Helping Victims of New York Uber Car Accidents
New York City is known for its yellow taxicabs. You can raise your hand and call out for a cab just about anywhere in town. Now, as an alternative to calling a cab, more and more New Yorkers are using their phone to call an Uber. Instead of getting a ride in a commercially owned and operated taxi, Uber vehicles are privately owned and maintained by their drivers. This allows Uber to offer a unique experience at a discounted rate. But, there are facts about Uber you need to be aware of.
The biggest concern is the fact that Uber passengers may not be protected in the event they're injured in a car accident. There are many questions about who will compensate passengers for injuries and damages sustained in an Uber car accident.
The top-rated New York car accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP can help you better understand your legal rights and options in cases involving Uber.
Call us at (212) 986-7353 to discuss your situation.
Uber Versus Taxis in NYC
Anyone who's lived in New York has probably had a few disappointing taxi rides. Not every taxi driver is safe or particularly skilled, but they all are employees of a larger company. This means that they are screened and background-checked. Taxis are regularly inspected and maintained by the company that owns them.
Uber provides a similar service, but Uber vehicles and drivers ARE NOT regulated in the same way. Uber vehicles are owned, maintained, and operated by individual drivers. In fact, Uber tries to distance itself from the drivers by claiming that they only provide the platform that helps connect consumers with drivers. It's not always clear when the vehicle was last inspected, or whether the driver has recently had a background check or drug screening. Since the number of Uber accidents have increased over recent years however, Uber has claimed that the “safe ride fee”, the fare the rider pays after being taken to their desired location, covers things such as background checks, motor vehicle screenings, and driver safety education for their drivers.
What If You Are Injured in an Uber Accident in New York?
Many people are concerned over what happens when someone gets hurt in a New York City car accident involving an Uber driver. Is the driver responsible for his or her own actions or does Uber share responsibility even though the driver is not an employee and the company does not own the vehicle?
Uber made headlines in 2014 when it refused to take responsibility for a fatal car accident. The company's attorneys argued that the driver was an independent contractor and that Uber wasn't liable for the accident. To prevent this type of liability issue, New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission suggested new rules to regulate rideshare companies. But, it's unclear if Uber will follow these guidelines because they still consider themselves a rideshare program different from taxi services.
In a New York Uber accident, drivers are not considered to be employees of Uber, but a licensee of the company. This does not mean that they have not taken necessary measures to help protect drivers and their passengers, but it does mean that it's not always clear who should be held accountable to pay for compensation: the driver, Uber, or the insurance company – not to mention what insurance company.
Uber has also updated their website to include details of their one million dollar insurance policy, a policy set in place to protect Uber drivers and their passengers. The insurance policy is three parts, and the coverage provided depends on what the Uber driver is doing at the time of the accident.
- If the driver is using the vehicle for their own purposes, and is not available to give passengers a ride, they will be covered under their own vehicle insurance policy. Liability and coverage limits for New York Uber accidents will be determined in these cases by the policy specifications and New York state law.
- If the driver is available to give passengers a ride, but is not carrying passengers at the time of the accident, the insurance coverage will be split into two different parts. The driver's own personal insurance coverage will cover most of the damages, but Uber does have a policy to make up for partial damages in these cases. Uber will provide additional contingency liability coverage up to $50,000 per injury to a maximum of $100,000; and up to $25,000 in property damages. This Uber coverage will only be applicable upon request, and only in the case of a driver's own insurance not providing adequate coverage.
- If the driver is available and is carrying passengers at the time of the accident, both the passenger(s) and the driver will be covered under Uber's one million dollar liability policy. If the driver is found to be uninsured or underinsured, Uber will also provide an additional one million dollars to cover these damages.
The insurance policies Uber has instated to provide coverage for their drivers and passengers does sound reassuring, but it's been proven in case after case that getting compensation from Uber and its insurance company isn't easy. And anyone that's been in a car accident before knows that it's also not easy to get compensation from their own insurance company – and that's true in the case of Uber drivers as well.
Uber, and all insurance companies, are in the business of making money – not paying out on policies. Because of this, they'll do everything they can to fight any claims asking them for compensation. And because they're large companies with extensive teams of lawyers, they're well-equipped to avoid paying out on claims. In order to fight those big companies after an Uber crash, it's important that you have a New York Uber accident lawyer on your side to fight for your rights.
File an Uber Lawsuit in NYC
If you've been hurt in an Uber accident, you'll need guidance from an attorney to get the support you need. Our New York rideshare accident attorneys will help you fight for fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
Call Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.
