New York Uber Accident Attorney

Uber users can book rides and order food for delivery, sharing ratings to inform other clients of their experiences within the Uber app. Many practical New Yorkers rely on rideshare companies like Uber for transportation around the city, where driving a personal vehicle can be frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive. 

Yet, Uber drivers are ordinary people who sometimes make mistakes. When they do, their errors could lead to accidents that result in severe injuries for themselves, their passengers, pedestrians, and others. 

At Hill & Moin, we are committed to helping New York Uber accident victims make the most of their rights. Working with our legal team is like having attorneys in your family always ready and able to explain New York law and act on your behalf. Learn how a personal injury claim may help you get justice by scheduling a free consultation at (212) 668-6000.

The Human Causes of New York Uber Accidents

In 2019, there were 447,021 motor vehicle accidents, resulting in property damage, mild-to-severe injuries, and 881 deaths. Under New York traffic law, Uber accident lawyers can pursue financial compensation for rideshare accident injuries caused by:

• Negligence: Negligence is a careless act that causes injury to people or property, or;
• Recklessness: Recklessness occurs when someone does something negligent, disregarding the risk that his or her conduct carries a high risk of serious injury or death to another person

All New York City Uber drivers have the duty to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. To live up to this responsibility, they may follow certain procedures or avoid certain behaviors to minimize the probability of car accidents. 

According to the NYS Crash Summary, 78 percent of crashes are due to human factors. If the following negligent or reckless driving actions led to you or a loved one being injured in an Uber, you could qualify for significant compensation.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Drinking alcohol reduces your ability to see clearly and to react quickly. It may affect your judgment of speed and distance, making you more likely to make a risky decision. 

Various kinds of prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal drugs can affect you like alcohol and make you tired. What’s more, the combination of drugs and alcohol is hazardous because one can increase the side effects of the other. 

A blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05 percent or higher is legal evidence of impairment in New York. A BAC of at least .08 percent indicates intoxication, while .18 or above is considered aggravated driving. 

A driver could face criminal charges for driving while impaired by alcohol or the following drugs:

• Cannabis
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• LSD
• Heroin
• Opium
• Other drugs (even legal ones) that affect reflexes, judgment, vision, or alertness

Every time an impaired Uber driver gets behind the wheel, he or she puts others in danger. Personal injury attorneys may seek justice on your behalf if such a negligent Uber car driver placed you and your family in harm’s way.

Distracted driving 

More than 90,000 accidents were associated with distracted driving in 2019. Most drivers are aware of the dangers of using a phone, eating, and adjusting controls in the car. Yet, any behavior that takes an Uber driver’s attention away from the road could cause a motor vehicle accident. 

Aggressive driving

Road rage is acting out due to stress and frustration while driving. An aggressive driver might tailgate, speed, or weave through traffic. Road rage was a factor in over 2,400 motor vehicle accidents in 2019.

Driver inexperience

Safe driving takes practice. A new Uber driver might not possess the experience necessary to drive in a busy place like New York City. Our legal team along with our firm’s partners could help you file a claim if driver inexperience contributed to your car accident. 

Driving while fatigued or sleepy

When rideshare drivers are logged into the app, they can receive an Uber ride request at any time. Even if they are tired, they might be tempted to accept clients to make more profit for the day or to improve their ratings. According to the NHTSA, preventable drowsy driving accidents injured about 50,000 people in 2017.

The time of the accident could indicate whether an Uber driver was fatigued. Did your accident occur late at night? You can contact an Uber accident lawyer to request a free personal injury consultation. A thorough investigation is the only way to determine all of the factors involved in an Uber car accident.

Disregarding traffic laws

Traffic laws, such as right-of-way regulations and speed limits, serve to protect all New Yorkers, including motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The more clients waiting for a ride, the more potential Uber drivers have to make money. If your Uber driver ignored traffic signs or drove at unsafe speeds during your ride, tell a professional Uber accident lawyer, who can evaluate how these factors affected your New York car accident.

Backing unsafely

Unsafe backing is a moving violation that often occurs when rideshare drivers change their minds about where they want to go. For instance, a driver might back out of a toll lane or reverse after realizing that he or she has taken a wrong turn. 

Other Factors That Contribute to New York Uber Accidents

What if you do not believe your Uber driver was responsible for the accident? Many crashes happen due to factors beyond the driver’s control. The good news is that compassionate lawyers are also able to help you with accidents involving mechanical issues or environmental factors.

Some mechanical or environmental factors that may contribute to a collision include:

• Tire blowouts
• Faulty brakes
• Malfunctioning steering or suspension systems
• Defective headlights, tail lights, or windshield wipers
• Slick or crumbling roads
• Poor road design
• Obstructions, such as tree branches or dead animals

Personal injury lawyers may seek financial compensation on your behalf from those responsible for mechanical problems and adverse road conditions, such as:

• Auto mechanics
• Car manufacturers 
• Designers and engineers
• Distributors and vendors
• State and local governments

Serious Uber Accident Injuries Deserve Legal Attention

Car wrecks cause severe injuries every year in the United States. Some are quite painful but victims recover within a short period of time, while other injuries may cause permanent disabilities that could change a victim’s quality of life forever. 

