New Jersey Uber Accident Lawyer

Being injured in an Uber accident can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. You may wonder how you are going to pay for your medical expenses, suffer from serious and painful injuries, and struggle to identify the best pathway to compensation.

In these situations, the attorneys at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC can help. Our New Jersey Uber accident lawyers understand the complexities of these claims. We can help you navigate your case and secure the compensation that you deserve, advocating aggressively for your best interests along the way.

New Jersey Rideshare Accident Resources

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Why Choose Our Attorney?
Common Causes of Uber Accidents
Coverage for an Uber Accident
Uber’s Insurance Policy for Accidents
Compensation After an Uber Accident
How a Rideshare Accident Attorney Can Help
How Common Are Uber Accidents?
What Laws Exist in New Jersey to Keep Uber Users Safe?
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Why Choose Our New Jersey Uber Accident Attorneys for Your Claim

We have over 50 years of experience representing injured people across New Jersey. With our skills, knowledge, and resources, we will fight to defend your right to recovery.
Our New Jersey Uber accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for our clients and are dedicated to securing the highest possible settlement in your case.
We combine the power of a large firm with the personalized attention of a small firm. Our attorneys will work tirelessly with you to achieve a favorable outcome in your case.

Common Causes of Uber Accidents

Uber accidents are unfortunately common, and there are many potential factors at play. Some of the most common causes include the following:

Distraction

Uber drivers constantly use their phones while driving for navigation and passenger communication. Managing their ride requests while ensuring smooth pick-ups and drop-offs can turn into a major distraction that could lead to serious accidents.

Speeding

The desire to quickly get passengers where they need to go puts many Uber drivers under immense pressure. This stress sometimes leads them to drive above speed limits, increasing the possibility of getting into an accident.

As riders, we need to remember not to push drivers to get us to our destination quicker if it’s going to compromise safety.

Drunk Drivers

Operating late into the night is common for Uber drivers, chiefly on weekends and late at night when demand tends to surge. These service hours unfortunately coincide with higher volumes of intoxicated drivers on the road, which dramatically escalate risks for accidents.

Fatigue

As stated above, drivers are often driving late at night because of the higher demand and payment rates at that time. Additionally, many Uber drivers also have other full-time jobs, meaning they are driving for Uber after already working an 8 or 10 hour day. This can lead to severe fatigue, which increases the risk of accidents.

Navigating Unfamiliar Roads

Uber drivers deal with different destinations on a daily basis. Upon accepting a ride, they may be directed to an area far from where they are or into unfamiliar neighborhoods. The uncertainty of the roads ahead could compromise their driving capabilities and increase their odds for accidents.

Unsafe Parking and Pick-Up Locations

The convenience of hailing an Uber comes with its own unique set of risks. Drivers frequently need to pull over at a moment’s notice for pick-ups and drop-offs. These sudden stops—sometimes in hazardous or improperly designated areas—can result in accidental collisions.

Being aware of these causes allows you as a driver or Uber rider to take steps to prevent these accidents.

Coverage for an Uber Accident in New Jersey

Uber classifies all of its drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This is different from the taxi and limousine industry. It enables Uber to avoid liability for most accidents caused by its drivers, as the rule of vicarious liability does not apply. It is much more common to seek financial recovery through Uber’s insurance policy, the driver’s individual coverage or the victim’s insurance company than to bring a lawsuit against Uber directly.

New Jersey is a choice no-fault insurance state. This rule means that if you are in an auto accident and you have chosen the basic “limited right to sue” insurance option for your car insurance coverage, you will file a claim with your own insurance provider, regardless of fault, unless you can prove that you have sustained a permanent injury. This rule does not apply, however, to accidents involving Uber drivers in New Jersey.

New Jersey Statutes Section 39:5H-10(j) states that the standard limitation on lawsuit option cannot be used by a transportation network company or one of its drivers in an action for compensation arising from a prearranged ride. In other words, if an Uber driver caused your accident – while you were a passenger in the Uber or the driver of another vehicle – you will retain the right to file a lawsuit without the need to have “unlimited right to sue” insurance or prove your serious injuries.

Uber’s Insurance Policy for Accidents

Uber provides the following amounts of coverage, depending on the driver’s status at the time of the collision:

If the driver is not logged into the app, he or she is not considered to be driving for Uber and the company does not provide coverage. You would need to file a claim against the driver’s insurance policy.
If the driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride, the coverage will increase 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 on the way to pick up a passenger or if a passenger is inside of the vehicle at the time of the accident, liability coverage will increase to $1 million. Uber will also provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and first-party injury insurance to the driver.

