The ride-hailing industry led by Uber and Lyft has grown in popularity throughout New York. Using an app on your phone to summon a ride may be affordable and convenient, but you need the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer to sort through the complex legal issues that arise. Uber and Lyft do not own the vehicle that picks you up, and its driver does is not their employee. So, who pays the damages when someone suffers serious injuries in Uber and Lyft accidents?
At the New York offices of The Carrion Law Firm, our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys understand of the legal issues unique to Uber and Lyft accidents. We use our experience to develop strategies allowing us to secure maximum compensation from any and all parties at fault in causing the accident.
If you were injured because of an Uber or Lyft accident, get help pursuing the payment you deserve. Reach out to our experienced New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 to review your case for free.
Why You Need a New York City Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys
If you are seriously injured in any car accident caused by the negligence of another driver, you have the right to sue for damages, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Physician, hospital and other medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished or lost future earnings
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy costs
Many Uber and Lyft drivers carry only the legally required minimum insurance coverage on their vehicles, which may be insufficient to pay the compensation you need and deserve. The attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm, use their knowledge of the ride-hailing industry to pursue other sources of insurance coverage. One source is the $1 million liability and uninsured/underinsured policy Uber and Lyft provide as secondary coverage when the primary policy on a driver’s vehicle is not enough to pay your damages. The policy limits have been increased for vehicles picking up passengers in New York City.
Who to Sue After an Uber or Lyft Accident in New York City
In most cases, injured parties cannot sue Uber and Lyft after collisions involving their drivers. Ridesharing drivers are independent contractors, not employees. Therefore, Uber and Lyft cannot be held liable for the actions of their drivers.
However, both Uber and Lyft provide insurance to cover damages caused by ridesharing accidents. Injured passengers and motorists who suffer serious injuries may be able to recover compensation under Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies after crashes involving their drivers. Still, because of New York’s no-fault insurance laws, injured drivers may have to seek benefits through their own insurers. Our experienced New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can review your case and explain the proper path to compensation.
Identifying All Parties Responsible for Causing an Accident in New York City
As with any collision involving motor vehicles, identifying the parties at fault in causing an Uber or Lyft accident is crucial to obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries. If you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft car that collides with another vehicle, there could be multiple drivers at fault. We thoroughly investigate the accident and carefully review police accident reports to identify the cause of the accident and the parties responsible for it. All drivers responsible for causing an accident may be sued by anyone suffering injuries. If you are injured in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, remain calm and call 911. Other steps to take include:
- Avoid moving around as it may worsen your injuries.
- Get the names and contact information of all drivers involved the accident if you are physically able to do so.
- Unless emergency medical personnel transport you to a hospital for treatment, you should arrange to be examined by your doctor as soon as possible.
- Avoid discussing your medical condition or how the accident happened. Statements you make could jeopardize your right to recover damages.
When to File an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawsuit in New York City
States’ statutes of limitations set forth time lines for filing certain types of lawsuits. According to C.V.P. Law § 214, victims of Uber and Lyft accidents will usually have three years from the dates of their crashes to bring their cases to court. Failure to file your case in time could cause you to miss out on important monetary damages.
Furthermore, crucial evidence can be hard to preserve. Witnesses can forget pertinent details and physical items can be misplaced. By contacting our New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers as soon as possible after your crash, we can more easily gather the evidence necessary to win your case.
Common Sources of Uber and Lyft Accidents in New York City
A great number of Uber and Lyft crashes happen because of motorists’ careless and reckless conduct. Our New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help determine if your collision stems from one of the following sources:
Drunk Driving
Drunk drivers pose a danger to themselves and any other drivers on the road. Impaired motorists will exhibit careless decision-making abilities, poor motor skills, and distorted vision. Fortunately, victims of Uber and Lyft accidents caused by drunk drivers will be entitled to compensation.
Improper Lane Changes
Improper lane changes are also a cause of many Uber and Lyft accidents in New York City. Drivers can commit improper lane changes by failing to use turn signals or by changing lanes in illegal areas. Accidents caused by illegal lane changes often happen on highways and busy urban streets.
Speeding
Furthermore, speeding is a common cause of Uber and Lyft accidents. There are a variety of reasons that drivers may be in a hurry. However, when travelling at excessive speeds, motorists will have difficulty reacting to hazards, obeying traffic signals, and slowing down when cars in-front of them have to brake. Also, collisions that occur at high speeds are more likely to cause severe harm. Our New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help build your case against a speeding driver.
Running Red Lights
Running red lights is another common cause of Uber and Lyft accidents in New York City. Drivers who run red lights run the risk of causing catastrophic collisions with cars travelling in other directions through intersections. Our team can help prove that a driver who ran a red light is at fault.
Tailgating
Lastly, Uber and Lyft accidents are often caused by tailgating drivers. Tailgating refers to the practice of driving too closely behind cars in front of you. Drivers who tailgate other vehicles are likely to cause harmful rear-end collisions. If you were hurt because of an Uber or Lyft accident caused by a tailgating driver, our attorneys can offer guidance and support.
Evidence Used to Prove Fault in New York City Uber and Lyft Accident Lawsuits
There are several different forms of evidence that can be used to show why an accident occurred. Our New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can help collect and preserve any of the following forms of evidence in your case:
Witness Statements
Testimony from eyewitnesses can be very valuable when proving that another driver is at fault for an Uber or Lyft accident. Witnesses can provide either oral or written statements that help explain why crashes happened. Accordingly, you should attempt to retrieve contact information for any witnesses to your collision if possible. Our team can offer guidance and support when reaching out for their cooperation.
Accident Reports
Accident reports are another helpful piece of evidence that can be used when proving fault for Uber and Lyft accidents. After any injurious crash, a police officer should visit the scene to create their accident report. These reports often contain information that can be used when proving fault. You can contact our New York City Uber and Lyft accident lawyers for help recovering a copy of your report.
Expert Witness Statements
Expert witnesses are regarded as experts because they have the requisite education, training, and experience in their respective fields. Experts can be summoned to explain complicated theories of fault. For example, an engineering expert may be called to demonstrate how a defective brake component contributed to an Uber or Lyft accident. Further, an accident reconstruction expert may be summoned to explain why a defendant is at fault for an intersection collision. Our attorneys can help find the right experts to support your claim.
Photos from the Scene
Photos from the scene of an accident can also be utilized when proving fault for and Uber or Lyft accident. For instance, photos of a badly damaged vehicle may be used to show that a defendant driver was speeding when a collision happened.
Also, photos from the scene can be used when disproving defendants’ arguments. For example, a defendant may state that a crash occurred because a street light was broken, so the road was dark. In that case, photos from the scene showing a working street light and well-lit road can be used to disprove the defendant’s theory. Our team can review any photos from the scene of your crash during our free review of your case.
Contact our New York City Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys
Let the attorneys at the New York City offices of The Carrion Law Firm, take the burden of dealing with insurance companies and claims adjusters off your shoulders. The injuries caused by Uber and Lyft accidents entitle you to compensation, so let our team of attorneys fight for you. Contact us today by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free review of your case.