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Uber and Lyft are popular ride-sharing apps that allow users to have a reliable means of transportation without needing to call a taxicab. Drivers for Uber and Lyft are expected to provide a ride to your destination that is as safe as possible. It can be difficult trying to recover from an Uber or Lyft accident. It can add even more stress when determining if you should file a lawsuit for your injuries. But you don’t have to go through it alone. Our New Jersey rideshare accident lawyers can assist you in recovering compensation for your injuries.
There are several types of common rideshare accident injuries that may necessitate a New Jersey Uber accident attorney:
- Soft tissue injury. You might have injuries to your muscles, ligaments, or tendons due to the impact of the crash. This could involve injuries from the airbags, for example.
- Fracture. If you are in an accident, you could have fractures in one or more of your bones. These injuries could be to your wrists, ribs, legs, nose, collarbone, or other areas.
- Head and brain injuries. Sometimes, a passenger can hit their head within their vehicle, damaging their skull or brain.
The potential injuries mentioned above are only some possible injuries you could have suffered. If you are suffering from an injury due to a rideshare accident, contact our New Jersey Uber accident attorneys for information on how we can help.
There are several common causes of injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident. They can be a result of the fault of the rideshare driver, the driver of the other vehicle, or both.
Texting and Driving
A driver using their cell phone during a crash is a common culprit when it comes to accidents.
Some think it’s harmless to look away for only a few seconds, but those seconds can cause permanent injuries or death.
According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 837 crashes were the result of handheld cell phone use in 2020.
Speeding
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people.
It was also a contributing cause in 29% of fatalities in traffic accidents. Rideshare drivers may speed to get you to your destination fast because they rely on five-star reviews.
But speeding is never worth the potentially serious injuries or death it can cause.
Fatigued Driving
If your rideshare driver or the other party was extremely drowsy, this could be a serious problem.
Until recently, rideshare drivers were not subject to regulations regarding how long they can drive before taking a break.
Now, in New Jersey, Uber drivers must go offline for six hours after every 12 hours of driving.
Driving Under the Influence
Any party who was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be held liable for causing your injuries. It is important to remember that while this can be one cause, it can be combined with one or more other causes.
Driver Inexperience
Uber and Lyft drivers do not need much experience to get on the road. If the driver is under 23 years old, they need only three years of driving experience.
In addition, rideshare drivers do not always know the geographic layout of where they are driving. This confusion due to attempting to navigate in new areas can sometimes lead to a crash.
It might seem that Uber or Lyft drivers would be more cautious. This is a reasonable expectation due to the liability involved and their responsibility to passengers.
However, this is not always the case. The other driver involved in the accident could also potentially be at fault.
Uber Insurance Coverage
Every Uber driver is required to have automobile liability insurance on their vehicle.
Uber also maintains liability insurance. Under a recent New Jersey law, Uber must have $1.5 million in insurance coverage.
If you have an injury due to an accident involving an Uber, reach out to our New Jersey Uber accident lawyers. We can help parse through the details of your claim.
Lyft Insurance Coverage
Lyft must also have $1.5 million in insurance coverage in New Jersey. In other words, you can still recover compensation for your injuries even if your driver was not carrying personal liability insurance.
If you were injured while riding in a Lyft or hit by one, get in touch with our New Jersey Lyft accident lawyers. We can assist you in getting the compensation you need for your injuries.
There are a few key steps you need to take after a rideshare accident. The first step is to photograph the scene and the vehicles involved. You ought to also gather any dash cam footage.
Next, you should get to a doctor right after if you think you’ve suffered any injury.
Sometimes after a wreck, you may feel fine at first due to the adrenaline and stress of the event. Yet injuries can still arise.
In fact, pain can come up after the wreck even if you thought you were not injured at first. So getting examined by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident is important.
Lastly, if you have an injury, you should consider contacting a New Jersey Uber accident lawyer or New Jersey Lyft accident lawyers who can help you.
The attorneys at Wiley Lavender Maknoor, PC are here to assist you and can address any questions you might have.
How We Can Help
If you are looking to file a personal injury claim, consider contacting the New Jersey rideshare accident lawyers at Wiley Lavender Maknoor, PC. Our office is located in Metuchen, New Jersey, and we serve clients throughout the state. Call us at 732-494-6099 or fill out our online form and schedule your free consultation. We can help you to recover the compensation for your injuries that you deserve.