¿Ha sido herido en un accidente de Uber o Lyft en Nueva Jersey?
Si usted era un pasajero en un viaje compartido o un conductor de viaje compartido le golpeó, si usted resultó herido usted, puede tener un reclamo. Póngase en contacto con Abogados de accidentes de Uber en Nueva Jersey Jared Glugeth y David Pierguidi para un consulta gratuita.
You trusted a rideshare app to get you where you needed to go. Instead, you ended up in an accident. Between confusing insurance policies and companies that don’t make it easy to get answers, recovering compensation after an Uber or Lyft crash in New Jersey can feel like an uphill battle.
At Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., our New Jersey rideshare accident lawyers know how to take on Uber, Lyft, and their insurers. When you work with our firm, you receive decades of litigation experience in your fight for recovery.
An accident during a rideshare trip can leave you shaken and unsure of what to do next. We’re here to help you understand your options, protect your rights, and make sure you don’t walk through this experience alone.
Whether you were a rideshare passenger, another driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, you need a New Jersey Uber accident lawyer. We’re ready to help you understand your rights and pursue the full compensation you’re owed.
Uber and Lyft have released their safety reports detailing the number of crash deaths reported during rides. According to Informe de seguridad de Uber en EE.UU., from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, 153 deaths were recorded in 127 fatal crashes. These deaths resulted in an Uber accident fatality rate of 0.87 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.
En Informe de seguridad comunitaria de Lyft stated there were 111 fatalities, an 18 percent increase in deaths from the previous report, though still less than the national average.
While rideshare accidents remain relatively rare compared to overall traffic incidents, these statistics show that fatal crashes can still occur. When they do, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and options
Both Uber and Lyft released a safety report detailing the number of crash deaths reported during rides.
Según Informe de seguridad de Uber en EE.UU., there were 153 deaths recorded in crashes between 2021 and 2022. This resulted in an Uber accident fatality rate of 0.87 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in a two-year period. About 16% of these deaths were Uber drivers and another 29% were passengers.
En Informe de seguridad comunitaria de Lyft is less detailed. According to its data, 86 people were killed in incidents involving Lyft vehicles between 2021 and 2022.
Uber & Lyft Insurance Coverage Rules
Mientras que los accidentes de coche compartido pueden parecer similares a otros tipos de accidentes de coche en la superficie, que implican algunos factores únicos.
Rideshare drivers are mandated by law to offer different insurance coverage depending on the status of the driver.
Driving with the App Off
Whenever a Lyft or Uber driver gets into an accident with the app disabled or off, their personal insurance policy applies. This means that the rideshare company won’t cover the accident.
Driver Logged on to App But Not Providing a Prearranged Ride
Once the driver turns their app on and is waiting for a ride request, the rideshare company’s insurance kicks in. Ley de Nueva Jersey mandates the following coverage:
- $50,000 per person for death or bodily injury,
- $100,000 per accident for death or bodily injury, and
- $25.000 por accidente por daños materiales.
The law also requires uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and primary personal injury protection benefits.
Driver Is Providing a Prearranged Ride
Si un conductor acepta una solicitud de viaje, la empresa de viajes compartidos aumenta la cobertura del seguro hasta que el conductor complete el viaje. Under New Jersey law, this stage’s coverage must include $1,500,000 in liability coverage for death, bodily injury, and property damage and $1,500,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If you’re unsure which situation applies for you, we recommend discutir su reclamación con un abogado de accidentes de Uber y Lyft de Hoboken.
The legal process for a rideshare accident claim involves multiple steps, and having an attorney can help you navigate each one effectively:
- Case evaluation. Your attorney works to review the details of the accident, determine fault, and identify which insurance policies may provide coverage based on the driver’s app status at the time of the crash.
- Recogida de pruebas. This stage includes gathering police reports, medical records, photos, app data, witness statements, and other documentation supporting your claim.
- Insurance claims. Your lawyer will file claims with the appropriate insurance providers. This may be Uber or Lyft’s corporate policy, the driver’s personal auto insurance, or both.
