Contact a New Jersey Uber/Lyft Crash Attorney
The circumstances of an Uber or Lyft collision make them extremely different than other types of car accidents. Because of this, crash victims following a rideshare accident are usually left feeling uncertain of their legal rights — or even what steps should be taken next. This doubt can be resolved by selecting the right New Jersey Lyft crash attorney to work on your case.
Discussing your case with a qualified rideshare crash attorney in New Jersey can help protect your legal rights and make sure you and your loved ones are secured after an accident. We want to make sure that the party who bears legal responsibility is held accountable. Even if you were injured while riding in a rideshare vehicle, you need to fully understand the legal options available to you. There are some significant factors that can impact your right to pursue compensation, and our legal team of New Jersey Uber crash attorneys has highlighted some key elements.
Uber & Lyft Have Company Requirements That Can Impact Your Eligible Compensation
Uber and Lyft have policies in place at their respective companies requiring that drivers be at least 21 years or older and that they own a qualified iPhone or Android phone that is in good working condition. Also, drivers are not able to drive for the company if they have any of the following convictions on their criminal record:
- Violent crimes
- Sexual crimes
- Drug convictions
- Other felony offenses
Because of this, both Lyft and Uber conduct an extensive national and county background check on all their drivers, in addition to a more standard DMV check. The rideshare vehicles used by these drivers are also required to meet in-depth vehicle inspection standards for safety, which is added on to any safety requirements or vehicle obligations that are required by the state or city.
If drivers are unable to meet these standards — for instance, a car did not meet the required safety standards of a driver who should be disqualified from driving for the rideshare company — this evidence can increase the compensation a crash victim obtains due to the liability of the company.
Liability for New Jersey Ridesharing Accidents
In New Jersey, at-fault parties that cause collision injuries are liable for paying for the damages caused by the accident. Because of this, injured parties involved in a rideshare accident have to be able to show the following legal elements to regain lost compensation:
- An at-fault party owed a legal duty of care to the victim
- That duty of care was breached by the party who was at-fault
- The breach of duty was the direct cause of the rideshare accident
- The resulting rideshare accident resulted in actual damages and harm — including medical costs and similar injuries
Because of the functioning of the legal system regarding rideshare accidents, the big rideshare services Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in liability insurance per incident. However, New Jersey has passed strict insurance requirements for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft.
Lyft drivers are not always responsible for a collision. Many crashes have been caused by legally responsible parties that injure an innocent rideshare driver, as well as their passengers.
Because of this, it is not advised to make any legal assumptions or jump to any conclusions about liable parties without first speaking with a qualified New Jersey rideshare crash attorney. Your attorney will conduct an in-depth evaluation that determines who is responsible for the collision, as well as the optimal course of legal action to pursue to recover lost compensation.
At Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC, we are proud to have developed a reputation for helping deserving victims of rideshare collisions recover millions in compensation. You need to take the first steps toward obtaining the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us today for an evaluation of your case.
Uber/Lyft Car Accidents in New Jersey
The vast majority of people believe that ridesharing provides a useful service to the general public, but there are some significant disadvantages that go along with the industry. While it is true that the industry’s biggest players — Uber and Lyft — do whatever they can to keep their services as safe as possible, but these companies can only do so much. All drivers on the roads of New Jersey can potentially cause terrible accidents, even those who transport passengers around to make their living, like rideshare drivers.
There have been recent studies establishing a link between the creation of Uber and an increase in roadway fatalities in the United States. Across the country, traffic fatalities have increased, with some sources claiming a 2 to 3 percent rise. This means an additional 1,100 people are dying annually. Why this is the case isn’t exactly clear at this time. However, more Uber drivers mean that there are more cars on the road and more miles being driven. Also, many drivers for Uber and Lyft aren’t provided the necessary training to make sure that they will not put their passengers in danger. Any potential injuries associated with the rideshare industry are compounded by the fact that these large companies will attempt to avoid liability by claiming their drivers are just contractors and not direct employees.
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 law offices today at (201) 997- 0030 if you or a loved one has been unfairly injured in a crash involving a rideshare driver.