Lyft, Uber, and other rideshare apps have transformed how people get around the city. For some, taking an Uber or Lyft provides a sense of relief because they don’t have to drive in traffic. But others may experience a scary ride due to an inexperienced driver.
Regardless of your driver’s skill, you may be injured in an accident while on the way to your destination. If you’ve experienced injuries from an accident involving a rideshare service, the process to recover compensation will likely involve numerous parties. Consulting with a Union City Uber accident attorney can help you navigate this complex process to recover a fair settlement for your injuries.
Whose Insurance Is Responsible for My Compensation?
New Jersey is a no-fault state, which means parties injured in a car accident must generally file a claim against their own personal injury protection (PIP) on their individual auto insurance policy.
Additionally, the ability to sue an at-fault party for noneconomic damages like pain and suffering is limited to situations where the victim has suffered specific serious injuries.
However, New Jersey’s no-fault law doesn’t apply to Uber or Lyft accidents because the definition of automobile, in this context, doesn’t include vehicles used to transport passengers. Furthermore, you do not have to meet any specific injury threshold to sue the rideshare company for noneconomic damages.
Figuring out the responsible parties in your claim can be the most challenging aspect of recovering compensation.
Uber or Lyft Insurance Policies
For years, Uber and Lyft have tried to classify their drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability. However, New Jersey enacted a law in 2017 to help protect passengers who are injured during Uber and Lyft rides.
Rideshare companies must provide at least $1.5 million of liability coverage for injuries, death, and property damage when one of their drivers causes an accident while transporting a passenger or on the way to pick up a passenger.
If the driver causes an accident while logged on to the rideshare app and waiting for a request, the rideshare company must provide liability insurance of $50,000 for death or bodily injury per person, $100,000 for death or bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
You can obtain the rideshare’s insurance information from the driver at the scene of the accident. State law requires drivers to carry proof of insurance and provide it to interested parties in the event of an accident. Before filing a claim, you should speak with, and ideally hire, a Union City Uber accident attorney to better understand the full amount of compensation available for your injuries.
Another At-Fault Driver’s Insurance
If another driver was at fault for all or a portion of the accident, you may be able to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, state law only requires drivers to have a minimum coverage of $25,000 for injuries.
If the driver didn’t opt for a higher coverage limit, you may not be able to receive full compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance. At this time, you can file a claim with the rideshare’s insurance company to recover your expenses under the underinsured/uninsured motorists coverage Uber and Lyft are required to carry.
The specific facts of your accident will determine which insurance policies cover you. Do yourself a favor and reach out to our Union City Uber accident lawyers who can help you understand how the different insurance policies apply to your compensation claim.
Experienced Representation Matters
Uber and Lyft accident claims are extremely complex and involve a lot of moving parts. It’s unwise to try and go this alone. Efficiently navigating the insurance process while achieving optimal results for clients is a special set of skills.
Attorneys at insurance companies are equipped with numerous tactics to reduce and deny coverage, and they’ll take advantage of lawyers who don’t have a lot of experience. You want confident, skilled Uber accident lawyers representing your interests because it will show the insurance companies that you won’t be pushed around.
Contact the Union City Uber Accident Lawyers at Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C.
The attorneys at Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., are ready to protect your rights to compensation. For more than 10 years, we’ve helped clients in Union City, as well as the rest of New Jersey and New York, recover millions of dollars for injuries caused by someone’s negligence.
Our experienced attorneys aren’t phased by the insurance company’s aggressive approach. Contact the Union City Lyft accident lawyers at Glugeth & Pierguidi, P.C., to learn if you can file a claim for compensation.