New Jersey aggressive representation Uber accident lawyers
Uber and Lyft have revolutionized local transportation and become an integral part of contemporary urban living. Within minutes of placing a ride request on a smartphone, you can be boarding a car traveling in the desired direction. The skilled personal injury litigation team at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP is committed to obtaining the highest possible compensation for our clients injured in an Uber or Lyft car accident. We are familiar with New Jersey law and are able to take on huge insurance companies who dispute culpability.
Injuries from Uber or Lyft car crashes
Whether you are a passenger or the occupant of another vehicle that was struck by an Uber or Lyft driver, you might receive significant injuries in a ridesharing accident, such as:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic amputation/ limb loss
- Internal organ damage
What to do when you are involved in a ridesharing accident
Here are some general guidelines for things that you can do if you should become involved in an accident as an Uber or Lyft passenger:
- Obtain the name and contact information of your driver. Take a screen photo of your vehicle after you have phoned 911 to report the accident to the police and sought medical assistance for your injuries or the injuries of anyone else involved in the collision. Then, obtain your driver’s name and contact information, as well as the names and contact information of the other drivers involved in the collision.
- Talk to witnesses. If there were any witnesses, get their names and contact information.
- Take photographs. Even better, film the scene, the damage to the vehicles, and how the vehicles came to rest after the collision before moving them out of the way. If you have noticeable injuries, you should photograph them.
- Call your insurance carrier and provide the accident’s date and time. If they require additional information, you can refer them to your Uber and Lyft accident attorney at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow. If a ridesharing company’s insurance adjuster contacts and asks a statement, direct them to your attorney and do not provide a recorded statement.
Visit your physician as soon as possible after the accident to follow up on any emergency care you may have received at the scene. Once the adrenaline rush from the shock of the accident has left a person’s system and the adrenaline rush from the accident has dissipated, unpleasant symptoms begin to manifest in the following days.
Uber and Lyft liability insurance coverage
It is simple to forget that the drivers of Uber and Lyft are not professional drivers. They are your neighbors using their personal vehicles to generate additional money. Lyft and Uber drivers and passengers are not protected from being involved in car accidents. When an accident occurs and consumers are hurt, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for the injuries. Dealing with multiple insurance companies can be a stressful experience. Claiming whatever compensation you are entitled to for your injuries can be a lengthy process due to insurance companies’ competition. You may trust that your New Jersey automobile accident attorney is battling on your behalf.
When an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver occurs, the affected parties quickly learn that multiple insurance companies are involved. The combination of personal insurance, Uber or Lyft driver insurance, and the ridesharing company’s insurance providers might make the settlement of a claim appear to be a formidable task.
Uber and Lyft drivers have three layers of liability protection. There are coverage conditions that mostly depend on the driver’s employment status at the time of the accident.
- Off-Duty. If the driver is involved in an automobile accident while off-duty or unavailable, his or her personal insurance carrier would be responsible for injuries and damages.
- In Service but Without Passengers If the driver was available but had not yet picked up a passenger, the ridesharing company’s contingent insurance would take effect. Both Uber and Lyft provide liability coverage for accidents that are the driver’s fault. This covers $1,000,000 in total bodily injury liability per accident, $25,000 in responsibility for property damage, and up to $50,000 per wounded person.
Injured accident victims must contact the ridesharing company’s insurance provider to investigate if supplemental insurance benefits are available to cover injuries or property damage not covered by their own insurance.
- Currently Serving Passengers When an accident occurs with an active passenger in the vehicle, both the driver and the passenger are covered by the liability insurance of Uber or Lyft. Both ridesharing companies offer one million dollars in liability coverage and an additional million dollars in underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage. These plans let the ridesharing firm to pay the majority of injuries and damages, even if the individual driver has minimal or no personal insurance.
Potential claims resistance from insurance companies
When filing a claim for compensation following an automobile accident, you probably do not anticipate encountering stiff opposition from the insurance company of the person at blame. In numerous instances, insurance companies attempt to shift liability to another insurer. Typically, insurance adjusters and investigators will attempt to assign culpability to the Uber or Lyft driver or put pressure on the victim’s personal insurance carrier to pay for damages and injuries. At Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, our professional personal injury attorneys will negotiate on your behalf to secure the compensation you seek, and if necessary, we will take your case to trial.
Determining liability after an Uber or Lyft crash
Often, victims of a car accident, especially one that results in significant injuries, are in a state of shock. The quick impact of the accident, the element of surprise, the fear and stress, and the agony that might accompany an accident can be overwhelming. Some individuals believe the ridesharing firm is inherently accountable for damages and injuries, while others do not consider to contact their own insurance provider.
Negotiations between insurance companies can be brutal, and individuals outside the insurance industry can become overwhelmed by the claims procedure. An expert New Jersey auto accident attorney can guide injured clients through the claims procedure and defend their legal rights. Our skilled attorneys ensure that our clients receive maximum compensation from each party responsible for the accident.