Finding Compensation After An Uber Or Lyft Accident
Ride-sharing can lead to quite a bit of confusion in the event of an accident. Injured plaintiffs may not fully understand how their lawsuit should proceed, given the nature of the ride-sharing arrangement. Should they sue the ride-sharing company (i.e., Uber, Lyft, etc.) or the defendant driver? It depends on the circumstances. The best way to find out about your legal options and to determine the next step if you’ve been injured in a ride-sharing accident is to speak with a knowledgeable New Jersey personal injury lawyer.
Have you been injured in an accident while riding in an Uber or Lyft in New Jersey? New Jersey law may entitle you to damages as compensation. Call 973-315-8502 today to schedule a free consultation with one of the experienced Uber and Lyft accident attorneys here at McHugh & Imbornone, P.A. Law Office
Let’s take a quick look at some unique issues in the ride-sharing context.
Negligence And Liability In Ride-Sharing Accidents
Generally speaking, if an Uber or Lyft driver has acted negligently, an injured passenger may be entitled to sue and recover damages pursuant to New Jersey personal injury law. In some cases, however, you may be able to bring an action against the ride-sharing company itself.
In 2017, New Jersey implemented regulations to ensure that ride-sharing companies properly evaluated their drivers prior to giving them the go-ahead to work as drivers. Uber and Lyft must adhere to these screening procedures, which include a thorough background check. Although ride-share drivers in New Jersey are defined as independent contractors, not employees, failure to conduct a thorough background check may give rise to company liability.
Suppose that you are riding in an Uber. Your driver crashes the vehicle, causing you severe injuries. Investigation of the facts reveals that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident and, further, that the driver had a long history of drunk driving violations. The fact that Uber allowed the driver to provide services (using its app) may expose the company to liability in a personal injury lawsuit. A potential argument would be that if the ride-sharing company had conducted a thorough background check of the driver, it would have discovered this dangerous predisposition beforehand and the accident could have been avoided.
How Insurance Coverage Works In The Ride-Sharing Context
Thanks to new laws passed by the New Jersey Legislature, all ride-share companies must provide their drivers with comprehensive liability insurance coverage (in the amount of $1.5 million). As such, even if your own personal insurance coverage does not cover you while riding with Uber or Lyft, you may be able to recover damages for your losses from the liability insurance plan paid for by the ride-sharing company itself. An experienced New Jersey car accident attorney can advise you on your legal options for recovery.
Free Consultation With An Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer
Here at McHugh & Imbornone, P.A. Law Office, our experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyers have served accident victims in a range of litigation, including those lawsuits involving ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. We understand the unique issues relevant to ride-sharing lawsuits and how best to secure compensation on behalf of our clients despite the many complications that can arise during litigation. Our results speak for themselves – over the years, we have secured numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients in accident cases, helping them fully recover for their losses.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident involving an Uber or a Lyft vehicle in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Newark, Hoboken or anywhere else in New Jersey, you may be entitled to sue and recover damages pursuant to the law. Call 973-315-8502 or submit an online contact form today to get connected with a skilled Uber and Lyft accident attorney here at McHugh & Imbornone, P.A. Law Office We have an office conveniently located in Florham Park, New Jersey. Also, the initial consultation is always free, and all communications are confidential.
We look forward to assisting you.