Rideshare Accidents Lawyers in New City, NY, Helping Clients Who’ve Been Injured in Lyft, Uber, and Taxi Accidents

With the advent of rideshare companies, many New Yorkers have been able to give up car ownership while others in the state have taken on the new opportunity as a means to make extra money. Though there have been, and continue to be, safety and privacy concerns, rideshare companies like Lyft, Uber, Get, Juno, and Via continue to expand, win over new customers, and hire new drivers. Beyond the complicated concerns regarding how the companies function and the safety of their riders, there will always be the everyday concerns of motor vehicle travel and the chances of accidents and injuries.

Unlike instances where two drivers of privately owned cars collide in an accident, rideshare crashes are complicated because of user agreements, company lawyers, and other factors. Similar to taking on the billion-dollar trucking industry following a commercial truck accident, it is advisable for rideshare accident victims to hire legal representation that has experience in cases bringing claims against Uber, Lyft, and their competitors.

For legal advice on how to proceed with your case, please contact the rideshare accidents attorneys of the New York law firm Greenspan & Greenspan. We offer a free consultation to new clients looking to better understand their legal rights following a rideshare accident.

How Does New York Handle Rideshare Accident Claims?

New York requires that a rideshare company hold car insurance which can provide a minimum of $100,000 per transaction and $50,000 per passenger. Companies like Uber and Lyft have liability insurance policies to cover their drivers in instances of accidents and passenger injuries. The status of the driver in the rideshare app may determine how much insurance will pay in the event of a crash.

If the driver was not logged into their app, then their company’s insurance may not cover any of the accident claims. In such a case, the injured passenger would need to file a claim against the driver and seek to recover compensation from the driver’s personal insurance.

If the driver was logged in at the time of the accident, Uber, Lyft, and their competitors will take care of the claim through their insurance companies. These companies offer up to $1,000,000 in liability insurance coverage to their drivers.

Does the State of New York View Taxis the Same Way as Rideshare Companies?

Rideshares became legal in New York in the year 2017, so this is still a fairly new concept for the legal system. In New York, ridesharing is considered a Transportation Network Company (TNC) and is subject to the appropriate TNC laws. By using an app, a rider can hire a driver from a TNC with a contract and expectations of what they will experience in the deal.

In New York, taxis are not considered TNCs. Laws and regulations for taxi drivers and their companies are different from those which Uber and Lyft must adhere to.

What are Types of Common Rideshare Accidents?

Rideshare accident victims typically suffer the same sort of injuries as other car accident victims. However, as rideshare drivers are operating their motor vehicles on a clock and in pursuit of tips, there can be an extra incentive for them to drive fast and arrive in a timely fashion. This may potentially cause some drivers to operate their cars recklessly, leading to accidents.

Common rideshare car accident injuries include:

  • Broken bones
  • Bruised ribs
  • Burns
  • Concussions and other head injuries
  • Cuts, lacerations, and scars
  • Disfigurement
  • Emotional distress and psychological anguish
  • Internal bleeding, soft tissue injuries, or organ damage
  • Loss of hearing, sight, or speech
  • Loss of limbs
  • Paralysis
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Wrongful death claims

Some of these injuries may require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and even surgery. Other injuries may force a passenger to miss work or never return to their chosen profession again. With fair compensation, it is possible to recover a settlement that can help pay medical bills and make up for past and future lost wages.

In events where an accident resulted in fatalities, our lawyers can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. Though no financial settlement can ever bring your loved ones back, they can potentially help ease the burden of bills, funeral costs, and lost income to make the transition to life without your family a little easier.

Can Attorneys Hold Rideshare Drivers and Companies Liable for Injuries Suffered?

If you were injured in a rideshare crash, you have the legal right to sue and seek compensation. However, please remember that this is not a typical car accident claim. Not only will there be extra insurance companies involved but Lyft and Uber are big companies that employ experienced attorneys, so the court hearings could be difficult.

Additionally, when you sign up for a rideshare app, you must sign the user agreement. All that text you probably didn’t read defends the company’s liability to a certain extent.

All of that being said, yes you can pursue legal action against a rideshare company. Our law firm has experience doing so and we would be proud to assist you as you make this claim.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

More and more Americans are opting to use Lyft, Uber, and their competitors to get around the cities today. As a result, there are inevitably going to be more rideshare accidents and lawsuits.

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare car accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation that can help pay for medical expenses and lost wages.

To discuss the particulars of your case in more detail, schedule a free case evaluation with our New City, NY legal team by calling us at (845) 422-8060.