Getting An Uber Or Lyft in New York City? There’s A Risk
Many people are using the ride-share services provided by transportation network companies (TNCs) instead of traditional taxis. You know these TNCs as Uber and Lyft.
New York City has so much to offer but driving there and finding parking is a hassle (and expensive!) Ever think about using Uber or Lyft? Think twice.
Liability Coverage and Rideshare Vehicles
If you get a ride from New Jersey with a New Jersey Uber or Lyft driver, that driver is required to have a minimum amount of $1,500,000 in insurance coverage for your benefit while you are a passenger.
What happens when it’s time to come home and you get a ride back to New Jersey from a New York City Lyft or Uber driver?
New York Liability Coverage
New York State requires so-called transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft to have $1.25 million in liability coverage and the same amount of uninsured and underinsured coverage during times when the driver has passengers. But the State exempts New York City from those insurance requirements. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission requires the roughly 80,000 app-based taxi drivers in the City to carry only $100,000 in liability insurance for an injured person — the same that is required of yellow cabs and other for-hire vehicles. New York City hasn’t raised that minimum insurance requirement in decades, even as medical costs have soared.
This $1.15-million disparity shortchanges victims of New York City crashes, leaving far less compensation for people severely injured by app-dispatched taxis carrying passengers in the five boroughs than anywhere else in the state.
A Sad Tale. Let it Be a Lesson.
In January of 2019, a woman was struck and seriously injured by an Uber while crossing the street in the Upper Bronx. The woman, who had the right of way, was stepping off the curb and into the crosswalk when a rideshare vehicle made a left turn into the intersection and hit her. She suffered a fractured ankle from the accident and had to undergo surgery the same day to implant nine screws in her foot. For the next week, she was confined to a hospital bed as she attempted to recover from the traumatic incident. This accident victim was left disabled, jobless, and nearly evicted because of her inability to provide for herself. Despite the severity of her injuries and the clear liability on the part of the SUV, the car’s insurance refused to offer her reasonable compensation. Had this accident happened two miles to the north, in Yonkers, there would have been $1.25 million of insurance available to the victim. Because the accident happened in New York City, only $100,000 was available – not nearly enough to compensate for the catastrophic injuries and losses suffered.
If you travel into New York City from New Jersey, enjoy yourself and be safe . . . . But think twice about taking a Lyft or Uber back home.
Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw represent clients injured because of car accidents in Hoboken, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, East Orange, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861, as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, and Trenton.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