- Negotiation. The attorney will negotiate with insurance adjusters to pursue a fair settlement that covers your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
- Presentar una demanda. If a settlement can’t be reached, your lawyer may file a personal injury lawsuit to take the case to court.
- Discovery. During this phase, both sides exchange information and documents relevant to the case. This exchange may include depositions, interrogatories, and requests for records from Uber, Lyft, or other involved parties.
- Litigation and resolution. Your attorney will handle court proceedings, advocate for your rights, and work toward a resolution through trial or continued negotiations.
Because of the legal and insurance complexities involved in these cases, having an experienced New Jersey Lyft accident lawyer helps ensure your claim is handled correctly and your rights are fully protected.
Daños potenciales en un accidente de Uber o Lyft
Generally, two categories of damages apply to most rideshare accidents: economic and non-economic. They each have an essential role in your claim’s value. Here’s an overview of what they include and how an Uber accident lawyer may calculate them.
Económico
Also known as special damages, economic damages are the financial losses associated with your accident. A financial loss refers to any out-of-pocket costs you incur as a result of the accident.
These expenses include the following:
- Hospitalización,
- Medicamentos,
- Cirugías,
- Rehabilitación,
- Prótesis,
- Reparación de vehículos,
- Salarios perdidos, y
- Reducción de la capacidad de ganancia.
Economic damages are typically quantifiable and easier to calculate because they involve documented financial losses. However, it’s essential to consult a NJ Uber and Lyft accident lawyer, who can gather the necessary evidence and work with experts to determine a fair and accurate valuation of your claim.
No económico
Daños generales o no económicos reimburse victims for intangible losses. In other words, these losses don’t have a price or standard value.
Algunas de estas pérdidas son:
- Angustia mental,
- Dolor y sufrimiento
- Lesiones corporales
- Menor calidad de vida,
- Incapacidad permanente,
- Pérdida de consorcio,
- Desfiguración grave, y
- Dolor y sufrimiento.
Noneconomic damages don’t have a clear price tag, making them especially difficult to calculate. Your New Jersey rideshare accident attorney may work with medical and financial experts to assess the full extent of these losses and help build a claim that accurately reflects how the accident has impacted your life.
Why Is Suing Uber or Lyft Challenging?
One of the primary legal hurdles in rideshare accident cases is how drivers are classified. Under current New Jersey law, most rideshare drivers are considered independent contractors, not employees. This distinction makes it difficult to sue companies like Uber or Lyft directly for a driver’s negligence since employers are typically only liable for the actions of their employees, not independent contractors.
This legal structure has allowed Uber and Lyft to avoid direct liability in many accident claims. Instead, they rely on third-party insurance coverage to handle most legal and financial fallout from crashes involving their drivers. However, this could be changing.
In April 2025, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development proposed a new rule that could potentially expand the classification of gig workers, including rideshare drivers, as employees rather than independent contractors. If applicable, companies like Uber and Lyft could face legal exposure in personal injury claims if their drivers are reclassified as employees.
An experienced New Jersey Uber accident lawyer informed about these developments can advise you on what to expect from your case.
In New Jersey, similar to other personal injury claims, there’s a strict two-year timeframe from the accident within which you must file your claim. Failing to meet this deadline could result in the dismissal of your case. The impact of a car accident, often accompanied by shock, might obscure injuries and their signs. Seeking immediate medical attention and reaching out to a New Jersey Uber accident attorney is crucial to prevent the permanent forfeiture of your right to file a claim, ensuring you take timely action after the incident.
Preguntas más frecuentes (FAQ)
Debido a la complejidad de los accidentes de transporte compartido, muchos demandantes tienen preguntas sobre el proceso de reclamación. Estas son algunas de las preguntas más frecuentes sobre los accidentes de transporte compartido.
It depends. If the driver doesn’t have the app open at the time of the accident, then you may not be able to sue the rideshare. However you can sue the driver and bring a claim directly with their personal insurance company.
