Rideshare Accident Lawyer

The popularity of moving from point A to point B using rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft has grown. Many find them convenient and environmentally friendly, but accidents can still happen. The aftermath can cause emotional strain as you navigate keeping your finances afloat, recovering from injuries, and considering the next steps. As such, you need to hire experienced rideshare accident attorneys like Hasner and Hasner to help you get the compensation you deserve. With a proven track record of success, we’ll dedicate our time to getting the best outcome for your case.

Client Commitment

Without a legal claim, the rideshare/public transportation company may refuse to cover some damages. Sometimes, they might even offer you compensation that barely covers your needs.
Through legal representation, our Hasner and Hasner rideshare accident attorney will help build your case. We will collect evidence, interview witnesses, and determine the best legal strategy.

Steps To Take Following a Rideshare Accident

No one expects to experience a rideshare/public transportation accident. A rideshare or public transportation accident can be severe and long-lasting. Taking the proper steps following an accident determines whether you will get the appropriate compensation for your damages.
Here are the six steps to take to help protect your rights and enable you to receive deserving compensation.

Report to the Authorities

Whether you had a minor casualty or a significant collision, you should notify the police or ensure that the police arrive and make a report even if you are not the driver. Reporting the accident to the authorities and calling 911 will ensure you get medical attention. Once the police arrive, you should describe what happened to them. Remember to stick to the facts.

Document the Scene and Keep Records

After talking to the police, gather all the available information yourself. Physical evidence from the scene may include bloody or torn clothes, debris from rideshares, or skid marks from the tires. If you can, take video or photographs of the accident scene, showing the rideshare’s status and location.
Gather more information from other parties involved, such as contact details, vehicle insurance details, a license plate number, and a driver’s license. Talk to other witnesses at the scene and get their contact information if you want to talk to them later.

Notify Your Insurance Company

You should contact your insurance company and report the accident. Ask a family member or friend to do it for you if you can’t do it yourself. Our Hasner and Hasner accident attorney can assist you too.

Get Medical Treatment

Minor injuries could develop into significant problems over time. You should consider seeking medical attention immediately, even if you think you’re not seriously injured. Get a thorough examination and talk to your doctor about how you feel after the incident. Don’t leave anything out!

Report the Accident through the Rideshare App

Please don’t assume that rideshare drivers will report an accident to their employer. Often, rideshare companies drop their drivers from their platform after being involved in an accident. You should report the accident through the rideshare app, even if you ride in a Lyft or an Uber. If you are unsure about how to report the accident, give us a call and we can help.

Contact Hasner and Hasner

If you’ve sustained injuries, seeking the services of an experienced rideshare attorney is crucial. Doctors might advise their injured accident victims to stay away from work until they fully recover. This means that they will lose income for some time.

Rideshare accidents are often distressing as well as emotionally and financially overwhelming for victims and their loved ones. An experienced rideshare accident lawyer at Hasner and Hasner will ensure you get the benefits you’re entitled to. Contact the law firm of Hasner and Hasner, PA immediately if you’ve suffered injuries in a rideshare accident in New Jersey. We will work diligently to understand who is responsible and how to get compensation.

Types of Insurance

Your auto insurance policy has various coverages to help you make a suitable claim. You may have insurance coverage even if the driver of the rideshare does not. Rideshare insurance could change between “periods”.

• Period 1 – when the app is open and waiting on a passenger
• Period 2 – en route to pick up a passenger
• Period 3 – Driving a passenger to their destination

Here are four types of coverages in New Jersey Auto insurance policies:

Personal or Bodily Injury

Personal injury coverage covers bodily injury or related damages you may cause another individual. It compensates others for pain, suffering, and economic damages. The law firm of Hasner and Hasner, PA, offers a free consultation to help you choose the right coverage you may need.
In 2023, New Jersey increased the minimum coverage in a standard policy to a $25,000 coverage limit for each person and a $50,000 per accident. The typical policy maximum coverage limits per individual for bodily injury liability are $250,000 and $500,000, respectively.

Property Damage (Collision)

This covers a claim you make for damage caused to your vehicle in a public transportation accident, irrespective of the person at fault. You should expect to pay a $500 deductible for this coverage. With this coverage, your insurance company will reimburse you for vehicle damage, irrespective of the at-fault party.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorists

Uninsured motorist (UM) covers bodily injury or property damage if you’re involved in an accident caused by a motorist who doesn’t have bodily injury coverage. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage covers property damage or bodily injury if you’re involved in an accident caused by an insured driver whose coverage is less than your underinsured motorist coverage.

