you the maximum compensation.

Compensation for Rideshare Accident Injuries

The amount of compensation you can receive after an NYC rideshare accident varies depending on the seriousness of your injuries; the amount of your medical expenses; the pain and suffering you have faced; the damage to your quality of life; and the circumstances of the accident (i.e., whether the driver was logged into the Lyft or Uber app and whether they had a passenger in the car).

You may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Disability or lost earning capacity
  • Disfigurement
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Wrongful death

The amount of compensation you receive can also vary depending on the skill of the lawyer on your side. Insurance companies (whether yours, the driver’s, or Uber/Lyft’s) may offer low-ball settlements or use tactics to stall payment. The more experienced your personal injury lawyer is, the more likely they will have the ability to negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and increase your chances of receiving the maximum compensation.

What to Do if You’ve Been in an Uber or Lyft Accident in NYC

1
Seek medical attention.

After an accident, the first step is always to take care of your health and address medical issues. It’s also important to get a diagnosis and create a record of your injuries.

2
Document what happened.

Photographs, videos, notes, and physical evidence such as broken car parts can all become crucial evidence when you are seeking compensation.

3
Get witness contact information.

If anyone saw the accident, it is helpful to get their contact information. Witness testimony may be useful later if you choose to pursue legal action.

4
Keep track of expenses.

Any costs related to the accident—including medical expenses, lost wages, and transportation costs—should be accounted for to demonstrate the amount of compensation you are entitled to.

5
Consult with a lawyer ASAP.

Rideshare accidents are complicated matters. The sooner you engage a skilled personal injury lawyer in New York, the easier the process will be and the more likely you will be able to recover compensation.

Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers in New York

Uber, Lyft, and insurance companies are all laser-focused on the bottom line. They’ll do everything they can to avoid liability and fight any claims from accident victims seeking compensation—and with teams of well-paid, aggressive lawyers on their side, they frequently succeed in meeting this goal. When this is what you’re up against, you must have a skilled lawyer on your side who is prepared for the challenge.

After a car accident, the last thing you want to do is file a claim and fight with insurance companies. Let Santana Law Firm handle the legal side and recover compensation so you can focus on recovery. With decades of experience taking on insurance companies, our lawyers are ready to fight for you.

If you or a loved one was injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in New York City, contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation. Our lawyers will begin working immediately for you.