Uber Accident Lawyer — NYC & Queens
Involved in an Uber Accident in New York City? Here's What You Need to Know
New Yorkers rely on Uber ridesharing which is an alternative to yellow taxi cabs. Uber vehicles are typically driver-owned and maintained vehicles as opposed to commercial taxi-owned yellow cabs. Uber ridesharing provides a fast, convenient and discounted way of getting around town. Here is what you need to know in case you or a loved one has been injured in a New York City Uber accident.
Given the increase in potential dangers that car accidents pose, understanding what you are entitled to as an injured Uber passenger is vital. In order to secure your rights and maximize your settlement, contact the New York City Uber Accident Lawyers at Beck Law, P.C. today at (516) 388-7785.
Which Insurance Policy Applies — and Why It Matters
The single most important question in any Uber accident case is: what was the driver doing in the app at the moment of the crash? There are three different insurance scenarios depending on the answer.
Situation | What the Driver Was Doing | Insurance That Applies |
App Off | Driving personally, no ride in progress | Driver’s personal auto insurance only — Uber provides nothing |
Period 1 | App on, logged in, waiting for a ride request | Uber provides $50K per person / $100K per incident liability + $25K property |
Periods 2 & 3 | Ride accepted and en route, or passenger is in the vehicle | Uber’s full $1 million commercial liability policy is active |
We subpoena Uber’s trip records to establish exactly which period the driver was in. Uber and their insurers sometimes try to blur this line. We don’t let them.
What Am I Entitled To After An Uber Car Accident?
Injured passengers in Uber car accidents often ask a common question: Does Uber Technologies Company or the driver take responsibility for their injuries? In 2014, Uber’s attorney refused to take responsibility for a fatal car accident, arguing that the Uber driver is considered an independent contractor, therefore Uber was not responsible for the accident. This clearly being a liability issue across all rideshare giants, New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission proposed new rules to regulate rideshare companies.
Uber drivers are licensees of the company – not employees of the company. Uber updated their page to outline their one million dollar insurance policy, a policy to insure Uber drivers and their passengers. There are three components to this insurance policy and the coverage is determined on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident.
- If the driver was not available and using their vehicle for their own purpose at the time of the accident without any passengers in the vehicle, they will be covered under their own vehicle insurance policy.
- If the driver was available and not transporting any passengers at the time of the accident, the insurance will be divided in two ways. The driver’s own personal motor vehicle insurance will cover majority of the damages, however Uber has extends their policy for any partial damages. Uber will provide additional contingency liability coverage up to $50,000 per injury to a maximum of $100,000; and up to $25,000 in property damages. This insurance coverage can be considered if the driver’s own insurance coverage did not provide adequate coverage for your injuries and damages.
- If the driver is available and transporting passenger(s) at the time of the accident, both the driver and passenger(s) will be covered under Uber’s one million dollar liability policy. If the driver was uninsured or underinsured, Uber will provide an additional one million dollars in coverage to cover the damages.
Although Uber has implemented their insurance policy to protect injured Uber drivers and passengers, recovering top settlement value requires an experienced New York City car accident attorney who will represent you for your damages to receive top settlement value. Insurance companies and rideshare giants like Uber will fight most claims tooth and nail to avoid paying out a favorable settlement. Uber being a rideshare giant, are shielded with a well-equipped legal team who avoid paying out on injury claims. After an Uber crash, your job is to focus on recovering from your injuries and not to deal with the legalities and the complexities that come with an injury claim. In order to ensure that you do not jeopardize your case, it’s important that you have an experienced NYC Uber accident lawyer who can provide you with experienced legal guidance throughout the entirety of the case, simplifying your life and having your rights represented.
File a NYC Uber Lawsuit
Call Beck Law, P.C. at (516) 388-7785 to determine the compensation you are entitled to.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Queens Car Accident Lawyer?
