New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys Represent Victims of Uber and Lyft Crashes
If you are injured by an Uber or Lyft driver, the rules are a bit different for your accident
Uber and Lyft have become extremely popular in recent years. With a few taps on a smartphone, a driver can be hired to take customers just about anywhere they would like to go. However, what happens if the driver is responsible for an accident? Whether customers of the Uber or Lyft driver or passengers in another vehicle, New Jersey law holds these individuals accountable for the harm they cause. At Leonard Legal Group, LLC, our New Jersey car accident attorneys are experienced in Uber and Lyft accident claims and help accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve.
Who is liable in an accident involving Lyft or Uber?
In 2017, New Jersey enacted legislation that addressed several issues that stem from the use of ride-sharing companies, including liability for accidents. These accidents involve numerous parties, such as the passengers, ride-sharing company, and the at-fault driver. New Jersey now requires that all ride-sharing companies have $1.5 million in liability coverage and underinsured/uninsured coverage for their passengers. The coverage may be held through the company, driver, or both.
This coverage applies to injured passengers when the ride-sharing driver is at fault for an accident. It also applies if the at-fault driver is either uninsured or does not have enough insurance to cover the passenger’s injuries.
New Jersey is typically a no-fault insurance state. This means that, in most cases, each driver’s own insurance policy covers his or her own injuries in an accident. If the injuries meet a certain threshold (for example, they result in disfigurement or loss of limb), the injured victim may step out of the no-fault model and pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Some insurance policies have an “unlimited right to sue” option.
However, the special laws that apply to Uber and Lyft accidents allow injured passengers to seek compensation without such limitations.
How much compensation am I entitled to after a Lyft or Uber accident?
The amount of compensation available in a New Jersey Uber or Lyft accident depends on a number of factors. The at-fault driver’s behavior and the nature of the victim’s injuries are two of the biggest factors considered in an accident claim. If the at-fault driver’s behavior was especially egregious or reckless, a higher damages award may be possible.
Types of damages the victim may seek include:
- Medical expenses
- The cost of future medical care
- The cost of medical equipment
- The expense of remodeling a home to accommodate an injury (such as building a wheelchair ramp)
- Lost wages
- Loss of employment benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Other types of damages may also be available, depending on the facts of the case.
To ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation available under the law, it is important to hire an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
Call Leonard Legal Group today to discuss your accident
At Leonard Legal Group, our New Jersey accident attorneys are experienced in all types of motor vehicle accident claims, including those involving Lyft or Uber. To schedule a free consultation with our legal team, call 973-984-1414 or contact us online. We proudly serve clients throughout New Jersey.