Valley Stream Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Many New Yorkers do not own cars and rely on public transportation and ridesharing services to get around Long Island or go into the City. Since ridesharing services began operating in Valley Stream and Nassau County following passage of legislation permitting ridesharing services throughout New York State, accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers have become more common.
Whether a crash involves an Uber driver or a Lyft driver, trying to pursue an insurance claim against a big ridesharing company after a Valley Stream ridesharing accident can be challenging. The insurance companies representing Uber and Lyft will try to minimize their liability after any collision and pay out the least amount possible to settle an accident claim. They may deny liability altogether. You will need the assistance of a Valley Stream Uber accident lawyer or Valley Stream Lyft accident lawyer to have the best chance of receiving full compensation.
If you have been injured in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, the attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP can help you seek compensation for your medical bills and other expenses related to the accident. Our experienced attorneys can identify all the insurance coverage that may be available to compensate you. That process can be complicated in the case of Uber and Lyft drivers, who are independent contractors and also are covered by the ridesharing company’s insurance at certain times.
Let a Valley Stream ridesharing accident lawyer at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP review your accident and discuss your legal options. Call (866) 878-6774 today or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free case evaluation.
What Are Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Services?
Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft offer consumers a for-hire transportation option that is an alternative to hailing a taxi or riding a bus. Riders use an app on a cell phone to summon a ride with an Uber or Lyft driver.
Uber and Lyft are the two of the largest ridesharing companies that match passengers and drivers. Ridesharing is somewhat similar to a taxi service. But ridesharing drivers use their own vehicles to respond to calls and transport passengers. Ridesharing services are typically cheaper than taxis.
While Uber and Lyft say they check the driving records and do background checks on drivers before hiring them, some ridesharing drivers drive recklessly and cause preventable accidents that lead to serious injuries. If you have been injured in a collision involving a ridesharing vehicle, you need the help of a Valley Stream Lyft accident lawyer to deal with the ridesharing company on your behalf.
The attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies to resolve accident claims.
Lyft and Uber Insurance for Car Accidents
Any compensation you receive after an Uber or Lyft accident will most likely come from an insurance policy, whether it’s your own insurance or the ridesharing driver’s. Both Uber and Lyft have liability insurance that covers their drivers and passengers in the event of an accident.
If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle and you were injured in a crash, you may be entitled to compensation. You may file a claim against the Uber driver’s auto liability injury. You also may be entitled to bring a claim against the insurance provided by Uber to cover Uber drivers while they are driving for Uber. Which insurance policy applies depends on whether the ridesharing driver was on the clock when the crash occurred and what the driver was doing.
- If the Uber driver or Lyft driver is on the way to pick up a passenger or is transporting a passenger to their destination: Both ridesharing services provide $1.25 million in liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage in ridesharing accidents.
Uber and Lyft have $50,000 in personal injury protection coverage per injured person that covers the ridesharing driver and passengers as well as bicyclists or pedestrians hit by an insured ridesharing vehicle.
If an uninsured driver causes an accident with an Uber vehicle, Uber and Lyft have $1.25 million in uninsured underinsured coverage that covers occupants of the ride-sharing vehicle. - If the Uber/Lyft app was switched off: The ridesharing company will take the position that the driver was not driving for the ridesharing company when the accident occurred. Therefore, the driver’s own personal injury protection no fault insurance may apply.
If another motorist other than the ridesharing driver caused the Valley Stream car accident, the at-fault motorist insurance may be available to provide compensation.
- If the Uber/Lyft app was activated and the driver was waiting to be sent to pick up passengers: Uber and Lyft insurance policies provide coverage during this period. In New York, the ridesharing companies must have $75,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $150,000 total bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage.
The companies also provide insurance coverage for ridesharing accidents involving uninsured drivers and hit-and-run drivers. The coverage includes $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, $50,000 for the death of a person, and a total of $100,000 for death per accident.
The fact that ridesharing companies have insurance does not mean that they will voluntarily offer a sizable settlement to resolve an Uber accident claim or Lyft accident claim. You will need to have a knowledgeable and aggressive injury lawyer representing you if you wish to receive a settlement reflecting the extent of your injuries.
You may be injured while a passenger in an Uber vehicle. Alternatively, you may be driving or riding in another vehicle that is struck by a ridesharing vehicle.
How an Uber/Lyft Accident Attorney Can Help
Initially, we can help you determine whether you have a valid ridesharing injury claim against Uber or Lyft. If we believe that you have a legitimate claim, we will offer to represent you on a contingency fee basis so you won’t have any upfront costs.
A Valley Stream Uber accident lawyer will investigate the ridesharing accident, determine who was at fault and determine the status of the ridesharing driver at the time of the crash. Our experienced Valley Stream lawyers at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP will identify whether the driver had the ridesharing app activated and whether you were listed on the driver’s log as a passenger.
That will help us identify which insurance policies we may file a claim against on your behalf. Once we have gathered evidence to support your injury claim, we will submit a demand letter to the appropriate insurance company outlining your injuries and the supporting evidence. Usually, the initial demand letter prompts some follow-up negotiations.
Lyft and Uber Settlements, Verdicts and Compensation
Our seasoned Valley Stream injury attorneys will negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement without going to court, if possible. A negotiated settlement would provide you with the money you need more quickly. If the ridesharing company or its insurer refuses to agree to a fair settlement, we will be ready to file an Uber accident lawsuit or Lyft injury lawsuit and present your case to a Nassau County jury.
A settlement may still be possible even after an Uber accident lawsuit is filed. The settlement negotiations may continue up until a jury delivers a verdict. If we receive a settlement offer, we will communicate it to you and discuss whether it is a fair offer in our opinion.
Contact a Valley Stream Uber Accident Lawyer
If you select the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP you can be confident that you will have skilled injury attorneys on your side. With more than 100 years of combined experience, our personal injury attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for our clients through negotiated settlements and verdicts at trial.
When we agree to take your case, you will work directly with our law partners Richard Jaffe and Stephen Cohen. Our client-oriented approach is to return all calls within 24 hours. All clients receive attorney Richard Jaffe’s cell phone number so that you have 24/7 accessibility to the attorneys who are handling your case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an Uber car crash or Lyft car accident in Valley Stream, contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Valley Stream ridesharing accident attorney. We can evaluate the details of your accident and discuss your legal rights and options for pursuing compensation for your injuries. We will explain how our law firm can help you maximize your financial recovery. Call us at (866) 878-6774 or fill out the contact form on our website.
