Jersey City Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft provide millions of rides to passengers every year. Unfortunately, not all of these rides safely make it to their destinations. Rideshare drivers can make mistakes that endanger the lives of passengers, other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a rideshare accident, a Jersey City personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. can help you seek justice and maximum financial compensation for your losses. Contact us to start with a free case review.

Why Choose Our Jersey City Rideshare Accident Lawyer?

You will receive personalized legal services from an attorney who cares about your case, rights and future. We are dedicated to the well-being and success of our clients.
Our Jersey City car accident attorneys have a track record of achieving outstanding case results for their clients. We have collected millions of dollars in successful verdicts and settlements.
We accept rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t owe us a cent in attorney’s fees unless we secure financial compensation on your behalf.

How a Jersey City Rideshare Attorney Can Help

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Jersey City, you may not know how to initiate or navigate the claims process. You may need to file a claim against Uber or Lyft’s insurance company in addition to the rideshare driver’s insurer and negotiate with a claims adjuster for fair compensation for your losses.

Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging. An insurer may try to take advantage of you or convince you to settle for less compensation than you need for your injuries and bills. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can protect your legal rights through every phase of the recovery process.

A lawyer can explain New Jersey’s rideshare accident laws, provide legal advice and guidance, investigate your car accident, gather evidence, deal with insurance companies on your behalf, and maximize your compensation as much as possible – even if this requires representation in court. You can trust your lawyer to take care of a claim for you while you focus on healing.

What Causes Rideshare Accidents in Jersey City?

Like other types of motor vehicle accidents, rideshare accidents are often caused by driver errors and acts of negligence. In personal injury law, someone is negligent if he or she fails to use an appropriate amount of care, meaning an amount that a reasonably prudent person would use in the same or similar circumstances.

An Uber or Lyft accident can take place due to many examples of negligence, including:

Distracted driving
Texting and driving
Speeding
Drunk driving
Driver fatigue
Running a red light or stop sign
Failing to yield the right-of-way
Driver inexperience
Following too closely
Road rage or aggressive driving

The majority of Uber and Lyft accidents are traced back to careless or reckless actions committed by negligent rideshare drivers. However, rideshare collisions in Jersey City can also arise from vehicle maintenance issues, adverse weather conditions, and road defects or hazards.

Ridesharing Laws in New Jersey

Ridesharing services in New Jersey are regulated under laws pertaining to Transportation Network Companies. The state’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act requires ridesharing companies to carry special permits, maintain adequate insurance, and obey public safety and operating requirements.

These requirements include:

Conducting criminal background and driving record checks for each driver prior to allowing the driver to log onto the app and provide rides.
Ensuring that a driver’s vehicle meets New Jersey’s motor vehicle inspection requirements.
Providing a picture of the rideshare driver and the license plate number of the driver’s vehicle to the rider.

Rideshare drivers also have rules and regulations they must obey, such as having valid and unexpired driver’s licenses, keeping their vehicles properly maintained, displaying Uber or Lyft signs on their vehicles, and maintaining the amounts of personal automobile insurance required in New Jersey.

Who Pays for a Rideshare Accident in Jersey City?

New Jersey is a “choice” no-fault state, which means that after an automobile accident, the injured victim may have to file a claim with his or her own car insurance policy (personal injury protection or PIP insurance), regardless of who is at fault for the crash. When someone is injured by a rideshare driver, however, the rideshare company may be held liable.

Uber and Lyft both have $1 million insurance policies to pay for accidents that involve their drivers. The amount of coverage available will depend on the phase, or period, of the ride. In Period 1, when a rideshare driver is logged onto the app but has not yet accepted a ride, the company offers $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, as well as $25,000 for property damage.

In Periods 2 and 3, when the driver has matched with a passenger or picked the passenger up, Uber and Lyft both offer the full $1 million in contingent coverage. Typically, the rideshare company will exhaust the driver’s personal automobile insurance policy before offering supplemental coverage.

How Will Filing a Rideshare Accident Claim Affect a Rider’s Account?

Both Uber and Lyft have Terms of Use Policies that state that a rider’s account can be suspended or deactivated if the rider breaches his or her contract with the rideshare company. This includes if the rider sues Uber or Lyft for an auto accident case.

If you believe your rideshare account was inappropriately deactivated, however, an attorney from the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. can review your case to help you clear up the issue. We have years of experience interpreting Terms of Use clauses in contracts.

Financial Compensation Available for a Rideshare Accident in Jersey City

The types of financial compensation that you may be able to collect as a rideshare accident victim in Jersey City include:

Medical bills
Property damage
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death damages
Punitive damages

The potential value of your case will depend on the severity of your injuries, the insurance coverage available, your comparative fault and various other factors.

Contact Our Jersey City Rideshare Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

If you or a member of your family has been seriously injured in a rideshare accident in New Jersey, the lawyers at the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. can help you seek fair financial compensation from Uber, Lyft or a third party.

We know how to navigate these challenging cases. Your lawyer will use personalized legal strategies to achieve the best possible case results. Contact us online or call (201) 834-7043 to request a free consultation with a Jersey City rideshare accident attorney today.