Lyft and Uber Accidents

What Are Lyft and Uber?

Lyft and Uber are ridesharing transportation companies or what New Jersey law calls “transportation network companies” that help connect people wanting to go somewhere with a driver who owns a car. Passengers use Lyft and Uber because it is a convenient and cost-effective way to get around town without having to have their own car. It’s like calling a cab, but may be available in more areas and offer faster service, in some instances.

Is a Lyft or Uber Accident Different From a Regular Car Accident?

Getting into a Lyft or Uber car accident can be just as scary and just as life-threatening as any other car accident. Whether you are a passenger in the Lyft or Uber car or you are hit by a Uber or Lyft driver, the accident can leave you wondering what to do next.

The Lawyers at CourtLaw are Experienced in Handling Lyft and Uber Accidents

You really shouldn’t handle an accident involving a Lyft or Uber car any differently than any other type of accident:

• Call the police and get immediate medical attention. It’s important to have a police report of the accident as well as medical reports documenting your injuries.
• Get medical help even if you think your injuries are minor. Sometimes, head, back, and neck injuries can get progressively worse over time if left untreated.
• Collect the insurance information of the Lyft/Uber driver and the other drivers involved to give to your insurance company. Police will also collect this information, so if you can’t get it, don’t worry. It will be in your police reports.
• Use your cell phone to take photos of everything if you are physically able to do so. This will help preserve the facts relating to the case and can be crucial to your settlement. The lawyers at CourtLaw can use these photos to negotiate your settlement, which can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
• Do not talk to an insurance company for Lyft, Uber or any other driver. Call CourtLaw. 

How to Choose a Lyft or Uber Driver

Passengers can rate Lyft and Uber drivers based on levels of cleanliness, safety, friendliness, and navigation. You can see your driver’s rating when you request a pickup. You’ll also see whether a Lyft driver has received flags for unsafe driving or other faults. However, even the highest rated Lyft and Uber drivers can still get into accidents. That’s why it’s important to follow a few safety tips when you are passenger:

• Always wear your seat belt
• Don’t distract your driver with too much conversation or loud talking
• Determine what route you want your driver to take before the driver starts driving, instead of suddenly asking him or her to turn different ways as the car is moving
• Enter and exit the car in designated pickup spots or parking lots, not on the side of busy roads

Under N.J.S.A. 39:5H-10, companies such as Uber and Lyft must carry commercial insurance policies with $1.5 million coverage limits, which would cover a passenger’s injuries when the ride-share driver was at fault for the accident, or when the at-fault driver of another vehicle is uninsured or carries insufficient liability coverage to fully compensate the injured Uber/Lyft passenger.

Were You Injured in an Auto Accident? Call the Accident Attorneys at CourtLaw Today!

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 auto accidents, slip and falls and other accident cases in Paterson, Bayonne, Clifton, Hoboken, 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 St, 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.