Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers
New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers Advocate for Clients Injured in Uber or Lyft Accidents
Accidents involving Uber or Lyft transportation services are different from traditional motor vehicle accidents and can leave you feeling uncertain and even angry—after all, in many cases, you may not even have been driving a vehicle when you were injured in the Uber or Lyft. Questions about the application of New Jersey’s “no-fault” law in cases involving Uber/Lyft accidents are common, and the statutory scheme that was enacted in 2016 and now applies in these accidents in New Jersey is new and still developing.
Our personal injury lawyers at Blume Forte are dedicated to developing an in-depth understanding of all of the new legal requirements that can apply in Uber/Lyft accident cases. We are committed to crafting advanced legal strategies designed to ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries in all cases involving Uber or Lyft drivers—whether you were the passenger in the ride service vehicle, a driver in another car in the accident or even hit by an Uber or Lyft as a pedestrian.
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If you have sustained injuries in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, contact Blume Forte for an explanation of the variances in insurance law rules that may open additional avenues for obtaining compensation in your case. We are committed to protecting your rights in these cases and will fight to ensure you are fully compensated for all of your expenses, both current and future.
What Makes Uber and Lyft Accidents Unique?
On their face, Uber/Lyft accidents may appear to be the same as any other type of motor vehicle accident. While they are similar in many ways, the New Jersey legislature has created an entirely new law that applies when a motor vehicle accident involves an Uber or Lyft driver. Under the new law, Uber and Lyft drivers are subject to a specific set of insurance requirements that imposes different insurance rules depending upon whether or not the driver is carrying a passenger at the time of the accident. In general, the rules require:
- Passenger present in vehicle. When an Uber or Lyft driver is carrying a passenger, he or she is required to purchase insurance that will cover up to $1.5 million in bodily injury, property damage or death, as well as $10,000 worth of medical coverage.
- Looking for passenger. If the Uber or Lyft driver does not have a passenger in the car, but has his or her Uber or Lyft app operating so that the driver is looking for a passenger, the new law requires $50,000 worth of bodily injury or death coverage per person, $100,000 worth of bodily injury or death coverage per accident and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
- Uber/Lyft app turned off. If the driver’s Uber or Lyft app is turned off so that he or she is not actively seeking work, the new Uber/Lyft insurance requirements do not apply and the driver’s own personal insurance policy must cover damages.
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These rules essentially exempt Uber/Lyft accidents from New Jersey’s no-fault insurance rule, which typically requires accident victims to look to their own insurance coverage for compensation even if they were not at fault for the accident.
Of course, these new insurance coverage requirements are not all that make an Uber/Lyft accident unique. In these cases, it can be difficult to determine who is actually liable for the damages, which is why the new insurance requirements were developed in the first place.
Why Retain Blume Forte to Protect Your Rights Following an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Despite the generous insurance coverage requirements that apply in Uber or Lyft accidents, these limits may be insufficient to provide full compensation in more severe accident cases. In other cases, the insurance companies may contest the claim in order to minimize their liability following an accident. At Blume Forte, our experienced team of personal injury lawyers work tirelessly to ensure you are fairly compensated, and will fight to win compensation for:
- Current and past medical expenses,
- Future costs of rehabilitative care and ongoing medical treatment,
- Psychological and emotional damage,
- Pain and suffering,
- Lost earnings, as well as loss of future earning capacity,
- Lost consortium or support, if the accident resulted in a tragic death.
Our lawyers have the experience, skills and resources necessary to fight for your right to compensation following an Uber or Lyft accident. We have several decades’ worth of experience fighting to successfully negotiate and win multi-million dollar compensation packages for our clients, and leave no stone unturned in protecting your financial future.
“While coming highly-recommended to me, Jeff handled a motor vehicle case wherein I sustained permanent injuries from 4 pelvic fractures. He was very upfront with me about the value of my case and he succeeded in going above and beyond to make sure I received the settlement I deserved for my injuries. Jeff’s level of expertise and professionalism surpassed even my greatest expectations.”
“I just wanted to take some time to thank you and your team for all your help in the last 3 1/2 years. Your confidence, professionalism, knowledge, and efficiency in resolving this case have been greatly appreciated by my family and I.”
“I wish to convey my esteem and admiration for your professional excellence and personal manner in dealing with me regarding my auto accident case. Your attention to detail and knowledge were impressive by any standard.”
Contact an Aggressive and Trustworthy Personal Injury Attorney to Protect Your Rights Today
If you have sustained injuries in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, call our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers via our online contact form today. We offer a free initial consultation to all of our potential clients, and are ready and waiting to go to work protecting your right to compensation for all of your expenses and suffering. For your convenience, we have offices located throughout New Jersey in Chatham, Jersey City, Sea Girt and North Bergen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uber and Lyft Accidents
Because New Jersey has created a new set of rules to govern Uber/Lyft accidents, if you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft and injured in an accident, you can make a claim against the required insurance policy that these vehicles are now required to carry. This is an exception from the general rule in New Jersey that drivers first look to their own insurance carrier to cover their expenses.
The new Uber/Lyft law does not apply to traditional taxi services. As a result, the insurance coverage requirements that apply to taxi drivers remain much lower, at $15,000 for bodily injury per person and $30,000 of liability insurance per accident.
