Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Manhattan

Manhattan is home to some of the country’s most congested traffic and ruthless drivers. While over 1.6 million people are on the island, many do not own cars. As a result, you can find rideshare vehicles all over the city, and they are just as susceptible to the dangers of the road as any other driver or vehicle. Suppose you suffered an injury in an accident involving a driver for Uber or Lyft. In that case, you could contact rideshare accident lawyers in Manhattan to learn more about the avenues to compensation available to you.

How Does a Rideshare Differ From a Standard Auto Accident?

Rideshare vehicles are like any other vehicle, and the drivers must meet all the exact insurance requirements as any other driver and car. The primary difference is the additional insurance provider involved. When is the rideshare company liable for damages? When is the other driver responsible? How do you know when to file your claim with the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal insurance? How does an injured passenger access compensation? Several factors can affect how you answer questions, but the first elements to consider are who was involved in the accident and who is liable.

Parties Involved in a Rideshare Accident

The foundation of an auto accident case is determining who is at fault for the accident. In a standard car accident involving ridesharing, there are several potential parties involved:

• The rideshare driver
• The other driver
• The rideshare passengers
• Pedestrians
• The rideshare company

Each of these parties could be liable for damages under certain circumstances. Although, only on rare occasions would the passengers or the pedestrians play a role in the accident’s cause. What makes these cases unique is that liability shifts based on whether or not the rideshare driver was on duty at the time of the accident.

Was the Rideshare Driver On-Duty at the Time?

People who participate in ridesharing essentially have three stages to their process. When they are at fault for an accident, identifying the insurance company liable for damages depends on how engaged the driver was with the app when the crash occurred. The three stages of app engagement include:

1. The app is disengaged. Suppose the driver works for Uber or Lyft but is on the road during their time not connected to the app. During that time, the company is not liable for any damages when a crash occurs.
2. The app is engaged, and the driver awaits a ride request. Once the driver logs into the app, indicating they are available for a ride, the rideshare company’s insurance provider could be liable. In this scenario, victims of an accident may file a claim with the driver’s individual insurance or the company’s insurance.
3. The driver is on the way to pick up an accepted ride or is actively transporting a passenger in the vehicle. During this time, the company’s liability coverage is at its max, and should an accident occur, the passenger and any other party involved, including the other driver, their passengers, or pedestrians, can file a claim with the company’s provider.

The engaged driver must be responsible for the accident to file a claim under the rideshare company’s insurance policy. If the other party is liable, victims would need to file a claim with that driver’s insurance company. Generally, whichever driver violates traffic laws, causing an accident and injuries, would be the at-fault party in the accident.

Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage

Uber requires all drivers to purchase commercial liability insurance in addition to state-mandated insurance coverage. This is the same type of coverage taxi limousine drivers carry. Additionally, they provide the following coverage when the app is active and waiting for a ride:

• Third-party liability coverage up to $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident in property damage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage up $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in death benefits
• Personal injury protection of up to $50,000 per insured person

When the vehicle is en route to pick up a passenger or transporting a passenger, coverage includes:

• $1.25 million in third-party liability
• $1.25 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist protection
• $50,000 in PIP insurance
• Comprehensive and collision coverage on contingency and with a deductible of $2,500

Lyft provides similar coverage in the same stages of app engagement. However, what happens if the accident is not the rideshare driver’s fault? To what insurance provider do you turn?

How Does No-Fault Auto Insurance Affect Your Case?

Only approximately a dozen states have no-fault auto insurance policies, and New York is one of them. All drivers, including those working for rideshare companies, must purchase personal injury protection insurance. This coverage eliminates the question of liability and allows everyone involved in an auto accident an avenue for compensation without the delays fault determination can cause. PIP insurance covers the driver, their passengers, and any pedestrian hit by their car.

PIP coverage is not an option when an accident occurs. It is a requirement. The law requires everyone to file claims with their providers to recover compensation for necessary medical expenses, a percentage of lost income, and a small death benefit. This coverage does not provide access to non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, and sometimes the insurance is insufficient to cover severe injuries. To accommodate people who need additional compensation, New York applies a serious injury threshold.

The Serious Injury Threshold

To bypass the PIP requirement and file a claim with the other driver’s insurance or the rideshare company’s insurance, your injuries must qualify as one of New York’s defined “serious injuries.” Your injury must fall under one of these categories:

• Substantial limitation to the use of one or more body functions or systems
• Significant disfigurement
• Temporary or permanent total disability for a minimum of 90 days
• Broken or fractured bones
• Permanent limitations to the use of one or more body organs or members

Such injuries typically result in significantly more damages and have a profound effect on the victim’s psychological state. For that reason, New York law allows you to step outside the PIP requirement and file an adequate claim.

What Damages Can You Recover From a Rideshare Accident Case in Manhattan?

There are type key elements victims must prove in an auto accident case. The first is negligence. The second is damages, a term used to legally describe the losses owed to the victim and the liabilities required of the at-fault party. All collisions are unique, but most claims involve compensatory damages, further divided into economic and non-economic losses. Additionally, you may have access to punitive damages under rare but severe circumstances.

Economic Compensatory Damages

Economic damages are synonymous with financial losses. These include:

• Medical expenses, such as emergency care, hospital stays, outpatient care, medications, medical devices, and rehabilitation
• Lost wages, such as income from missed days or weeks at work or the loss of the ability to earn the same level of income you did before your injuries
• Property damage includes the cost of repair and replacement
• Out-of-pocket expenses such as transportation to healthcare visits, help around the house, structural changes to the home to accommodate disabilities, and childcare

Proving these damages can be tedious, but they often have tangible support, such as medical bills, receipts and estimates, and pay stubs. The non-economic damages can be more challenging.

Non-Economic Compensatory Damages

Non-economic losses cover the mental and emotional impact of an auto accident. These are not recoverable under PIP insurance, but you can claim them if you file with the other party’s provider. Examples include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, losing the ability to enjoy life, and mental anguish in the forms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Assigning monetary value to these losses can be complex, but an experienced rideshare accident lawyer will ensure you receive accurate value for your losses.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are rare in auto accident cases because the purpose of awarding them to the plaintiff is to punish the defendant for egregious acts or gross negligence, such as driving under the influence or recklessly. However, the payout is usually substantial in cases that do merit punitive damages.

When Should You Contact Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Manhattan?

You can speak with a rideshare accident lawyer at no cost at any time following an accident. They offer free consultations and will answer any questions you have about the case. Accidents involving rideshare companies can quickly become overwhelming, especially when facing a large company with an aggressive insurance provider. That company has a team of legal professionals and insurance adjusters looking out for its best interest. You deserve to have an experienced attorney on your side, looking out for yours. At Cellino Law, we know the devastation an auto accident can cause. Our team of rideshare accident lawyers is here to protect your right to compensation and create a safe space for you to recover financially, physically, and emotionally. Contact us at (888) 888-8888 any time of the day or night to schedule your free case evaluation. Our clients are always our top priority.