Dedicated Lyft Accident Attorney in West Orange, NJ Fights for the Compensation You are Legally Entitled To After a Rideshare Accident in Essex County or Elsewhere in New Jersey
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. However, filing a claim with the right insurers and gathering the evidence needed to build a case can be difficult if you are unfamiliar with personal injury and insurance coverage laws. This is particularly true for ridesharing accident cases since you may have to prove to ridesharing service companies such as Uber or Lyft that you were involved in an accident in or with one of their vehicles and want to file a claim. For assistance with these matters and to learn more about what you may be entitled to in a personal injury or accident damages case, contact a highly-rated West Orange Uber accident lawyer at Drazin & Warshaw today.
Determining Fault and Culpability for Injuries and Damages Sustained in an Uber or Lyft Accident
New Jersey’s ridesharing, traffic, and personal injury laws were recently revamped to clearly outline the responsibilities and expectations of rideshare drivers and ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft, as well as the many protections provided by the law to victims of accidents that involve these businesses. Various legal complications can arise in accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles since Uber and Lyft categorize their drivers as contractors, not employees, and because Uber and Lyft only provide compensation to victims injured in accidents involving their vehicles or drivers under very specific circumstances.
Rest assured that irrespective of how, when, or where your accident occurred, a qualified Lyft accident attorney in West Orange, NJ at Drazin & Warshaw can help you file a claim and fight for the compensation you are entitled to for your rideshare accident injuries, including:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Broken bones
Nerve damage
Internal organ damage
Scarring and disfigurement
Burns, lacerations, cuts, and abrasions
In addition to physical injuries, you may have to deal with other losses and damages, such as lost income from not being able to work, caregiving and travel costs, pain, suffering, emotional trauma, the loss of a loved one, and/or funeral, burial, or cremation costs. An empathetic Lyft accident attorney in West Orange, NJ at Drazin & Warshaw can help you file a claim for the damages you are owed after your accident.
Insurance Limits for Uber and Lyft Accidents in New Jersey
Under New Jersey law, Uber and Lyft drivers are required to carry insurance minimums of
$1.5 million for bodily injury and property damage
$1.5 million for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
$10,000 per person for primary medical coverage
These limits only apply if the Uber or Lyft driver that caused an accident accepted a ride request and was on their way to pick up a passenger or was actively transporting a passenger in their vehicle.
If the rideshare driver was only logged into the ridesharing app but did not have an active ride request or had the app off and was operating their vehicle as a private personal vehicle when they caused an accident, then the driver’s state-mandated insurance minimums will apply, in which case you may have recourse to the following levels of compensation from their insurer:
Primary liability insurance of $50,000 per person
Primary liability insurance of $100,000 per case
Property damage coverage and personal injury protection of $25,000
You must file your claim within the designated time and with the required documentation and proof. A qualified Lyft accident attorney in West Orange, NJ at Drazin & Warshaw can help you gather this evidence, which includes:
Photos and videos of the accident scene
Eyewitness testimony
The official police report of the accident
Vehicle maintenance logs
The at-fault driver’s driving record
Proof of aggressive, reckless, or intoxicated driving
Medical treatment reports
Vehicle repair expenses
Armed with this evidence, an experienced West Orange Uber accident lawyer at Drazin & Warshaw will then quantify your losses and submit a claim to the at-fault party’s insurer for compensation.
If your claim is accepted and you are offered a fair settlement, you can accept it, and the case will be closed. If, on the other hand, your claim is denied or you are offered an inadequate compensation package, then we are prepared to appeal the case and take it to court so that you are fully compensated for your accident-related losses and damages.
Schedule a Free Evaluation With a Knowledgeable West Orange Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, you should not have to undergo the pain and suffering and pay for treatments and suffer lost income because of the actions of another party. A qualified West Orange Uber accident lawyer will fight for the financial compensation you deserve. Contact a trusted Lyft accident attorney in West Orange, NJ at Drazin & Warshaw today for a free initial case evaluation. We will walk you through everything you need to know about New Jersey’s ridesharing accident laws and the insurance policies and procedures that you must be aware of when filing a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions about Uber and Lyft Accidents in West Orange, NJ
How common are Uber and Lyft accidents?
How common are Uber and Lyft accidents?Uber and Lyft drivers tend to be faced with far more distractions than other motorists, which include passenger and navigation information from their apps, customer interactions, and constantly changing traffic patterns or road conditions. Ridesharing drivers may also have to drive in areas that are unfamiliar to them. NHTSA data shows that distracted driving accidents led to over 3,000 fatalities in the US in 2020, and Uber and Lyft drivers can face more of these risks than the average motorist.
What happens if I was struck by an Uber or Lyft driver?
Whether you struck someone as an Uber or Lyft driver or were struck by an Uber or Lyft driver, contact a top-rated West Orange Uber accident lawyer at Drazin & Warshaw today for assistance. For all Uber and Lyft accident cases, you can only seek compensation for losses and damages from the insurers of Uber or Lyft if the driver had the ridesharing app on, was transporting a passenger, or accepted a ride request and was on the way to pick up a passenger. For all other times, you will likely have to resort to the at-fault party’s personal auto insurer for compensation.
