New Jersey Lyft Accident Attorney

Lyft is a popular rideshare app with millions of users across the United States, including New Jersey. While Lyft posits itself as a safe transportation choice, serious accidents involving their drivers occur every year.

If you were injured in a Lyft accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation. In these situations, trust the attorneys at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC to fight for your right to recovery. We understand the complexities of Lyft accident claims and will advocate aggressively to secure the settlement that you deserve.

Why Choose Our New Jersey Lyft Accident Lawyers

After an injury, the lawyer that you choose to represent you can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case – especially in those involving Lyft vehicles. Rideshare cases are extremely complex and involve large corporate entities.  To be successful, you need to build a strong case, have access to experts and significant financial resources, and have a firm understanding of both the law and the processes involved.   At Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC, our New Jersey rideshare attorneys have significant experience handling all manner of motor vehicle collision cases.

• Since 1965, our firm has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients. We are dedicated to securing the highest possible award in your case.
• Our attorneys have won multiple awards and distinctions recognizing our track record of success, including being named as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in New Jersey for 2021.
• We take all cases on a contingency fee basis for maximum affordability. If we do not recover compensation for you, you will not be charged any legal fees.

New Jersey Lyft Accident Resources

To immediately access the resources at any point on this page, click the corresponding links below.

Lyft’s Insurance Policy for Accidents
How to Recover Compensation After a Lyft Accident
What Causes Lyft Accidents?
Who Is Liable for a Lyft Accident in New Jersey?
What is New Jersey’s No-Fault Rule?
Types of Recoverable Compensation
Common Injuries in Lyft Accidents
How Common are Accidents involving Lyft Drivers?
Why You Need a Lyft Accident Lawyer in New Jersey
Speak to a Lawyer Today

Lyft’s Insurance Policy for Accidents

Lyft provides insurance coverage for their drivers, which pays for injuries in any accidents that they cause. However, the degree of coverage will depend on the status of the trip at the time of the collision.

• If the driver is not logged into the Lyft app, his or her own personal auto insurance policy will need to pay for any damages that occur.
• If the driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride, Lyft will provide third-party liability coverage as long as the driver’s personal policy does not apply. This coverage amounts to $50,000 per person for bodily injury; $100,000 per accident for bodily injury; and $25,000 per accident for property damage.
• If the driver is logged into the app and on the way to pick up a passenger or has a passenger in the vehicle, liability coverage will increase to $1 million. Lyft also provides uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and comprehensive collision coverage up to a certain amount.

How to Recover Compensation After a Lyft Accident

New Jersey is a no-fault accident state, meaning that drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to pay for their own injuries following a collision.  If you are involved in a collision with a Lyft driver, you may be eligible for a third-party claim depending upon the circumstances.  If the driver involved was providing a ride (either accepted one in the app and is on the way to pick them up or had a rider in the vehicle already), you can file a claim with their insurance company from the first dollar.  If they driver was logged into the app or off duty, you may have to begin by filing a PIP claim with your own insurance.

At Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC, we understand the complexities of Lyft accident claims. We can assess your situation and identify your optimal path to compensation. Then, we’ll guide you through each stage of litigation so that you can recover the settlement that you deserve.

What Causes Lyft Accidents?

Lyft accidents often arise for the same reasons as standard car accidents in New Jersey. Although Lyft drivers are responsible for the lives of passengers, they are just as prone to mistakes and lapses in judgment behind the wheel as other drivers. In addition, ridesharing companies are notorious for shortcomings in how they hire and train their drivers.

The most common causes of Lyft accidents in New Jersey are:

Lyft driver error

Lyft drivers are required to use the Lyft app while they are driving to search for riders and accept rides. This leads to a high frequency of driver distraction in the ridesharing industry. Other common driver mistakes are drowsy driving, drunk driving, speeding, failing to yield, making unsafe lane changes and reckless driving.

Third-party driver error

Other drivers that share the road with Lyft vehicles can make driver mistakes as well – such as acts of recklessness and carelessness – and crash into the Lyft while it is transporting passengers.

Lyft company negligence

Some Lyft accidents trace back to preventable mistakes made by the company. In personal injury law, negligence is any example of carelessness that causes injuries or harm to other people. Common examples of negligence by Lyft are failing to conduct background checks on its drivers, failing to fire dangerous drivers and failing to inspect the vehicles used.

Identifying the cause of your Lyft accident is an important step in pursuing financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses. The cause of the collision may point to the defendant, or the party you are attempting to hold liable (financially responsible) for your accident.

Who Is Liable for a Lyft Accident in New Jersey?

One of the many reasons it is important to hire a Lyft accident lawyer to represent you during a Jersey City injury claim is the complex nature of the insurance system. Your lawyer can help you navigate the insurance and personal injury laws that are related to ridesharing accidents, including rules imposed by the State of New Jersey. This includes the state’s “choice” no-fault law and special rules for transportation services.

What Is New Jersey’s No-Fault Rule?

New Jersey’s no-fault rule can limit a driver’s recovery options after an automobile accident. If you have a basic “limited right to sue” policy, you will file a claim with your own insurance company after a car accident, regardless of fault, unless you can prove that your injuries are serious. If you purchased more expensive “unlimited right to sue” insurance, however, you can bring a liability lawsuit against the at-fault party, whether your injuries were minor or major.

