New Jersey Lyft Accident Lawyer
Top-Rated Injury Lawyer Advocates for Lyft Accident Victims in Middlesex County, Mercer County, Union County, Ocean County and Burlington County, NJ
Ordering a Lyft ride takes just a few taps on your smartphone screen. With luck, your ride proceeds safely and smoothly. But we all know that accidents happen—and Lyft drivers are not immune.
When your bills are piling up after an accident, call a talented accident lawyer to pursue your right to the financial compensation you need. At Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC, I am experienced in handling cases from beginning through trial. Lyft accidents can be particularly complex because multiple insurance companies are often involved.
If you have been hurt in an accident, you might not expect the at-fault driver’s insurance company to fight your claim. You certainly don’t expect your own insurance company to put up a fight. Unfortunately, this is often the case in Lyft accident cases.
If you are looking for honest advice about how to proceed with a Lyft accident claim, call or contact the Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC today. I will evaluate your case for free, so you have nothing to lose by learning more about how I can help.
New Jersey Lyft Accident Insurance Law
New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state. That means most car accident victims use their own car insurance to get compensation for injuries sustained in an accident. Lyft accident claims are different because they involve Lyft’s commercial insurance policy. The commercial policy will be available if the driver was actively using the Lyft app at the time of the accident.
That policy provides coverage for:
- $50,000 in injury liability per person, $100,000 in injury liability per accident and $25,000 for property damage if the driver was logged into the app (looking for a passenger) but had yet to accept a passenger.
- $1.5 million in coverage (including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage) under NJSA 39:5H-10c if the Lyft driver has either accepted a passenger (and driving to pick the passenger up) or carrying a passenger.
When the app is turned off, the driver’s personal insurance will apply—and the case will proceed like any other car accident claim.
Leading Causes of Lyft Accidents
Lyft drivers are regular people like you and me. They use their personal vehicles to make a living or supplement their regular income. Unsurprisingly, the leading causes of Lyft accidents mirror the causes of typical car accidents—with some caveats. Lyft drivers actually rely upon their cell phones for work. That makes them much more likely to be distracted by a device. In other cases, the Lyft driver might have to search for their passenger or find a safe place to park—taking their focus away from the roads.
Some of the leading causes of New Jersey Lyft accidents are:
- Using a cell phone while driving
- Using a GPS system or navigation app while driving
- Fatigued driving
- Traffic violations
- Drug or alcohol use
- Aggressive driving and speeding
- General driver distraction
- Unfamiliar roads and neighborhoods
At the Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC, I fight to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. Lyft accident injuries can be serious and even fatal.
Many passengers riding in the backseat of a Lyft vehicle fail to wear their seatbelts. Failure to wear a seatbelt does not mean you lose your right to compensation. Your compensation award might be reduced if wearing a seatbelt could have made your injuries less serious. You still have the right to seek compensation—which is important, because injuries sustained by passengers without seatbelts are often much more serious.
Available Compensation in NJ Lyft Accident Cases
Even though New Jersey residents are legally required to carry car insurance (assuming they own a car), many choose the lowest cost option. To provide that low-cost option, insurance companies usually limit the insured’s compensation options after an accident. Those “limitation on lawsuit” or “verbal threshold” clauses do not apply in Lyft accident cases.
You may be entitled to full compensation through the Lyft commercial insurance policy regardless of the terms of your own policy—even if you don’t have car insurance.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a Lyft accident, I will fight to get the maximum available compensation for:
- Your past and future medical bills
- Rehabilitative care
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages while your recover
- Loss of your future earning potential if your injuries prevent you from returning to work
- Pain and suffering
- Damages for wrongful death in fatality cases
Accident victims are often intimidated by the legal process at first. The entire process is much less stressful with an experienced lawyer by your side. I will work behind the scenes with the insurance company to negotiate a fair settlement award. In the vast majority of accident cases, you will not have to go to trial. At the same time, we are always prepared and willing to take a case to trial.
I will walk you through the process and explain what might happen in your case—and I also keep the lines of communication open so that you know what is happening at all times. To learn more about how I can help, call today for a free case evaluation.
Contact an Experienced Edison, NJ Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation
At Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC, I am passionate about getting justice for Lyft accident victims who might be struggling with the insurance process or uncertain about their legal options. If you are curious about your right to compensation after a Lyft accident in New Jersey, call my office or fill out this online contact form to tell me what happened.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Lyft Accidents
New Jersey personal injury law gives you two years to file a lawsuit. After two years, you usually lose your right to sue. Despite this two-year window, it’s important to get started on your claim as soon as possible after the accident. Even if you’re still recovering, an experienced Lyft accident lawyer can begin the process to make sure you get the money you need.
Yes. Lyft insurance policies are required to provide $10,000 in primary medical benefits if a Lyft driver is hurt in an accident. If the driver has accepted a ride, they may be able to access the $1.5 million Lyft policy even without a passenger in the vehicle.