Car accidents are undoubtedly a stressful experience and hiring a knowledgeable attorney is vital to achieve maximum compensation for your case. Our car accident lawyers offer a free case review to inform and educate you about your claim. Our experienced attorneys operate on a contingency which means that you do not pay us unless we recover for your case. Once our car accident attorneys have recovered the maximum compensation for your claim, our legal fee is 1/3 of the settlement.
What Should I Do After A Car Accident?
Being involved in a car accident is a shocking experience and missing an important step following an accident is easy to make. Below is a list of important actions that you should take in order to help your case:
- Do NOT Leave the Scene: Stay at the location of the accident and exchange information with the other driver. Turn your hazards signals on and make sure that your vehicle is in a safe location to be stopped. New York law requires drivers to stop and exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) involved in the car accident. The action of leaving the scene of an accident may hold you liable for penalties under VAT Section 600.
- Take Photographs: A photo is worth a thousand words. Photos are an effective tool during negotiations with insurance adjusters. Photographs depict the extent of the damage your vehicle sustained and can also help determine how much compensation you will receive. Be sure to take photographs of the damaged vehicle involved in the accident and your injuries.
- Call The Police: Contacting 911 is critical following a car accident. Having the police at the scene of the accident will secure your version of the events that led up to the accident in the form of a police accident report. A police accident report identifies all of the parties involved in the accident, any tickets or violations that were received and insurance codes which will help determine fault. The police accident report will be used in evaluating your claim and negotiating with the insurance.
- Obtain Eye Witness Information: Car accidents happen fast and recalling the events that led to the accident may be hard to recollect. This is where eyewitnesses can potentially help you in your claim. Eye witnesses can be used during negotiations and trial, therefore obtaining their information can be vital to your claim.
- Seek Medical Attention: Seeking medical attention following a car accident is highly recommended to rule out any serious injuries. It is also very important to have your complaints documented by medical personnel as this will be used to support your claim. It is important that you use No-Fault insurance for all of your medical appointments relating to the car accident (more on that below).
- Hire a New York Car Accident Attorney: Car accidents are unexpected and leave you with questions. The experienced attorneys at Beck Law, P.C., will handle the legal process while you take care of your health. Insurance companies will do whatever it takes to try and minimize their fault in the accident, in turn effecting your settlement. Our Queens accident lawyers have the knowledge, expertise and resources to fight out every penny for your case. Contact our office today at (516) 388-7785.
Common Causes for NYC Uber Accidents
- Driver inattention or distraction (i.e. distracted driving)
- Driving while intoxicated
- Following too closely (i.e. tailgating)
- Failing to yield right-of-way
- Speeding
- Unsafe or improper passing, lane change, or lane usage
Who Has a Claim After an Uber Accident?
- Passengers in the vehicle during an active trip — this is where the $1M policy is most clearly available
- Pedestrians hit by an Uber driver, whether the trip was active or not
- Other drivers whose vehicles were struck by an Uber vehicle
- Cyclists and delivery workers hit by Uber cars
- Uber drivers who were injured by another negligent motorist — they can pursue that driver's insurance
FAQ
Questions After an Uber Accident
I was in an Uber when we got hit. What are my options?
As a passenger in an active Uber trip, you have access to Uber’s $1 million liability policy if the Uber driver caused the crash. If another driver caused it, we go after that driver’s insurance — and if they’re underinsured, Uber’s UM coverage may fill the gap. Either way, you have options.
Should I report the crash through the Uber app?
Report it through the app to create a record, but do not give a detailed recorded statement to Uber’s insurance adjuster without legal counsel. Those early statements often get used to minimize your claim later.
Uber's insurance company called me and made an offer. Can I just take it?
Don’t. Not without talking to us first. Their early offer is calibrated to close your claim before you know how serious your injuries are. Once you sign, it’s over. Let us look at the offer and tell you honestly whether it reflects the actual value of your case.
What if the Uber driver fled the scene?
Hit-and-run situations are handled through uninsured motorist coverage — either through Uber’s UM policy or your own auto policy if you have one. Call us. There’s almost always a path to recovery even when the driver disappears.
