Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accidents

NY Rideshare Rules Complicate Car Accidents

Where Uber and Lyft are concerned, accidents, injuries, and liability are never black-and-white.

In just a few years Uber and Lyft have dramatically changed New York’s streets, as well as driver liability and benefits.

Many yellow cabs have been replaced by personal vehicles with Uber decals. Drivers formerly considered “gig” workers now have access to workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance. Meanwhile, there has been a nearly five percent increase in injury-causing car accidents associated with rideshares.

The change happened so quickly that rideshare rules and regulations are still being drafted, refined, and often, challenged.

When your rights are denied or accidents happen within a legal gray area, some firms shrink away from the challenge. Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano, LLP, is a leading New York law firm. We meet challenges head-on.

Our law firm has been a NYC institution for more than 90 years. We adapt to the ever-changing legal landscape and hone our time-tested strategies to get the best results for our clients. No case is too complex.

Whether you are an Uber driver seeking workers’ compensation or you were in an accident with a Lyft vehicle, you likely have a lot of questions about what happens next. An experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help.

Contact Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano LLP, for a free case consultation to learn more about how the law applies to your specific situation. In the meantime, here is some general information about rideshares in New York.

How big is the rideshare industry in New York?

The rideshare business is booming — especially in the city. In fact, Ubers and Lyfts now provide more rides in NYC on a daily basis than yellow cabs. According to recent data, daily rides in the city average out to

550,000 Uber rides
230,000 Taxis
180,000 Lyfts

A study recently found that about 14 percent of all vehicle miles travelled in the U.S. are in Ubers or Lyfts.

After a car accident, can Uber and Lyft drivers apply for workers’ compensation?

Yes. Workers’ compensation provides benefits for people who were injured on the job. However, for many drivers, proving you were on the clock at the time of injury can be tricky.

Just because you are eligible for workers’ comp does not mean that it will automatically be granted. You will most likely have to prove your injuries, whether you were logged in, or had accepted a fare at the time of the accident.

You may even have to fight back against accusations that your injuries were pre-existing or that you are lying about events.

You have the right to hire a lawyer for your workers’ compensation claim.

At Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano LLP, we take our clients seriously. You can trust our firm to handle your claim right. We will collect supporting evidence, respond to investigators, file documents, and defend you at hearings.

Do Uber and Lyft drivers really cause more accidents?

Due to the relative newness of rideshares, few studies have been conducted on how Uber and Lyft drivers contribute to roadway risks. However, a Columbia University-led study found that for each additional 100 rideshare trips originating within a taxi zone-hour there was an associated 4.6 percent increase in the odds of crashes causing injury.

The burden of the heightened risk fell mostly on other motorists and pedestrians.

What if I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver?

Whether you were injured by a negligent driver in a sedan, tractor trailer, or Lyft, you are almost certainly owed compensation for medical expenses, damaged property, and other losses.

Who will pay those bills for you is more complicated and depends heavily on whether the driver was logged in at the time of the accident.

In New York City, Uber and Lyft drivers are required to carry their own insurance policies while the rideshare companies provide them with supplemental insurance. In New York State, however, companies are required to carry primary group insurance coverage for drivers.

Aggressive Legal Representation When You Need It Most

The laws around rideshare drivers and accidents are evolving in New York City, New York State, and across the nation.

Keeping up with the changes and staying ahead of the opposition’s strategy has enabled Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano LLP, to get real results for injured people in New York for nearly 100 years.

We’ve been a part of the city for so long that, when we opened our first office, there were no radio communications between taxi cabs. Drivers had to use special phones stationed throughout the city to learn about their next fares.

If you or a loved one was injured in a rideshare accident or if you are an Uber or Lyft driver seeking workers’ compensation, Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano LLP, can help.

Our firm offers free case evaluations. Contact us anytime to schedule an appointment with an Uber accident lawyer. A member of our legal team will listen to the details of your injuries and help you understand how the law applies to you. We’ll advise you of your legal options, whether that’s negotiating a settlement or filing a lawsuit.

Our lawyers take cases on contingency. This means there is no down payment or hourly rate for you to pay. Our fee is calculated into your final settlement or verdict and covered by the insurance companies. We only get paid when we win.