Uber Accident Lawyer in Somerset County, NJ

Have You Been in an Accident While Riding in an Uber or Lyft?

The popularity of rideshare services has grown exponentially in recent years. A popular alternative to taxis, mass transit and even personal automobile ownership, Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies are a cornerstone of our transportation economy.

But what happens when your Uber or Lyft driver disobeys the law, putting your safety at risk? What if you are hit by a drunk driver while in a rideshare vehicle? According to Uber’s own Safety report, more than 100 people die in rideshare accidents every year. In 2020, 11 people died from physical assault inside a Uber vehicle: an 18% increase over the previous year. 

If you have suffered an injury from a rideshare accident, talk to a Somerset County Uber accident attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve.

I was hit by a rideshare vehicle. What do I do?

If you were hit by a Lyft driver,  Uber driver, or other rideshare vehicle driver, your first step is to make sure your medical needs are taken care of. After exchanging information and calling 911 to give a police report, try to remain calm. Give the emergency responders as much information as you can, and be sure to give a full statement in a police report before leaving the scene. 

If your injuries are serious, go to the hospital immediately. However, even if you do not feel like you need urgent care, get a medical evaluation as soon as possible after your accident. If you delay treatment, the insurance company may say that you were never injured (even if this is untrue).

What To Do After a Rideshare Accident

• Call 911. The emergency response team will give an initial assessment of your injuries, and take down important information like the driver’s personal insurance and license credentials. To the best of your ability give a full account of all injuries; the more severe your injuries, the more services the operator will dispatch.
• Stay put. Stay at the scene until you are dismissed by the responding officers. Do not leave or move your vehicle if you were driving while hit; the position of all vehicles involved is evidence that will help in recovering compensation.
• Do not admit fault. You may be tempted to apologize after an accident. Don’t. In the moments following an accident, you will not have a full picture of what transpired. Apologizing or admitting fault may negatively affect your claim outcome. You have the right to retain a rideshare accident lawyer before speaking with insurance providers. Call Arlen Law Firm at (908) 212-7660 from the scene so we can help immediately.
• Gather evidence. If you are able, take photos of the scene where the accident occurred, the vehicles involved, and your injuries. Take video testimony from anyone who saw the crash or was involved. Be sure to document visible abrasions as well as loss of range of motion, vertigo, hearing/vision loss or other signs of concussion.
• Seek a doctor. Even if you don’t feel badly hurt at the time of the accident, get a medical evaluation as soon as you can. You may not be able to fully assess the extent of your injuries immediately after the accident. Your body may feel fine at first—but once the shock wears off, you may feel differently. A medical evaluation will be able to properly assess your injuries.
• Contact Arlen Law Firm for a case consultation. Speak to a trusted rideshare accident attorney to discuss your case: (908) 212-7660. Consultations are always free and confidential. We operate from a contingency fee model, which means that we do not collect any money until your case is resolved.

Arlen Law Firm: Who We Are

We’re a team of experienced New Jersey Lyft accident attorneys. As personal injury lawyers, we take motor vehicle cases of every kind, but we specialize in car and ridesharing accidents affecting New Jerseyians. Rideshare accidents can often be more complicated than other types of accidents; this is because of legal complications involving insurance claims and liability issues.

Arlen Law Firm is prepared to explore every available avenue for full compensation in your rideshare accident case. Uber accident victims may be entitled to funding to cover their medical bills, pain and suffering, and inconvenience.

What Makes Arlen Law Firm Different?

Arlen Law Firm sets the bar for personal injury cases in New Jersey. We specialize in personal injury cases, from car accidents and fender benders to construction accidents and wrongful death cases. When choosing a Somerset County Uber accident attorney, consider these factors:

Rideshare experience. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are famously poor at communicating their policies and procedures up front. Even after an accident, you may have difficulty navigating their policies and procedures. As experienced New Jersey rideshare accident attorneys, we understand how to pursue information requests and avoid common legal roadblocks that can easily jeopardize your rideshare case.  

Insurance language fluency. We have all experienced it: insurance companies use complicated language and confusing wording to hide what they owe their claimants. Rideshare accidents are even more complicated, as they often involve multiple lines of insurance. Arlen Law Firm specializes in insurance law and language. We don’t fall for any tricks that would leave you with less than the full amount you are owed. 

Quality over quantity. Many of the high-volume law firms you see on billboards do not have time to look into every angle of every case they take; they operate from a “quantity” model, where they take lots of cases and settle them for whatever they can get. Arlen Law Firm looks at dash-cam evidence, insurance details, and even personal testimony to get our clients every penny that they deserve.

If you have been in a rideshare accident, call the New Jersey Uber accident experts at Arlen Law Firm. We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations that help you resolve your rideshare accident case—and get you moving in the right direction again.

Need a Somerset County Uber Accident Lawyer? 

Call (908) 212-7660

Somerset County Uber Accident Lawyers’ Frequently Asked Questions 

See the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act 

What is a rideshare vehicle?

A rideshare vehicle is defined as “a car service that allows a person to use a smartphone app to arrange a ride in a usually privately owned vehicle.” By this definition, taxis also qualify as ridesharing vehicles, though Uber, Lyft and other private companies are quickly dominating the industry. According to industry estimates, Uber has over 72% of the market share, with 5.4 million Uber drivers in 2022. 1.5 million Uber drivers currently operate in the US.

How do you become a rideshare driver in New Jersey?

The minimum requirements to become a rideshare driver are as generally as follows:

• Have a valid, in-state license
• Have at least one year of licensed driving experience (3 years if you are under 25)
• Have access to an eligible 4-door vehicle

Do Uber drivers go through a background check process?

Yes. All rideshare drivers must pass a criminal background check to be able to drive commercially. Applicants will be disqualified for the following infractions:

• Any offense involving violence
• One (1) or more reckless driving offenses in the last (3) three years
• Drunk driving in the last seven (7) years
• Three (3) or more moving traffic violations in the last three (3) years
• Any felony offenses in the last five (5) years
• Eluding a police officer
• Sexual offenses
• Felony fraud
• Felony property offenses

Have you been injured in a rideshare accident where the driver was now who they said they were? Call the personal injury attorneys at Arlen Law Firm today to begin your case: (908) 212-7660. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not get money until you do.

 

I was injured while working as a delivery driver in New Jersey. Am I able to pursue compensation?

Yes. If you were working for a delivery service vendor like DoorDash or Grubhub, or Uber Eats, you may also be eligible for compensation if you get into an accident. Call Arlen Law Firm today for a case evaluation: (908) 212-7660.

 

The rideshare company I work for denied my insurance claim. Should I file a lawsuit?

If you worked as a rideshare driver and got into an accident, your employer—Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company—has insurance that should compensate you. Uber provides a commercial insurance policy to drivers.

If you were driving the vehicle you use for rideshare services but were not actively working at the time, the rideshare insurance does not apply. However, if you get into an accident while on the clock (including en route to a pickup), Uber provides $1.5 million in insurance coverage, as well as $1.5 million in uninsured motorist coverage. 

If you have reason to believe that the rideshare’s insurance company is acting in bad faith by denying your claim, talking to an experienced New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer can help. Contact Arlen Law Firm to discuss your case, and to learn how we can help resolve your claim.