Why Choose Our New York Rideshare Accident Attorneys
With over 50 years of experience handling complex motor vehicle accident claims, our attorneys offer award-winning legal services to help those injured in Uber or Lyft crashes. Here’s why injured New Yorkers continue to trust our rideshare accident lawyers with their legal claims:
- Exceptional client service: We take a deeply human-centered, protective approach, standing by your side to lighten the mental load.
- Extensive resources: Our team works with an expansive network of medical consultants, investigators, and accident reconstructionists to help build your case.
- Trial-readiness: We push cases forward and file lawsuits on as many cases as appropriate to create leverage and pursue full compensation.
- Relentless New York City grit: The Sanders Law Firm is where strength meets strategy. We never back down and will fight for the justice you deserve.
- Accessibility and diversity: Our multilingual staff is available 24/7 to assist after an accident.
I had a great experience with the Sanders Law firm.
The firm did amazing job. I greatly thankful for the Brooklyn office. They are truly amazing people you can trust. Special thanks for Shahzoda who really helped me through this process. Thank you!
Isroil S.
Understanding How Rideshare Accidents Differ From Other Car Accidents
Unlike standard car crash cases, resolving a rideshare accident claim involves Uber or Lyft corporate insurance policies, independent contractor classifications, and proving the driver’s rideshare app status at the moment of impact. Depending on this status, different insurance coverages may apply, including:
- App off: The driver’s personal auto insurance may carry the sole financial responsibility.
- App on and waiting for a ride: Uber and Lyft provide limited contingent liability coverage, including $75,000 per person or $150,000 per accident for injuries and $25,000 in property damage.
- Active ride: Corporate insurance policies activate up to $1.25 million in liability coverage when the Uber or Lyft driver has accepted a request or is actively transporting a passenger.
There may also be multiple liable parties, including the driver, corporate insurers, and traditional third-party motorists. An Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in New York can help by identifying all available policies and pursuing the full compensation you’re entitled to.
How New York Laws Can Affect Your Uber or Lyft Accident Claim
New York’s strict insurance and personal injury laws dictate how rideshare accident victims recover compensation. Seeking damages after an Uber or Lyft crash means navigating complex rules regarding who pays for medical bills and who can be sued for additional losses.
Recent state tort reforms have fundamentally shifted how fault, injury severity, and damage caps limit or block financial recovery for injured passengers and drivers. Here’s how:
Comparative Fault and Recovering Compensation
New York enforces a modified comparative negligence rule for motor vehicle accidents, allowing injured victims to recover damages even if they share responsibility. However, the amount awarded is proportionately reduced by the percentage of shared fault. This rule also bars an injured person from recovering any compensation if they are found more than 50% at fault for the crash.
For example, a vehicle is hit by a speeding Uber driver. While the Uber driver was mostly at fault, a jury finds the other driver to be 20% at fault due to an unsafe lane change. In this case, the final amount awarded is reduced by 20%.
Limits on Non-Economic Damages
New York places a strict $100,000 statutory cap on non-economic damages for specific at-fault drivers. This limitation applies directly to pain and suffering awards if the injured driver was engaged in specific unlawful behaviors at the time of the collision.
The $100,000 maximum cap generally applies if the injured driver was:
- Uninsured at the time of the crash
- Impaired by drugs or alcohol and subsequently convicted of the offense
- Committing a felony while operating the vehicle
- Fleeing a felony when the accident occurred
Understanding New York’s Serious Injury Threshold
New York is a no-fault state, which means auto accident victims turn to their own insurance to cover immediate medical bills and lost income, regardless of who was at fault. To step outside of the no-fault insurance system and sue for additional damages, a victim must meet New York’s serious injury threshold.
Qualifying injuries that may meet the serious injury threshold include:
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- A bone fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of the use of a body function or system
- Death
Recent legislative changes eliminated the 90/180-day temporary disability category, and all remaining claims must now be proven solely by objective medical evidence. This change hits hardest on non-permanent injuries, which previously relied heavily on the 90/180-day standard.
We Have Your Back
Founded in 1967, The Sanders Law Firm has grown into a large, thriving organization of attorneys, paralegals, medical consultants, and support staff – all committed to providing the highest level of legal representation to injured New Yorkers.
Compensation Available After a New York Rideshare Accident
After a rideshare crash, victims can typically pursue two distinct categories of damages to cover their financial losses and personal suffering. Because individual insurance policies have strict payout limits, identifying every available policy, including the rideshare company’s corporate coverage and third-party driver insurance, is critical to securing full compensation.
Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the financial losses caused by the crash, such as:
- Medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Loss wages
- Loss of future earnings capacity
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are the intangible or subjective ways your life has been impacted by your injuries. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent scarring
How Long Do You Have to File a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit in New York?
While there are some exceptions, you generally have three years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York. Missing this strict deadline could mean forfeiting your right to recover any compensation. Also, you risk losing crucial evidence that could support your claim.
Speak with our New York Uber and Lyft accident lawyers to see what deadline applies to your case and how we can help you take legal action before time runs out.
Who Is Liable for an Uber or Lyft Accident in New York?
Liability for a New York rideshare crash depends on which party’s negligence caused the collision. Multiple parties can share financial fault, including:
- The rideshare driver
- Reckless third-party motorists
- Vehicle owners under New York’s vicarious liability laws
- Automotive manufacturers, if a mechanical failure occurred
The rideshare driver’s app status at the time of the crash will determine which insurance policies and coverage limits may apply. Our New York car accident attorneys can identify the at-fault party and seek full compensation for everything you’ve been through.
Evidence That Can Strengthen a Rideshare Accident Claim
Building a successful injury claim involves securing objective proof to establish fault, rideshare app status, and the extent of your losses. Critical evidence that may strengthen your claim includes:
- Police reports: Officers document the initial scene, record official statements, and assign preliminary fault or traffic citations.
- App records and GPS data: Digital logs from Uber or Lyft confirm the exact phase of the trip and vehicle speeds at the time of impact.
- Witness statements: Neutral accounts from bystanders or other motorists describe how the crash occurred.
- Images and videos: Visual proof of vehicle damage, road hazards, skid marks, and dashcam footage preserve the immediate reality of the scene.
- Medical records: Diagnostic files and doctor notes can link your physical injuries to the collision.
- Expert testimony: Accident reconstructionists and medical specialists provide formal reports to verify complex liability details and long-term prognosis.
How The Sanders Law Firm Builds Strong Rideshare Accident Cases
With a large team of attorneys and legal professionals, we’re able to build strong legal claims with these steps:
- In-depth investigation: Our attorneys immediately secure police files, black box data, and Uber or Lyft electronic logs to verify the driver’s exact app status.
- Collaboration with expert witnesses: We partner with accident reconstructionists and medical professionals to establish liability and the extent of your injuries.
- Aggressive negotiations: We have the skills and financial resources to stand up to powerful insurance companies and push back against lowball settlement offers.
- Trial preparation: Our team builds every case for trial and is fully prepared to litigate if insurers refuse to pay fairly.
Contact a New York Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
Your city. Your case. Our fight. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Lyft or Uber accident in New York City, our team can fight for the full compensation you need to rebuild your life and protect your financial future. We’ve recovered billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, and are ready to demand justice for you and your family.
Contact us today for a free consultation. There is no upfront cost to hire our team, and you only pay us if we win your case.