New Jersey law requires that rideshare companies and drivers carry an even greater amount of insurance coverage during active trips:

primary automobile liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,500,000 for death, bodily injury, and property damage;
primary automobile insurance for medical payments benefits in an amount of at least $10,000 per person per incident, which shall only apply to and provide coverage for the benefit of the transportation network company driver; and
uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in an amount of at least $1,500,000.

This is, of course, a substantial amount of insurance coverage. If you or a loved one is involved in an accident with an Uber vehicle, you may be eligible for significant financial compensation. Depending on the status of the driver, you could file a claim against Uber’s policy, a claim against the driver’s policy, or a lawsuit in civil court.

Compensation After an Uber Accident

If you’ve been involved in an Uber accident, the resulting physical, emotional, and financial hardships can be stressful. One helpful aspect is the possibility of obtaining compensation for your harm and losses. These damages usually entail some or all of the following:

Economic Damages

These are quantifiable monetary losses related to the incident. They include past and future medical expenses stemming from your injuries, lost wages if you’re unable to work because of recovery time or permanent disability, and property damage if personal belongings or your vehicle was affected.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages encompass compensation for intangible harms that aren’t directly attached to monetary loss but contributed significantly towards suffering as a result of the crash. This usually includes pain and suffering, emotional distress, and decreased quality of life.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded on top of your actual damages and are designed to punish the defendant for their particularly reckless or negligent behavior. They are intended to serve as a deterrence from such conduct in the future rather than for compensatory purposes.

Keep in mind that each case is highly specific, and what you’re entitled to will be determined by the specific circumstances surrounding your accident.

How a New Jersey Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Support Your Case

Navigating an Uber accident claim can be a complex process, especially after a recent injury. By hiring one of our New Jersey rideshare attorneys to represent your claim, you can alleviate this pressure and confusion, and gain clarity on your legal options.

Additionally, a rideshare accident lawyer from Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC can provide significant benefits to your case:

Access to resources so that you can fully investigate the cause of the accident
Strong knowledge of New Jersey car accident laws and claims processes
The ability to negotiate with insurers and defense attorneys on your behalf
Experience representing clients in the courtroom and preparing a case for trial
The ability to calculate your potential settlement so that you can recover the compensation that you deserve
The ability to evaluate your case and identify your optimal path to recovery

If another driver was responsible for the accident, whether it was the driver of the Uber or another vehicle, you may be eligible for compensation. Car accidents can create devastating financial pressures and an insurance claim or lawsuit can help recover the money you need to recover in the form of damages. In New Jersey, you can recover compensation for current and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.

How Common Are Uber Accidents?

There is no publicly available database of accidents involving Uber Vehicles. Uber does, however, publish safety reports that include information on fatal collisions involving their vehicles. According to the rideshare company, there were 91 fatal crashes involving Uber vehicles in 2019 and 2020. These collisions left 101 people dead. 42 percent of the people killed were vulnerable road users, either pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or scooter riders. Fatal crashes do not tell the entire story as it relates to road safety. Given the substantial number of trips Uber users make each year, it is likely that accidents occur every day in the United States. In fact, according to Uber’s self-published reports, nearly 3 million trips using the Uber platform are made every day – more than 32 every second. While Uber maintains that 99.9 percent of rides end without a safety issue, the remaining .1 percent represents hundreds of thousands of trips where one does occur.

What Laws Exist in New Jersey to Keep Uber Users Safe?

In New Jersey, the Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act requires that companies like Uber take steps to keep riders safe. Among many other requirements:

Uber is required to conduct a driving record check of each driver before allowing them to log in as a driver or to provide rides to users.
Uber is required to conduct a criminal background check for each driver prior to allowing them to log in as a driver or to provide a prearranged ride as a driver.
Uber is required to ensure that each driver’s vehicle to be used to provide rides meets the state’s motor vehicle inspection requirements and that each driver maintains a valid inspection certificate of approval for the vehicle.
Uber must provide a picture of the driver to riders and the license plate number of the driver’s vehicle prior to the rider entering the vehicle.

Of course, even with these precautions collisions still occur and people are injured every day. With the help of an experienced Uber accident attorney, victims can identify who is liable for the collision and recover the compensation they need.

Contact Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC Today

If you are injured in an Uber accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. In these situations, trust the lawyers at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC to fight for your right to recovery. Contact us today to discuss your legal options with one of our New Jersey Uber accident attorneys.