Staten Island Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers
Staten Island rideshare services like Uber and Lyft offer convenient transportation options throughout the borough, gaining immense popularity among both residents and visitors who need alternatives to traditional private and public transportation. However, with the increasing number of Uber and Lyft vehicles on Staten Island roads, rideshare-related accidents have unfortunately risen as well.
If you are involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, let our Staten Island Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Ellis Law protect your interests and help you secure fair compensation.
What Causes Uber and Lyft Accidents in Staten Island?
Staten Island presents unique driving challenges with its mix of residential streets, busy commercial areas, and highway access points; rideshare drivers who operate in this environment face several challenges that can contribute to accidents.
Distracted driving tops the list of accident causes. Rideshare drivers frequently interact with their phones to accept new rides, follow GPS directions, or communicate with passengers, but this divided attention significantly increases accident risks, especially on busy stretches of road like Hylan Boulevard or Richmond Avenue.
The pressure to complete rides quickly to maximize earnings has also led some drivers to exceed speed limits or make unsafe lane changes, which can endanger both riders and drivers in congested areas near the Staten Island Mall or St. George Ferry Terminal.
Many Uber and Lyft drivers work long hours or operate their services after completing their primary jobs—but fatigue can slow a driver’s reaction times and impair their judgment, which can create dangerous conditions during late-night hours.
Uber and Lyft require routine vehicle inspections, but some drivers neglect these checks. Unfortunately, mechanical failures like brake issues or tire problems have caused catastrophic but preventable accidents.
What Should You Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident on Staten Island?
After an Uber or Lyft accident on Staten Island, focus first on preserving your safety and health. Call 911 immediately to report the accident and request medical assistance—even if you feel fine initially, some injuries may not manifest symptoms right away. Plus, the medical staff on-site will create documentation of your condition and establish a link between the accident and your injuries.
As soon as you can safely do so, report the accident through the appropriate rideshare app. Both Uber and Lyft have built-in accident reporting features.
Document everything at the scene if your condition allows. Take photos of vehicle damage, the accident location, road conditions, and visible injuries. Collect contact information from the rideshare driver, other involved drivers, and any witnesses. Note environmental factors like weather conditions or traffic signals that might have contributed to the accident, preserve your rideshare receipt, and record your experiences on a notepad or voice memo.
Who Is Responsible for an Uber or Lyft Accident?
It is generally harder to determine liability in Staten Island rideshare accidents than it is in traditional auto accidents. Multiple parties may share responsibility, and insurance companies may get in the way.
Your rideshare driver may bear primary responsibility if their negligence caused the accident, especially if they engaged in distracted driving, speeding, or other traffic violations. Uber and Lyft provide their drivers with insurance coverage that kicks in for many of these situations, granting tiered coverage based on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. If the driver was actively transporting a passenger or traveling en route to pick one up, the rideshare company typically supplies a $1 million liability coverage policy.
However, in cases where the driver was either logged into the app and had yet to accept a ride or where they did not have the app open, the rideshare company’s coverage decreases or disappears entirely.
You may be able to hold third-party drivers responsible if their actions contributed to the accident, but you might need to file claims against multiple insurance policies to recover full compensation for your injuries and losses.
If road hazards or inadequate maintenance contributed to the accident, you could hold property owners or government entities liable—but especially in the case of government actors, you will need to conduct a thorough examination to build a solid case.
What Types of Compensation Are Available for Uber and Lyft Accidents?
Staten Island offers Uber or Lyft accident victims various forms of compensation to address both economic and non-economic damages.
Most victims need to pay for significant medical expenses after their incident, and court-awarded economic compensation can cover emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and future medical care related to your injuries.
Additionally, if your injuries prevent you from working, the court can help cover some of your lost income, forgone wages, and reduced earning capacity.
Though physical discomfort and limitations do not carry a tangible dollar sign, the court can award non-economic damages to help cover your pain and suffering, as well as your emotional and psychological distress. Many rideshare accident victims experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or fear of traveling in vehicles afterward, and these aftereffects deserve recognition in your compensation claim.
How Can the Staten Island Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers at Ellis Law Help?
Staten Island Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can make the aftermath of a rideshare accident and the entire claims process significantly easier, with a much higher chance of success.
A lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation, gathering evidence that might otherwise disappear, including video footage from nearby businesses, an analysis of the accident scene, police reports, and interviews with witnesses.
Experienced lawyers also know the complex insurance coverage structures involved in rideshare accidents. They can identify all applicable policies and pursue claims against multiple parties when necessary to maximize your recovery.
Additionally, insurance companies often employ teams of adjusters and attorneys to minimize claim payouts. Without legal representation, you will need to face these professionals alone, which can lead to unfair claim values or low-balled settlement offers that will not cover your necessary costs.
Secure Your Rights with the Staten Island Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers at Ellis Law
When you face the challenges of recovery after an Uber or Lyft accident, you need more than just general legal representation—you need dedicated advocates who understand the unique aspects of rideshare accident claims. The Staten Island Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Ellis Law will provide you with individualized service. Call 732-308-0200 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Freehold, New Jersey, we 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.