Being involved in a crash can be disorienting. Here are some immediate steps you should take:
- Ensure safety first. Move to a safe area if you can, and check for injuries.
- Call 911. Always report the accident, even if it seems minor. A police report is essential.
- Busque atención médica. Some injuries don’t appear right away. Prompt care helps your health and your case.
- Documenta la escena. Take photos of all vehicles, license plates, road conditions, and your injuries.
- Collect contact info. Get the names, insurance details, and app status of the rideshare driver and any other drivers involved.
- Report the crash to Uber or Lyft. Use the app’s help function to inform the rideshare company of the accident, but avoid giving detailed statements until you speak with a lawyer.
- Contact a New Jersey Uber accident lawyer. Don’t wait. Legal guidance from the outset helps preserve your rights and compensation.
Taking these steps can protect both your health and your legal rights. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the better positioned you’ll be to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Si el conductor tenía la aplicación encendida cuando te atropelló, puedes reclamar al seguro de la empresa de transporte compartido. Demostrar que el conductor tenía la aplicación encendida puede ser difícil, así que te animamos a que busque la ayuda de un abogado de accidentes de Uber y Lyft de Nueva Jersey.
Tenga en cuenta que tendrá que solicitar las prestaciones PIP a través de su compañía de seguros de automóvil o de la póliza de un familiar residente. Es importante que hable con un abogado experimentado de Glugeth & Pierguidi para determinar las compañías de seguros adecuadas ante las que presentar las reclamaciones.
¿Cómo funciona una póliza de Uber o Lyft si hay más de una víctima?
If there is more than one victim in a rideshare accident, they often all make a claim under the same policy. Unfortunately, this gets complicated when it comes to policy limits. If your treatment costs more than the policy limit, you may need to look for other sources of compensation. Another potential source is your own auto insurance policy. Since New Jersey is a no-fault state, you may recover some of your economic damages from your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
Rideshare drivers often navigate unfamiliar neighborhoods while using GPS, managing app requests, and dealing with traffic simultaneously. These distractions and long hours on the road create conditions ripe for accidents.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Conducción distraída,
- Fatigue,
- Exceso de velocidad,
- Failure to yield,
- Improper stopping,
- Illegal U-turns,
- Tailgating,
- Aggressive lane changes,
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance,
- Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers,
- Conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol,
- Failure to obey traffic signs, and
- Poorly maintained roads.
Each of these causes can factor into a negligence claim. An experienced New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer can investigate whether the driver’s behavior violated traffic laws or created a risk for others.
¿En qué se diferencian los servicios de taxi del transporte compartido?
Las plataformas de transporte compartido, como Uber, tratan a sus conductores como contratistas independientes y no como empleados. Estos conductores utilizan sus vehículos personales para transportar pasajeros, lo que los distingue significativamente de los servicios de taxi tradicionales. En consecuencia, las pólizas de seguro y los niveles de cobertura de los taxis y los taxistas difieren de los aplicables a los servicios de transporte compartido y sus conductores.
En la mayoría de los casos, las tarifas de tu seguro personal no deberían aumentar si eras pasajero de un coche compartido durante un accidente. Dado que no eras el conductor ni el responsable directo del accidente, es poco probable que tus tarifas de seguro se vean afectadas. Sin embargo, las pólizas de seguro y las regulaciones pueden variar, por lo que siempre es una buena idea consultar con su proveedor de seguros para obtener información precisa sobre la base de sus circunstancias específicas.
En Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C.Entendemos lo aterrador que puede ser un accidente de coche compartido para pasajeros, peatones y otros conductores.
At our firm, we focus on the needs of our clients and believe they need an advocate who’s with them every step of the way. Unlike other firms, we won’t hand you off to an associate attorney. Usted merece tener un socio con décadas de experiencia en litigios judiciales. Por eso nuestros abogados fundadores Jared Glugeth y David Pierguidi trabajan personalmente con cada cliente.
Para concertar una consulta gratuita, llámenos al 201-699-5070 o contacto en línea. We proudly serve clients in Hoboken and throughout New Jersey and New York.
