Dedicated Brooklyn Rideshare Accident Attorneys Represent Victims
Respected New York City lawyers seek compensation for injured passengers
Uber, Lyft and other rideshare services have transformed the ways people travel in New York City. With so many rideshare vehicles sharing the streets with pedestrians, taxis and other drivers, accidents are bound to happen. The personal injury attorneys of Goldberg Sager & Associates in Brooklyn help people injured in rideshare accidents pursue compensation for their losses. We build cases to help victims recover the damages they deserve for medical bills, lost income, property repairs and other accident expenses.
Accomplished law firm goes after parties liable for Uber and Lyft accidents
When a car accident occurs in New York, a victim must initially make compensation claims under his or her own insurance policy’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. If there are serious injuries or losses in excess of PIP limits, any party that is at fault can be ordered to pay damages. The injured person may claim compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company or seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. If the victim is partially at fault — such as if they were jaywalking, speeding or causing a major distraction in the driver’s backseat — they will be entitled to recover an amount of damages that is reduced by their own percentage of fault.
If the rideshare driver is at fault, a victim also may recover compensation from the rideshare company’s insurance. New York law requires companies to carry minimum coverage in the following amounts:
- $1.25 million for personal injury and property damage when a driver is completing a ride
- $150,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage when a driver is logged into the app and available for a ride request
If the rideshare driver is not transporting a passenger or awaiting a ride request when they cause an accident, an insurance claim must be filed with the driver’s personal insurance policy. Some drivers’ policies include endorsements providing added coverage for rideshare accidents.
Determining who is at fault is a crucial step when you are seeking to recover your full costs for an injury or property damage sustained in a rideshare accident. Our experienced car crash litigators look for evidence of fault and argue against unfair fault assessments made by insurance adjusters.
Skilled New York litigators work to establish fault behind rideshare accidents
In rideshare accidents, fault may be shared among the rideshare driver, another motorist and/or another party involved. The rideshare company also may be partially liable if it failed to complete a mandatory background check on the driver or to take away an unsafe driver’s privileges.
Causes of rideshare accidents include:
- Distracted driving — A driver who is preoccupied with a cell phone or headset phone call may cause an accident.
- Speeding — Excessive speed is a common factor in car crashes and can lead to significantly worse injuries than crashes at lower speeds.
- Failure to obey traffic signals — A driver who ignores a stop sign, red light, crosswalk or other restriction may hit a pedestrian, a bicyclist or another vehicle.
- DUI — Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol may suffer from impaired judgment and reflexes, which can lead to serious accidents.
A rideshare passenger who is involved in a truck accident may sustain life-threatening injuries. Motorcycle accidents can cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
If you are injured in an accident involving a rideshare driver, one of our attorneys can evaluate the circumstances of your case and explain the type of compensation that may be available to you.
