Neptune Uber and Lyft Car Accident Lawyers
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the way people travel, and both visitors and residents in Neptune, New Jersey, have come to rely on them for their convenience and flexibility. However, their convenience does not prevent them from getting into accidents, nor from the resulting injuries and legal complexity that follows. If you get into an Uber or Lyft car accident while riding in or sharing the road with a rideshare service in Neptune, you may have the right to claim compensation for your injuries, but you may also face legal difficulty doing so. In these instances, trust the personal injury lawyers at Ellis Law to advocate on your behalf, protect your interests, and fight for your rights.
What Makes Rideshare Accidents Different?
Uber and Lyft drivers operate under commercial policies while the app is open. If the driver is carrying a passenger or is en route to pick one up, the two major rideshare companies provide at least $1,500,000 in personal liability coverage in New Jersey.
Rideshare companies classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than full-time employees, which means the companies can avoid direct liability. To make matters more complicated, rideshare accidents frequently involve multi-vehicle collisions, which adds complexity to insurance claims and legal proceedings.
Who Can Be Held Liable in an Uber or Lyft Accident?
If you believe that the rideshare driver acted negligently, they may bear responsibility for the accident. In other cases, another driver on the road may have caused the accident, which may shift liability to that individual—unfortunately, because New Jersey is a “no-fault state,” no matter who bears the responsibility for your accident, you will usually need to file a claim with your own insurance provider to cover your costs. However, if your insurance policy does not sufficiently cover your injuries, you may have legal options.
New Jersey drivers are required by law to purchase car insurance before registering and driving their vehicles. They may choose a “basic” or “standard” policy while choosing their coverage. A “basic” insurance policy provides Personal Injury Protection (PIP), liability insurance, and uninsured motorist insurance; a “standard” insurance policy includes everything the basic version does, plus bodily injury liability insurance and—importantly—a right to sue.
If you choose the standard version and the right to sue, you can choose either a “limited” or “unlimited” right. The “limited” right only allows you to sue a driver in an accident for significant bodily injury; the “unlimited” right allows you to bring a lawsuit regardless of the damage you suffered. Therefore, if you chose a standard policy with an unlimited right to sue, you could opt for a personal injury lawsuit to cover your accident-related costs.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
New Jersey courts generally award two types of damages to plaintiffs in a successful lawsuit: “economic” damages help cover costs with tangible dollar values, like lost wages, future medical care, rehabilitation, and lasting diminished earning capacity. The second type, “non-economic” damages, helps cover costs without a tangible dollar amount, such as pain, suffering, and a degraded quality of life.
To maximize your potential payout or award from the court, you need evidence to substantiate your claim and prove the damages you suffered. Immediately after your crash, seek medical attention for even the smallest of injuries—sometimes, car accident victims suffer from internal damage that manifests more severe symptoms down the road.
Notify the police, obtain a copy of the accident report, take photographs of the scene if it is safe, and try to avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before consulting with a lawyer.
Keep detailed records of your medical treatments, lost wages, and other related expenses. Also, consider keeping a diary of your day-to-day life in the weeks and months following your accident to prove to the judge and jury that you suffered substantial harm.
A competent personal injury lawyer will help you build your case by gathering eyewitness accounts, video footage, police records, and medical records—anything that helps substantiate your side of the story and establish the other party’s lack of due diligence.
Your lawyer may also assist you in hiring an accident reconstruction expert to analyze the circumstances of the crash, determine its likely cause, and identify contributing factors. They also might look into the other driver’s background and driving history to establish patterns of negligence or unsafe behavior as well.
Why Should You Hire a Neptune Uber and Lyft Car Accident Lawyer?
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts or downplay your suffering to reduce their financial expenses; you may also need help sifting through your insurance policy. A knowledgeable Neptune Uber and Lyft car accident lawyer will handle insurance negotiations for you, gather evidence, and file claims on your behalf.
A lawyer will also identify all possible methods of getting you the compensation that you deserve after your collision, provide you with peace of mind during a stressful time, and allow you to focus on what is really important: Your recovery.
Get Help After Your Rideshare Accident with the Neptune Uber and Lyft Car Accident Lawyers at Ellis Law
If you want a seasoned personal injury lawyer’s legal security and guidance, contact the Neptune Uber and Lyft car accident lawyers at Ellis Law. We have years of experience helping rideshare accident clients navigate the legal system after their collision and find all possible avenues of compensation for their accident. Call our Freehold, New Jersey, office location at 732-308-0200 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. We proudly serve clients in Asbury Park, East Brunswick, Toms River, Middletown, Jersey City, Long Branch, Neptune, Hudson County, Union County, Essex County, Monmouth County, Marlboro, and Ocean County, as well as Brooklyn and New York City.
