Ridesharing accidents are no simple matter. The combination of a driver, passenger, ridesharing company, and third-party vehicle creates confusion about who to file a claim against and what laws apply when you have an Uber car accident.
While regulations governing this fairly new industry are ever-changing in New Jersey, a Paterson Uber accident lawyer at Morelli Law Firm can help. Our attorneys stay abreast of these developing laws so they can help you understand your rights and seek just compensation for your losses. If you are recovering from an Uber accident and want to sue the liable party for damages you incurred, you can review your legal options with us during a free consultation.
You May Be Able to Recover Various Compensatory Damages
In an Uber accident, several factors determine your recoverable damages. These factors include the applicable insurance coverage when the accident occurred, the liable party, and New Jersey’s rideshare laws. You may be able to receive special damages like the following:
- Property damage
- Income loss
- Reduced earning capacity
- Medical expenses, both present and future
- Home and car modifications to accommodate disabilities
You may also be able to recoup general damages for pain and suffering, such as:
- Back pain
- Disfigurement
- Nerve damage
- Emotional distress
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship
Our Paterson Uber Accident Attorneys Get Paid When You Do
Our firm works on a contingency basis. This means we get paid only when you do. This payment structure ensures that money is no obstacle for clients who need legal representation. Further, you can feel confident that our rideshare accident lawyers will vigorously fight for fair and full compensation since they receive a percentage of the financial judgment or settlement you receive.
Paterson Uber Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Our Firm Has a Track Record of Securing Compensation in Vehicle Accidents
We have the resources to pursue the compensation you deserve. Our firm has secured multimillion-dollar verdicts in several high-profile cases because we are passionate about bringing justice to victims who don’t have the resources to do it themselves, even if that means going to trial. Our legal prowess has produced proven results for clients, including:
- Multimillion-dollar settlement for actor/comedian Tracy Morgan after Walmart truck hit his limo
- $265 settlement with Amtrak for more than 200 victims of 2015 train derailment
- $12 million for the estate of an elderly man who died after being hit by a bus
- $7.4 million to a delivery man hit by a truck while on his bike
New Jersey Law Requires Uber to Provide Accident Insurance
Uber overhauled its insurance protection in 2014 because of the gap between the coverage it provided to drivers and the insurance drivers already had. Before the change, Uber did not cover its drivers while they were waiting for ride requests.
Many drivers did not have coverage the entire time they drove for Uber. Their personal car insurance became invalid when they were on Uber’s clock but not transporting riders. Backlash over the scant coverage prompted Uber to expand it. The current insurance plan operates in three stages:
- While the driver is off duty.
- While the driver is logged in to the Uber app and waiting for a ride request
- When the driver has accepted a trip or is transporting a passenger.
The amount of coverage a driver, passenger, or third party gets from Uber, if any, depends on the stage the accident occurs in and who’s at fault for an accident. Thus, your compensation from the accident may be affected by the insurance.
Under New Jersey’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act, rideshare companies, called transportation network companies (TNCs), must carry a certain amount of insurance in stages two and three.
Uber does Not Cover an Off-Duty Driver
If the driver is not logged in to the Uber app when the accident occurs, they are not operating as an Uber driver at that time. The offline driver is only covered by their personal or commercial car insurance.
The Driver Is Logged in and Awaiting a Ride Request
Once the driver logs in to the app, they are considered on duty. Whether the driver is sitting in a parking lot or riding down the street, he is covered by Uber’s policy, which provides third-party liability insurance if the driver’s personal car insurance doesn’t apply. Uber must provide:
- $50,000 for death, bodily injury per person
- $100,000 for death, bodily injury per incident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
New Jersey law requires personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. However, the law does not specify how much of either TNCs must give.
The Driver Is en Route to a Passenger or Carrying One
Accepting a ride request and transporting a passenger both receive the highest coverage under Uber’s insurance policy. New Jersey’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act requires:
- $1.5 million in death, bodily injury, and property damage
- $1.5 million for uninsured and underinsured motorists
- $10,000 medical payments per person per incident for the driver
The law doesn’t require any PIP under these circumstances. A driver can seek payment of PIP benefits or medical payments from their personal auto insurance, but there is no guarantee unless specific rideshare coverage is under the policy.
Determining the Liable Party in an Uber Accident Can Be Complex
Insurance law affecting ridesharing in Paterson can be complicated, but the Uber accident attorneys at our firm know how to navigate the terrain.
Uber and the Rideshare Driver Can Be Held Responsible
New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state. This means that in non-commercial car accidents, each driver must file a claim with their insurance company for losses up to their policy’s limits. However, when a TNC is involved and the driver is at-fault, rideshare passengers and third-party victims in Paterson can file a claim or lawsuit against the rideshare company and/or the driver.
The Other Driver May Be At Fault
If the other driver is responsible for the Uber car crash, they are liable for the damages the Uber driver and passenger suffered. The third-party driver’s insurance will cover the losses up to their policy’s limits. If the driver is uninsured or their policy doesn’t offer enough coverage, Uber’s uninsured/underinsured motorist protection will kick in for any covered losses.
Regardless of whether you were a rideshare driver, passenger, or third-party driver hurt in an Uber accident in Paterson, our injury lawyers will investigate the cause of your accident and determine who is liable for it.
You Have Two Years to File an Injury Lawsuit in New Jersey
Personal injury suits in New Jersey have a two-year filing deadline. Our Uber accident legal team can draft key documents, file the appropriate motions, and submit your case to the court before time runs out. Waiting too late risks jeopardizing your chance to collect the financial compensation you deserve.
Morelli Law Firm Is Here to Help Uber Accident Victims in Paterson
If you or a loved one was recently injured in a rideshare car accident in the Paterson, New Jersey, area, call Morelli Law Firm at (212) 751-9800 today for a free case review.
Our Paterson Uber accident lawyers can review your accident and explain how our firm may be able to represent you.