If your collision involves a transportation network company or driver, however, you are not restricted to the state’s no-fault system even with the minimum amount of car insurance coverage. Lyft or Uber’s mandatory required liability insurance under New Jersey law will cover your medical bills and other losses as a passenger or driver.

Types of Compensation That Can Be Recovered After a New Jersey Lyft Accident

In the event of a Lyft accident in New Jersey, several types of compensation may be recoverable, which are intended to restore an affected party to the position they were in before their injury or accident occurred. The primary types of damages that can be recovered include the following:

Economic Damages

Economic damages account for tangible financial burdens you have incurred as a result of the collision. This includes all medical-related expenses from doctors’ fees and costs related to your treatments – including future treatment.

You may also be entitled to lost wages you suffered due to time off work either temporarily or permanently in the case that you’ve been partially or totally permanently disabled. You will also be eligible to collect reimbursement for any property damage you experienced in the accident.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are subjectively evaluated, as they relate to non-tangible harms you’ve suffered due to the accident. This compensation covers losses such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and lowered quality of life.

Punitive Damages

Depending on the nature of your accident, you may also claim punitive damages that are meant to punish a culpable party for their reckless actions and deter similar behavior in the future. In New Jersey, punitive damages are only awarded when the defendant’s behavior was malicious or in wanton and willful disregard for the plaintiff’s right.

“Punitive damages” includes exemplary damages and means damages awarded against a party in a civil action because of aggravating circumstances in order to penalize and to provide additional deterrence against a defendant to discourage similar conduct in the future. Punitive damages do not include compensatory damages or nominal damages.”

Common Injuries in Lyft Accidents

As with any motor vehicle collision, accidents involving Lyft vehicles can cause devastating injuries. This can include injury to the back or spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, amputation injuries, fractures, internal injuries, lacerations, and burns.  Any serious injury likely comes with significant medical expenses, long-term therapy and treatment, and the possibility of temporary or even permanent disability.   What some people who have not been involved in a car accident may be surprised to learn is that even so-called “minor or moderate” injuries can dramatically affect your life.  Ligament and nerve damage can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, force you to miss work, and even affect your future earning capacity.  The cost to treat these injuries can easily reach into the tens of thousands of dollars.   If you are injured in a collision through no fault of your own, you should not have to carry the costs associated with the injury.  An insurance claim or lawsuit can provide the vital and necessary financial compensation to allow you to get the treatment you need to recover.

How Common are Accidents involving Lyft Drivers?

While there is no public database of all collisions involving Lyft vehicles, the rideshare company – like Uber before it – does publish a community safety report. Its most recent offering, published at the end of 2021, states that there were a total of 105 fatal collisions between 2017 and 2019:

• 22 in 2017
• 34 in 2018
• 49 in 2019

Lyft is quick to compare the fatality rate of it’s vehicles to that of the national rate to show that is markedly lower.   However, just as with the National data, fatal crashes make up only a small portion of overall traffic collisions.  Lyft drivers make millions of trips each year and drivers are likely involved in thousands of collisions.

While New Jersey law requires that companies like Lyft (referred to as Transportation Network Companies) screen drivers by conducting thorough criminal background and driving record checks, unqualified drivers still make it through to the app.  Drivers may engage in risky behaviors such as speeding, using drugs or alcohol, driving aggressively, or be inattentive or careless.  The app itself may cause the driver to be distracted or they may be working more than one job and are drowsy or overworked.   Additionally, drivers of other vehicles may cause accidents that injure both Lyft riders and even the drivers themselves.

Why You Need to Work With a Lyft Accident Attorney in New Jersey

A Lyft accident can be an unsettling experience, leaving you to handle the legal issues while dealing with personal injuries. During such a precarious time, enlisting the support of a skilled personal injury lawyer can make all the difference. Here’s how they can help:

Navigating Complex Insurance Policies

With rideshare services like Lyft, insurance policies that come into play are often intricate and extensive as they involve several parties – from your insurance to the driver’s private insurance to Lyft’s overarching corporate policy. Lawyers familiar with these matters will have knowledge about how to navigate this framework efficiently on your behalf.

Access to Expert Witnesses and Investigators

An attorney’s network of professionals, such as investigators and expert witnesses, like accident reconstructionists, can significantly strengthen your case. These qualified individuals can review the evidence, reconstruct how the incident unfolded, and testify in court should it be necessary or helpful.

Stress Management

The aftermath of an accident can be stressful, particularly so when you’re attempting to recover from serious injuries. Having a lawyer allows you to hand off the complex legal matters and reduce your overall stress levels dramatically. This freed up mental space will enable you to redirect your focus to your recovery.

Quite often, the thought of hiring a lawyer can be overwhelming due to concerns about upfront costs. However, most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not need to pay anything out of pocket when you engage their services.

On a contingency fee basis, your attorney’s payment is contingent upon securing compensation for your claim – if they don’t win or settle your case successfully, you owe them nothing at all.

Contact Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC Today

You don’t have to deal with the aftermath of a serious injury alone. If you were injured in a New Jersey Lyft accident, the lawyers at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC can help. Our Lyft accident attorneys are dedicated to securing maximum compensation for our clients. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.  We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we charge no fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.