Additional Information
Our Car Accident Case Results
$8.3 Million - New York State Record-Setting Verdict for Single Level Cervical Discectomy
Pursuant to the New York Jury Verdict Reporter, WRSMH attorney Frank J. Lombardo obtained the highest recorded verdict in the State of New York for a single level cervical discectomy.
Frank Lombardo
$6.2 Million - Intersection Accident
WRSMH attorney was able to obtain a jury verdict in the amount of $6.2 million on behalf of our client, a 60-year-old Brooklyn woman involved in a motor vehicle accident.
WRSMH LLP
$5.5 Million - New York Motor Vehicle Accident
WRSMH attorney Bryce Moses obtained a verdict in the amount of $5,500,000 for our client who was exiting the Staten Island Expressway when her motor vehicle was struck by a Con Edison van.
Bryce Moses
$4.5 Million - Two Passengers Injured in Rear-end Accident
Jay Wechsler obtained an excellent result at the early stages of a case for two clients who were injured in a rear-end accident.
Jay Wechsler
$3.4 Million - Two Backseat Passengers Suffered Severe Injuries in Rear-End Accident
Konstantin Burshteyn successfully represented two backseat passengers who suffered injuries in a rear-end accident.
Konstantin Burshteyn
$3.3 Million - Client Struck By Van While On a Scooter
Attorney Jason Rubin obtained a large settlement for a man who was injured after being struck by a van while on a scooter.
Jason Rubin
$3 Million - NY Motor Vehicle Accident
Cliff Shapiro and another WRSMH attorney were able to obtain a settlement in the amount of $3,000,000 on behalf of a forty-five year old man from Queens who suffered injuries to his neck and lower back in a crash.
Clifford Shapiro
$2.9 Million - NY Access-A-Ride Van Accident
WRSMH settled the case of our client who was hit by an Access-A-Ride van after mediation and before trial for $2.9 million dollars.
WRSMH LLP
$2.8 Million - Three Car Auto Accident in NY
WRSMH attorney obtained a $2.8 million settlement during trial for our client who was involved in a three car accident. The plaintiff was struck twice from behind in a rear-end collision involving two vehicles.
WRSMH LLP
$2.766 Million - Passenger Injured in Sideswipe
Konstantin Burshteyn represented a client, a passenger in a vehicle, who sustained multiple injuries in a sideswipe accident.
Konstantin Burshteyn
$2.75 Million - NY Intersection Car Accident
Phil Russotti and Kenneth Halperin obtained a settlement for our client in the amount of $2,750,000, in this case in which the plaintiff's motor vehicle was struck in the rear.
Philip Russotti, Kenneth Halperin
$2.75 Million - Rear-end Van Accident in Queens
Douglas Milch obtained a large settlement for a group of individuals injured in a van accident in Queens on the Grand Central Parkway.
Douglas Milch
$2.5 Million - New York Motor Vehicle Accident
Kenneth Halperin obtained a combined settlement in the amount of $2,500,000 for a 66 year old woman and her 32 year old daughter who were injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Kenneth Halperin
$2.5 Million - Queens County Resident's Vehicle Hit by Rental Truck
Douglas Milch obtained a large settlement for a Queens County resident who was injured in a collision with a rental truck.
Douglas Milch
$2.3 Million - Sideswipe Accident Causes Serious Injury
Michael Fitzpatrick obtained a large settlement for an immigrant, who was a passenger in a vehicle that was sideswiped in a Brooklyn.
Michael Fitzpatrick
$2.25 Million - Permanent Injuries from Rear-end Accident In The Bronx
WRSMH attorney recently settled a case for a client who sustained permanent neck and back injuries after being rear-ended in the Bronx.
WRSMH LLP
$2.25 Million - Rear-End Motor Vehicle Collision
Our client sustained multiple injuries as the result of a rear-end motor vehicle collision.
Stephen Wagner
$2.25 Million - Passenger Injured in Rear-End Accident
Konstantin Burshteyn successfully represented a client who sustained multiple injuries as a passenger in a rear-end accident.
Konstantin Burshteyn
$2 Million - New York Rear-End Collision
Kenneth Halperin and another WRSMH attorney were able to obtain a settlement in the amount of $2,000,000 on behalf of our client, a 45-year-old man from Queens County.
Kenneth Halperin
$2 Million - Intersection Accident in Brooklyn
WRSMH was able to obtain a recovery after trial in the amount of $2,000,000 on behalf of our client, a 60-year-old housekeeper from Kings County.
WRSMH LLP