Both temporary and long-term injuries may be traumatic. New York law provides victims like you with the option to take legal action to recover your losses and be compensated for emotional effects after an Uber crash. Hill & Moin LLP’s representatives want to hear your story if you have experienced injury due to a car accident.

Call us immediately if you know or suspect that you have experienced one or more of the following conditions:

• Whiplash: When sudden jolting that overextends the neck, whiplash may be the result, with pain and discomfort in the neck and its connected joints and ligaments
• Traumatic brain injuries: Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may cause pain, loss of consciousness, and mental confusion; serious cases could result in coma and paralysis
• Dislocated joints: The impact of a car crash may cause your joints to come out of place; in particular, shoulders, hips, and other large joints cause extreme discomfort, bruising, and reduced range of motion
• Broken bones: Bone fractures are painful and take a long time to heal; severe breaks could result in permanent deformities
• Psychological injuries: You should not ignore the emotional and mental effects of your accident; if you still feel anxious, fearful, and stressed several weeks after your accident, you might have a psychological injury, while other effects may include reliving the incident or having recurring nightmares about it

Would you like to know whether you qualify to file a claim for maximum compensation for your injuries? Contact our New York City law firm for legal advice today. Your initial consultation is always free of cost and obligation. 

Understanding How Uber’s Insurance Coverage Works

In New York State, all registered vehicles, including Uber cars, must have state-issued auto insurance with minimum liability coverage of:

• $10,000 for single-accident property damage
• $25,000 to $50,000 for bodily injuries 
• $50,000 to $100,000 for death

Uber maintains auto insurance for its drivers. Yet, the liability coverage is in effect only while the driver is logged into the app. Outside of work hours or while driving another vehicle, his or her personal insurance might cover a qualifying Uber motor vehicle accident.

This type of insurance coverage is called “third-person liability.” According to the Uber website, rideshare drivers could qualify for the following in the case of an accident that happens while en route to pick up riders and during trips:

• $1,000,000 third-party liability
• Uninsured or underinsured driver bodily injury
• Contingent comprehensive and collision up to the cash value of the car, minus a deductible of $1,000 to $2,500

Uber accident lawyers can step in when insurance companies delay or deny payments for valid claims. In New York, a rideshare insurance provider should cover approved losses. 

Medical bills

Most of your healthcare costs resulting from a Uber accident should be covered by your insurance provider or Uber’s insurance coverage. Your medical expenses might include:

• Ambulance transport
• Hospital services
• Dental services
• Surgeries
• Costs of psychological and physical rehabilitation
• Diagnostic tests (e.g. X-rays, ultrasounds, blood analysis)
• Treatments in accord with recognized religions (e.g. bloodless surgery)

After a traumatic event, stressing about medical bills can be harmful to your mental and physical well-being. Our law firm is happy to provide free consultations to Uber accident victims. If you want to understand what compensation you deserve from a liability insurance company, call (212) 668-6000 to schedule your appointment today.

Lost wages

If you are unable to work for some time after your Uber crash, the responsible party is also liable for your lost wages. A substantial portion of your salary could be covered for several years after the accident.

Of course, your typical insurance company wants you to accept as small of a settlement as possible. New York Uber accident attorneys, though, know how much of your income you may be entitled to after an Uber accident and can advise you on your options.

A professional and compassionate lawyer may also determine whether you qualify for a daily living stipend to cover activities which your rideshare accident injuries now prevent you from doing. For instance, you may require housekeeping services or need help with home maintenance. As a part of your free legal claim review, the team at Hill & Moin can answer your questions about how liability insurance may cover such economic losses.

Pain and suffering

Pain and suffering impact a victim’s daily life after an accident. This subjective award is based on several factors, namely:

• The impact of the accident on your daily life and relationships
• Whether you suffer depression or anxiety related to the incident
• Whether you lost your appetite or ability to function sexually
• Whether your rideshare accident injuries decreased your life expectancy
• How long your recovery is anticipated to take

In some cases, family members claim damages for the pain and suffering that a loved one endured as a result of a tragic accident. Rideshare accident attorneys are able to give you an idea of how much you might expect for pain and suffering.

Death benefits 

One of life’s worst experiences is losing a loved one in death. New York rideshare accident attorneys may help relieve a grieving family’s burden of dealing with insurance companies. An experienced lawyer can also help you obtain a liability insurance settlement to provide funds to the deceased person’s estate and cover funeral and burial costs. 

Contact Hill & Moin Soon For Your Free Consultation

When you made your ride request, you just wanted a ride to your destination, yet now your life might seem as if it may never be the same again. If your injuries limit how much you can do after a rideshare crash, you should get in touch with Hill & Moin without delay. 

Why act so soon? 

First of all, a deadline called the statute of limitations restricts the amount of time you have to take legal action. This time window typically starts the day you were injured in an Uber crash. If you wait too long, the New York court system may refuse to hear your claim, ending your chances of receiving compensation for your rideshare injuries.

Second, Hill & Moin offers informative case evaluations for free. There is no reason to hesitate to take advantage of one since it carries no obligation to hire our New York, NY, law firm.

Come to us to learn your Personal Injury Recover SolutionsⓇ. You can call (212) 668-6000 or leave a message 24/7 to schedule your confidential rideshare accident review. 

Don’t wonder about your rights!