Who Is Liable for a New Jersey Lyft Accident?

Blog,Ridesharing • May 19, 2021

Rideshare companies like Lyft have put time and effort into avoiding liability for serious collisions involving their drivers. Lyft drivers are not classified as employees for the company. Instead, they are considered independent contractors. That means injured parties in a rideshare accident may be unable to hold the rideshare company responsible for their damages. While these companies do carry insurance policies for these events, rest assured that Lyft will attempt to avoid responsibility for any accident.

Recovering Compensation After a New Jersey Lyft Accident

For victims of New Jersey rideshare crashes, there are a few possible avenues for compensation, such as a personal injury suit or an insurance company. The ways you can obtain compensation after a rideshare accident are as follows:

The Insurance Policy of the Lyft Driver. In New Jersey, every driver has to carry insurance, and the same is true of Lyft drivers. After being injured in a crash caused by a negligent Lyft driver, you are able to submit a claim to the personal insurance provider of the Lyft driver in order to recover benefits. This is the same regardless if they are driving for Lyft at the time of the accident.

The Lyft Driver. A Lyft driver who causes a crash can be held liable for any resulting damages. Injured victims can file a lawsuit directly against the driver in order to obtain compensation. This is usually only an option after the benefits from the insurance provider have been exhausted.

Lyft’s Insurance Company. Lyft may be legally responsible for accidents involving its drivers, but injured parties may still be able to recover compensation from one of the company’s insurance policies. This coverage is in effect whenever a Lyft driver is actively waiting for a passenger request or has already accepted a request. After the Lyft driver has accepted a fare, Lyft’s insurance policy will cover up to $1 million in damages.

Other Liable Parties

Lyft drivers are not always at fault for rideshare accidents. In some cases, other parties may be to blame. Other potential parties who may share liability in a New Jersey rideshare crash include:

Drivers of other motor vehicles
Pedestrians
Bicyclists
Employers of negligent parties
Motorcyclists
Trucking companies
Truck drivers
Vehicle manufacturers
Transit agencies
Mechanics
Government agencies

New Jersey Rideshare Crashes

Those who are injured in a crash involving a rideshare vehicle should consult with an Uber/Lyft crash lawyer in New Jersey immediately in order to better understand their legal options. The legal team at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC is here to help you make sure that your case is treated fairly and that the liable driver is held accountable for his or her actions. We will fight to make sure that you recover the compensation you deserve so that your life can get back on track. Contact our New Jersey rideshare crash attorneys today at (201) 997- 0030 if you or a loved one has been unfairly injured in a crash involving a rideshare driver.

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