The Lyft ride from Ridge Hill should have taken 15 minutes. Now you’re standing on the shoulder of Ridge Hill Boulevard as your neck stiffens by the minute. Or maybe worse: An ambulance is on the way. Two drivers are arguing about who had the light.
The app got you here, but it has no button for what comes next. It won’t tell you which insurance policy pays your bills.
Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., handles this kind of legal tangle every day. A Yonkers Uber/Lyft accident lawyer from our firm can help you sort out the coverage and fight for what your injuries are worth.
How Can Our Yonkers Uber Accident Lawyers Help You Get Compensation for Your Injuries?
If you’re injured in a rideshare crash in Yonkers, there could be several ways to seek compensation. The driver’s own insurance is one avenue. New York law also requires Uber and Lyft to carry extra coverage. That coverage applies while a driver is logged into the app, even before they accept a ride.
The amount of money available depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. We’ve handled many Uber and Lyft cases. We generally know which policy applies. We also know how to push back when an insurance company tries to pay you less than you deserve.
New York lets you seek damages for the following after a rideshare crash:
- Medical bills—including emergency treatment, surgery, and anything else your recovery requires;
- Lost wages—including pay you missed while healing and any drop in future pay;
- Property damage—for items like your phone or medical equipment that got damaged; and
- Pain and suffering—for the physical pain and disruption the crash caused.
Your attorney can add up every category before you settle for less than you deserve.
Who Is Liable for a Yonkers Uber or Lyft Accident?
Outside New York City, state law requires Uber and Lyft to carry insurance in tiers. The applicable tier depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash.
Tier 1
Say the driver was logged into the app but had not yet accepted a ride. Then the company’s policy covers:
- $75,000 per person for injuries;
- $150,000 per accident for injuries; and
- $25,000 in property damage.
This policy won’t pay beyond these amounts, though other coverage may still apply to your case.
Tier 2
Once the driver accepts a trip, coverage jumps to $1.25 million combined for injuries and property damage. The required coverage also includes $1.25 million in supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage.
New York City runs its own taxi and limousine system, with separate insurance rules for rides that start there. Yonkers sits outside the city. That means the tiers above, not New York City’s rules, cover a trip through Getty Square or up Central Park Avenue.
Where and when your ride started matters as much as the crash itself. A Yonkers Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can check the trip data first, so no one settles your claim under the wrong policy.
Why Work with a Yonkers Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer After a Crash?
An attorney from Glugeth & Pierguidi can help you navigate the complexities of personal injury law in New York. We can also work to protect you from the tricks that insurance companies use to pressure claimants into settling for less.
New York’s Three-Year Filing Deadline
New York gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. That may sound like a long time, but the deadline can come fast. Miss it, and you usually lose your right to recover anything.
New York’s Comparative Negligence Rule
Say the other driver claims you share some blame for the accident. New York still lets you recover compensation. The court lowers your award by your percentage of fault. It doesn’t block your claim outright. Your attorney can gather evidence to keep your share of the blame low, since even a small percentage can shrink your settlement.
The No-Fault Threshold for Pain and Suffering
New York’s no-fault system pays your first medical bills and lost wages no matter who caused the crash. But compensation for pain and suffering works differently. Your injury must meet the state’s serious injury threshold.
A broken bone or a permanent limitation in how a body part works is a good example. Our attorneys know how to document this early, before medical records get old.
The steps you take in the first hours after a crash shape your claim later:
- Get checked out. Getting prompt medical attention can document your symptoms and create an early medical record of injuries that may be related to the crash.
- Report the crash. Report the crash to Yonkers police when appropriate and obtain the report information.
- Save the trip details. Screenshot your receipt and driver information.
- Photograph the scene. Capture images of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries.
These steps protect a claim insurers will try to pick apart.
Get Help and Support from a Dedicated Yonkers Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
You already have enough to manage after a rideshare crash. You don’t have to sort out the insurance maze alone.
Glugeth & Pierguidi has represented injured clients across New York and New Jersey for more than two decades. We’ve recovered over $100 million along the way. We also invest in the New York communities we serve, including Yonkers, through our free sober rides program and scholarship fund.
Reach out to us for a free consultation. Let our attorneys build a case that fights for the compensation your injuries deserve.
FAQs
Can I File a Claim Against Uber or Lyft Directly?
Rideshare companies treat drivers as independent contractors, not employees. Most claims target the driver’s insurance and the company’s backup policy, not the company itself. In rare cases, like negligent driver screening, you may be able to sue the company. An attorney can help determine if this approach applies to your situation.
The insurance coverage tiers apply. If the driver was only waiting for a match, your claim can fall into the $75,000 to $150,000 tier. If the driver was already on a trip, your claim can reach the $1.25 million tier.
New York law allows the required TNC coverage to be provided through the driver’s insurance, a TNC’s group policy, or a combination of policies. If the driver’s required coverage has lapsed or does not provide the coverage required by law, the TNC’s group policy must provide the required coverage from the first dollar of the claim. An attorney can determine which policies apply to your accident.
What Happens During a Free Consultation?
Our attorneys review the details of your accident. We identify which insurance policies may apply and walk through your options for seeking compensation. The consultation costs nothing and comes with no obligation, so you can decide how to move forward with all the facts in hand.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Financial Responsibility of Transportation Network Companies, N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1693
- Transportation Network Company (Ride-Sharing) FAQs, N.Y. Dep’t of Fin. Servs.
- Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Actions, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)
- Comparative Negligence, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411
- Serious Injury Threshold, N.Y. Ins. Law § 5102(d)