Ordering up a ride from an app on your phone can be a convenient and relaxing way to get around. Hopefully, your ride with one of these car services, such as Uber or Lyft, will be a safe one, too. At Courtlaw, we know well that, unfortunately, accidents can and do happen. Our attorneys have handled cases on behalf of Lyft and Uber drivers and passengers. New Jersey law refers to a ride-share company such as Lyft or Uber as a “Transportation Network Company” or “TNC.” Under New Jersey law, when a TNC driver is “providing” a ride, the TNC or the TNC driver, “or any combination of the two” must have primary automobile liability insurance in the amount of “at…

What happens if a tired driver causes you to get into an accident? If a driver is tired, then could they be considered at-fault in a crash? How can you seek compensation after a drowsy driving accident in New Jersey, anyway? Get the answers to these important questions below. What’s Drowsy Driving? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year at least 70,000 car accidents are directly caused by drowsy driving. Drowsy driving is defined as getting behind the wheel while you’re feeling tired and fatigued. Drowsiness can occur for several reasons like: Not getting enough sleepWorking a long shift at workSleep disordersMedications (prescriptions or over-the-counter)Driving for several hours straight While fatigue might not seem that serious, it…

Uber and Lyft services are all the rage nowadays, but it’s true that those big yellow taxis still exist in most major cities. There’s also a huge difference in the legal liability of a ride-sharing driver and a taxicab driver, too. Were you recently involved in a crash? If so, then you’re likely wondering — what should I do if I’m involved in a taxi accident as a passenger? Who will take care of my medical expenses and other losses? Get the answers to all your important questions below. Taxi Cab Accidents: What Happens if You’re a Passenger? When you’ve been injured as a passenger in a taxi accident, you need to seek out medical care right away. After that’s over, you…

We have done several blogs about the so-called verbal threshold.  This is a defense to personal injury lawsuits where the injured person is may only recover money damages for the most serious injuries.  It is more beneficial to a person injured in a motor vehicle accident if the verbal threshold does not apply to her or his case.  What if you’re a Lyft or Uber driver and you’re involved in an accident?  Does the verbal threshold apply? The attorneys at CourtLaw argue that it does not. The governing New Jersey law states that the verbal threshold defense “shall not be . . . asserted against any party not receiving personal injury protection benefits in any action for damages arising from…

On March 26, 2019, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided the case of Haines v. Taft. The Court had certified the following question: “Does N.J.S.A. 39:6A-12 preclude a plaintiff from recovering medical expenses above those collectible or paid under an insured’s PIP provision in a standard automobile insurance policy, including medical expenses exceeding any elected PIP option allowed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:6A-4.3(d)?” When the Court finally rendered its opinion, however, its decision did not cover the expanse of the certified question. Instead, Justice LaVecchia held together a three-justice majority by answering a narrower issue. Specifically, the Haines opinion did not concern all medical bills in excess of the plaintiff’s PIP option. Rather, Haines addressed only “stand-alone” suits exclusively for medical…