Rideshare services have become increasingly integral to daily transportation in New Jersey. While these services offer convenience, accidents involving rideshare vehicles are common. Handling these crashes is challenging, particularly when it comes to determining liability and seeking restitution. If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, you can seek compensation for your damages.
At Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C., we have a rich history of winning substantial settlements for the rights of individuals injured in diverse auto accidents. Our auto lawyers are members of the Board of Certified Civil Trial Attorneys, which means we are certified by the Board of Attorney Certification. Therefore, we believe we have the resources essential to safeguarding your rights and maximizing your legal recovery.
Let us engage today, and a New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer will analyze your case to determine the most appropriate course of action.
The moments after an accident can be overwhelming due to the shock of the car crash. This time can be more chaotic and challenging if the crash leads to serious injuries or fatalities. However, you must understand the right steps at this time to protect your safety and also strengthen your legal claim. Whether you’re a passenger in an Uber or Lyft or involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle, following these steps can help.
First, make sure to check on everyone involved and then move your vehicle to a safer location. This will help prevent any further accidents. However, it’s important to seek help in getting to safety, considering the shock of the accident or if you sustained injuries.
In case of a serious injury following a rideshare accident, don’t hesitate to dial 911 for immediate medical assistance. Even if injuries appear minor, it’s advisable to seek medical attention promptly as some injuries may not show symptoms right away. Getting a medical evaluation will help rule out such injuries and prevent them from worsening over time.
Additionally, you will need to showcase your medical records during the claims process. This documentation is key in linking your injuries with the rideshare accident.
Obtain the rideshare driver’s name and contact information, ensuring you have their full name, phone number, and any other relevant contact details. Additionally, note the details of other drivers involved in the accident. Taking a screenshot of your ride details from the app, including the time, date, and route, can also be helpful for future reference.
If there are any witnesses to the accident, obtain their names and contact details as well. This could include their phone numbers and email addresses. Their accounts of the incident may be valuable for your case later, providing an independent perspective on what happened. Make sure to ask them about what they saw and if they are willing to provide a statement if needed.
Use your phone to take photos or videos of the accident scene, including the position they ended up in. Also, document any visible injuries you or others might have sustained. This constitutes new evidence that could greatly support your compensation claim.
Inform your insurance company about the accident by providing them with the exact time and date it occurred. This step is important for starting the claims process.
However, if the insurance company requires additional details or has further questions, direct them to your attorney, who can handle complex inquiries on your behalf. It is crucial to avoid issuing a recorded statement to insurers without first consulting your lawyer. Your attorney will guide you on how to proceed and protect your interests while in talks with adjusters.
Legal guidance is important in navigating insurance claims and ensuring you receive reasonable compensation after an accident. A New Jersey Rideshare accident attorney can help you understand your rights and provide the necessary support and advice throughout the claims process.
Rideshare accidents can involve multiple insurance coverages, including the driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s contingent insurance, and your own personal insurance. Your lawyer will help you understand these coverages to determine liability and compensation eligibility.
Determining fault in a rideshare crash can be complicated, especially since multiple parties could be involved. Liability might rest on the rideshare driver, another motorist, or even the rideshare company itself.
In New Jersey, fault is typically determined based on negligence. If the rideshare driver was reckless or distracted, they might be responsible for the accident. If another driver was responsible for causing the collision, they could be held liable. It’s also important to assess whether the rideshare company could share any responsibility, particularly if the accident was linked to unsafe practices, like improper background checks or vehicle maintenance.
Your rideshare accident attorney will investigate the case to identify the at-fault party and seek restitution from the available avenues.
In rideshare accidents, determining who will pay for damages depends mainly on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. Rideshare drivers operate as independent contractors, and their insurance coverage varies based on whether they are actively transporting a client, waiting for a ride request, or driving for personal reasons.
When the driver takes the car for personal use without being logged into the rideshare app, their personal insurance kicks in to cover damages. New Jersey is a no-fault state, where drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. The basic policy requires $15,000 per person, with room to increase coverage limits up to $250,000.
If the driver is waiting for a request, their personal insurance and the rideshare company’s contingent liability coverage may come into play. Uber and Lyft provide liability coverage for driver-fault accidents, including $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident, property damage cover of $25,000, and up to $50,000 per injured person.
After an accident, the injured victims should contact the ridesharing company’s insurer to see if contingent benefits can cover damages not covered by their own insurance.
Once a ride has been accepted or is in progress, rideshare companies provide up to $1.5 million in third-party liability coverage. Additionally, rideshare companies must have $1 million in underinsured/uninsured coverage as well as $10,000 per person per incident for medical coverage.
Importantly, the law requires contingent comprehensive and collision coverage with a $2,500 deductible up to your car’s cash value if your personal auto policy includes these coverages. Hence, the ridesharing company should cover injuries, whether the driver possesses personal insurance coverage or not.
As seen above, ridesharing insurance requirements are different from the basic requirements for all registered vehicles in New Jersey. Rideshare accidents do not have to follow New Jersey’s no-fault insurance laws, which usually require victims to use their own insurance for compensation, even if they are not at fault.
However, the unique aspects of rideshare accidents go beyond these insurance requirements. Determining liability for such incidents can be complicated, but having legal guidance ensures that you don’t miss fair financial recovery for your injuries and losses following an accident.
If you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle and involved in an accident, your personal insurance may come into play depending on the coverage you have. In New Jersey, no-fault insurance means that your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) may cover initial medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident.
However, if your injuries are severe and your costs exceed the limits of your policy, you may be able to seek additional compensation from the rideshare company’s insurance or the at-fault driver’s insurance. A rideshare accident attorney can review your policy and explain how your coverage interacts with the rideshare company’s liability insurance.
In some cases, you may be able to pursue legal action directly against a rideshare company. Although companies like Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, certain circumstances could allow you to hold the rideshare company accountable.
For example, in cases where the company neglected to conduct thorough background checks on the drivers or where its policies created unsafe conditions for passengers.
However, using a rideshare company can be legally challenging, given the protections these corporations often have in place. However, when you work with a New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer from Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C., we can help you determine if a lawsuit against the company is viable and how best to proceed with your case.
If you are seeking legal recourse after being injured in a rideshare crash in New Jersey, the process may not be smooth despite generous insurance coverage requirements for rideshare companies. At Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C., we have decades of experience, skills, and resources to help accident victims pursue the compensation they deserve. Our New Jersey rideshare accident lawyers will leave no stone unturned to secure your financial future, even if it means pursuing litigation. Contact us today to book a free case review.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partners, Jeffrey W. Varcadipane & Dawn M. Pinnisi, with more than 40 years of combined legal experience as personal injury attorneys.
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