Uber Accidents

Were you involved in a motor vehicle accident with a ride-sharing vehicle? Whether you are a passenger, an Uber, Lyft, Via, or Juno driver, in another vehicle altogether, a pedestrian, motorcyclist, or biker, you may be able to get compensation for your medical expenses, treatment, lost wages, and any pain and suffering the accident has caused, and if your vehicle was involved, vehicle repair costs.

After an accident, companies like Uber may reach out to you to ask you to provide an “official statement” regarding the accident. Do not do this! You are not legally obligated to give this statement, and Uber’s legal team or insurers may try to use that statement against you if you choose to file a claim against them. You may be encouraged to file a suit against your driver instead of Uber as a company. Speak with an attorney before making any statements or decisions.

What should you do if you have been involved in an accident?

• Call the police and wait for them to arrive at the scene of the accident
• Make a police report
• Seek immediate medical attention if necessary
• If you are the driver: Exchange information with the other driver, such as name, address, telephone number, driver’s license number, name of insurance company, and policy number. Take pictures of yours and the other driver’s license and insurance card.
• Get the names of any passengers involved
• Take down the names of any witnesses, even if the police also speak with them.
• Contact an attorney as soon as possible!

Uber was founded in 2009, Lyft and Via a few years later in 2012, and the newest addition of Juno is 2016, making ride-sharing its own industry.

So, what happens when you are injured while in an Uber, Lyft or Via vehicle? Are you able to sue Uber or Lyft directly? Or is it the individual driver who is at fault, as they are the driver and sometimes, the owner of the vehicle? What if you’re the driver? Uber, Lyft, and Via accidents can be confusing, and you’ll want a qualified and experienced Uber accident lawyer to assist you throughout the process.

As the number of ride-sharing cars and companies continue to grow, so do the the number of vehicles on the roads. In New York, there are an average of three fatalities per day due to automobile accidents, and an average of about 12,468 injuries and emergency room visits per day.  

With 50 million tourists per year, including both foreign and American travelers and day-trippers, New York City is a heavily populated location with millions of cars on the road. Safety is of utmost importance, and when you get into an accident you can be seriously injured. One major concern is whether rideshare passengers are protected in case of an accident. Who is at fault in these accidents?

Taxi and car service drivers may not always give you the best experience, but they are employees, which means they had to be screened and background-checked. In addition they are required to have all paperwork and licenses for the job, the correct insurance, and the backing and protection of a larger company. A company which also holds insurance. Taxis and car service vehicles are regularly inspected, serviced, and maintained by the company and are held to certain specific standards.

After an Uber driver struck and killed a 6 year old girl in San Francisco in January 2014 between fares, Uber claimed no responsibility. Uber says they have a $1 million commercial insurance policy, but because the driver who killed the child was between fares, the insurance policy did not cover him, only UberX drivers who were actively taking a fare. As The Verge reported, “Uber has said on many occasions that it’s a technology company, not a transportation provider.” In November of 2014, the first Lyft passenger was killed, and determining fault and liability was again a challenge.

Motor vehicle accidents that occur while in a ride-sharing vehicle can be complicated and difficult to determine liability, negligence, or any fault. You should speak with an Uber accident attorney as soon as possible about making a claim and bringing an Uber accident lawsuit.

What can you get compensation for?

• Medical bills and expenses
• Ongoing treatment
• Occupational/physical therapy
• Lost wages from being out of work to recover
• Loss of quality of life
• Pain and suffering
• Vehicle repair

It can be very frustrating trying to determine who is at fault for your injuries and who can be held liable. Let an experienced ride-sharing collision attorney assist you and make it easier every step of the way.

We can help you if:

• You were injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle
• You were the driver of a ride-sharing vehicle and are injured
• You were in a vehicle that was involved in a collision with a ride-sharing vehicle
• You were a bystander (pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist) injured in an accident involving an Uber, Lyft, or Via vehicle.

Contact us today at the Law Offices of Nicholas Tzaneteas to speak to a top personal injury and Uber accident attorney. We work for you.

I was involved in a very serious car accident in Brooklyn that left me unable to work for two years. I still have pain in my lower back after I underwent surgery for my injuries. Attorney Tzaneteas helped me through the legal process and worked up my case so thoroughly that the insurance company offered us a very fair settlement without having to go trial. Tzaneteas really gets results.

Jonathon Berkman

My wife was prescribed the wrong medication and suffered a terrible reaction that left her unable to work and confined to her bed. Nick Tzaneteas took on her case and won us money to cover pain and suffering and medical expenses. He doesn’t back down.

Jeff Sullivan

I was run off the road while making a delivery on my bike in New York City. I had two broken ribs and a broken wrist. Attorney Tzaneteas got me in to see a doctor right away and made sure the insurance company covered all my medical bills and lost wages from all the work I missed.

Mike Abruzzo