Dollar a Day

This is insurance coverage in New Jersey. It’s only available to specific low-income persons. With this coverage, drivers can insure their vehicles for $1 per day or $365 per year in insurance premiums. Dollar a day only pays for hospital bills if the person with this coverage is involved in a public transportation accident. This policy has no bodily injury coverage, UM/UIM, or PIP coverage. Rideshare vehicle are not eligible for this type of insurance.

Statute of Limitations

New Jersey’s statutes of limitations period generally requires that you file personal injury claims within two years of the date you suffered the injury. As such, if you don’t file a lawsuit within this period to preserve your claim, you may lose it forever. Minors have different statutes of limitations. They are to file a claim within two years of their 18th birthday, except for injuries sustained at birth.
A statute of limitations exists if you want your auto insurance to cover medical treatment related to an auto crash you were involved in. You should still contact an experienced lawyer, even if it’s been over two years since the accident occurred. For more questions on statutes of limitations, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney at Hasner and Hasner.

Laws

The Regulatory Act and Transportation Network Company Safety is a comprehensive law in New Jersey requiring Uber and Lyft to take specific safety precautions. Yet, accidents happen, and people sometimes get injured.
NJSA 39:4-97 – Careless driving – requires drivers to operate their vehicles with due caution and circumspection. A violation of this law is careless driving and carries with it points, which can lead to your insurance rates going up.
The NJSA 39:4-98 – Speeding – requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with other cars, pedestrians, or property with respect to driving with excessive speed.
NJ Statute 39:5H-10 – requires ridesharing drivers or companies to carry insurance policies. The amount of insurance claim depends on what the Uber or Lyft driver was doing when the accident happened. Uber and Lyft normally have very large policy limits to protect riders and drivers from even the most catastrophic of accidents and injuries.

Common Ways To Stay Safe

Preventing accidents is simple if you understand the steps to take. Here are common ways to stay safe while using rideshare.

• Double-check the driver’s identity: Once your driver arrives, confirm their name and check if they’re in the right car.
• Choose a safe location for pickup and drop off: You should stay inside your pickup location until the driver arrives. Also, pick a secure drop-off location.
• Wear your seatbelt: Irrespective of the car you’re using, you should always wear your seatbelt and practice proper car safety hygiene.
• Share your ride details with someone you trust: You can still share your ride information even if you use the rideshare alone. Ensure you send your ride information to a trusted person, including your destination, car model, driver’s name, and license plate number.

Common Injuries

Due to the widespread impact of an accident, many types of injuries can occur. Accident victims may experience any of the following:

• Whiplash: This is an injury that affects the neck. Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, or tinnitus.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): TBI could range from mild to severe brain damage that may lead to death or coma.
• Extremity injuries: During a rideshare accident, victims can get injuries on the legs, arms, feet, and hands. Examples of this type of injury include broken bones, lacerations, and sprains.

You should keep track of your diagnoses, symptoms, and medical treatment throughout the healing process. Also, inform your personal injury lawyer of any latest medical developments.

What To Expect

If you’re battling with the aftermath of a rideshare accident, you should get the compensation you deserve. The monetary compensation you can claim varies based on your situation. Thus, you should hire an experienced rideshare accident lawyer at Hasner and Hasner. We will investigate the accident to ensure the best possible outcome for you.
The average compensation includes:

Economic Damages

These damages include the monetary ways a rideshare accident affects a victim. This could consist of costs for the following:

• Property damage
• Medication or medical supplies
• Lost wages
• Follow-up care
• Surgery or treatment
• In-home assistance
• Emergency medical care

Noneconomic Damages

Noneconomic damages include the losses a victim sustains, excluding finances. A rideshare accident can cause a diverse range of noneconomic damages. These include:

• Emotional distress
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Psychological trauma
• Loss of consortium

Noneconomic damages might be complicated to prove since the evidence often involves testimony from a health professional or an injury record. In this case, you need help from an experienced personal injury lawyer at Hasner and Hasner.

Why Hasner & Hasner, PA

Rideshare accidents often result in emotional and financial stress for victims. At Hasner and Hasner, we have over 50 years of combined legal experience in all our cases. Our experienced rideshare accident lawyer understands what it feels like to sustain severe physical injuries following an accident. We’ll work with you like you are part of the family.
Contact us online for a free consultation or call our office at 856-282-0777 to discuss your options with the best rideshare accident lawyer. We are licensed to work on cases in PA, and you’ll be able to talk with the attorney handling your case directly. We will offer you the guidance and needed help to enable you to scale through these challenging times.