Injured in a Rideshare? Protect Yourself
January 12, 2024
If you are involved in a car accident, you know the drill - you exchange information with the other driver(s) and the insurance companies then investigate the crash to determine fault and cover your claim. But what if you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft that is involved in an accident? How do you protect your rights and ensure that you are properly compensated?
We work with clients who have been injured in ridesharing auto accidents and fight to make sure they are made as whole as possible following the accident. That begins with making sure all deadlines are met and taking on the insurance companies on your behalf. The good news is, in New York State, rideshare drivers are required to carry enhanced insurance coverage. This also covers drivers who are injured while driving for a rideshare.
The mandatory coverage is broken down into two parts:
When a rideshare driver is logged in to the app (available to accept trips) but not currently engaged in a trip, New York requires base insurance coverage:
- Liability for bodily injury up to $75,000 per injury, per accident
- Total of $150,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage up to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- $50,000 per person for fatality, $100,000 per accident
- $50,000 no-fault coverage
That means, as a rideshare driver, you are protected even when you do not have a passenger in your rideshare vehicle, provided you are logged into the app at the time of the accident. However, insurance has limits, and just because it might say $75,000 per injury, that does not mean the insurance company will pay. In fact, they will do everything in their power to reduce the amount of money they pay on a claim. That is where we step in and work to get you the maximum financial recovery possible.
Once a rideshare driver has accepted a trip in the app, until the trip is completed in the app, the coverage for the driver and passengers increases:
- $1.25 million in liability coverage per accident
- $1.25 million in supplemental uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident
- Contingent comprehensive and collision insurance
- $50,000 no-fault coverage
Whether you are a rideshare driver injured in an accident while logged into the app; a passenger injured while riding in a rideshare vehicle; or an individual injured in an accident with a rideshare vehicle, we can help.
You will want an experienced attorney on your side to ensure you do not get bullied by the insurance companies and pressured into settling for less than your accident is worth. Our team has decades of experience representing clients in traditional motor vehicle accidents, and we put that experience to use fighting for those injured in an accident involving Uber, Lyft, or any other rideshare service.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a rideshare accident, give me or any member of our personal injury practice group a call today. There is no cost to speak to an attorney and, if we take on your case, you will not pay anything until we secure a recovery for you.
Harry J. Forrest is an attorney with Gross Shuman PC. He practices in the areas of personal injury, civil litigation, business counseling and long-term disability claims and appeals. He has successfully handled cases in both federal and state courts and has tried cases to verdict involving claims for personal injury, property damage, contract disputes and constitutional civil rights violations. You can contact him at 716-854-4300 ext. 225 or hforrest@gross-shuman.com
