What Challenges Arise When Seeking Compensation for Uber/Lyft Accidents?
Following an Uber or Lyft accident, it's common to feel overwhelmed, confused, or unsure of what your next steps should be. While you might assume compensation will be easy to pursue because a large company is involved, that rarely happens. Instead, there are many obstacles to pursuing compensation and each one must be addressed properly to protect your rights, financial security, and recovery.
As an attorney with The Eskesen Law Firm, I handle these cases regularly under New York law and know firsthand that rideshare collisions present unique hurdles. These accidents typically involve multiple parties, which can make the path forward even more tangled. My goal is to guide you through what makes rideshare cases distinct from other personal injury matters.
Rideshare accidents sit in an odd intersection between commercial transportation and ordinary private driving. Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t employees, and that distinction affects how insurance works, how liability is evaluated, and how you can seek compensation.
The Multi-Layered Insurance Structure in Rideshare Collisions
One of the biggest issues when working on Uber or Lyft personal injury claims is the layered insurance structure that governs rideshare activity. New York requires rideshare companies to maintain $1.25 million in liability coverage once a trip has been accepted and the passenger is either in the vehicle or is about to be picked up.
However, when the driver is logged into the app but hasn’t yet accepted a ride, the available coverage drops dramatically. If the driver isn’t logged into the app at all, then only their personal insurance applies.
This tiered approach can create tremendous confusion if you've been injured during a rideshare collision. Determining when the accident occurred, whether the app was active, and whether a ride was accepted is critical but can often be complicated.
Complications in Obtaining Insurance Information
Uber and Lyft generally don’t provide this information quickly, so it typically must be obtained from trip data, timestamps, and other evidence to confirm which insurance policy applies. However, even with the right information, the carriers sometimes point fingers at each other, claiming that the other should pay. These arguments can stall a personal injury claim.
Another issue arises when a passenger is injured by the driver’s own negligence. The rideshare company may try to distance itself, arguing that it has no legal responsibility because the driver is an independent contractor. However, insurance coverage for active trips can typically still be pursued in these cases.
If you've been injured as a rideshare passenger, the aftermath can often involve enormous losses, such as medical bills, surgery costs, future treatment, lost earnings, and pain. Therefore, the insurance limits must be applied correctly.
Distinguishing Driver Negligence From Third-Party Negligence
A significant challenge in rideshare personal injury cases is identifying the source of negligence. In a traditional car accident, this issue might be relatively straightforward. However, with Uber and Lyft, multiple parties may be involved, including:
The rideshare driver
Another vehicle’s driver
A pedestrian or cyclist
The rideshare company’s insurance provider
A commercial vehicle operator
When more than one party contributes to a collision, liability may be shared. New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means that your compensation can be reduced if you share some blame. In many rideshare accidents, the drivers involved point fingers at each other, and witnesses may have conflicting accounts.
Video footage from dashcams, security cameras, nearby businesses, or even doorbell devices can often provide evidence, but obtaining it before it’s erased or overwritten can be challenging. Without strong evidence, each party’s insurance carrier may try to reduce its payout by shifting responsibility away from its own insured.
In a personal injury claim, proving both fault and causation is essential. If the rideshare driver was distracted, speeding, or disobeying a traffic law, it’s important to establish that negligence clearly. If another motorist caused the collision, attention must be turned to that party’s insurer instead. Some cases even involve both.
Disputes Over New York’s No-Fault Benefits
Under New York’s no-fault rules, anyone who has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, whether they were a passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist, may receive up to $50,000 in benefits for medical bills and lost wages. However, no-fault coverage can be messy when multiple insurance policies are involved. In a rideshare personal injury setting, several issues may arise:
Which insurer is responsible for providing no-fault benefits?
Was the injured person a passenger, a bystander, or a driver?
Was the rideshare app on, off, or between stages of a trip?
Did the injured person submit timely no-fault forms?
No-fault carriers regularly deny or delay claims due to paperwork issues, incorrect filings, or unclear trip details. These denials can make pursuing a personal injury case more difficult if you are trying to recover physically while juggling medical appointments and financial strain.
In severe personal injury cases, such as those involving fractures, brain trauma, or spinal injuries, no-fault benefits typically run out quickly, long before you have recovered. Therefore, it's often wise to pursue a liability claim against the appropriate insurer to recover the full measure of damages under New York law.
Challenges With Rideshare Company Cooperation
The level of cooperation from Uber and Lyft throughout the claims process can be challenging. These companies often respond slowly to requests for data, documents, or driver information.
In some personal injury cases, the only way to obtain essential records, such as trip logs, driver background materials, or communication between the driver and the company, is through litigation. When the company delays information or discovery, it can stall the entire case and lead to extended recovery times for the injured parties.
New York law provides avenues to compel the release of necessary information, but it can take firm, consistent pressure to obtain these results. If you are pursuing a personal injury claim alone, you may find this process nearly impossible. That's why it's important to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney for tailored guidance in these matters.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in New York Today
Uber and Lyft accidents introduce challenges that other motor vehicle collisions do not. But with careful planning, strong evidence, and determined advocacy, you can pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
At The Eskesen Law Firm, I fight for my clients from day one, providing guidance grounded in New York law and a deep understanding of rideshare personal injury cases. No matter how complicated the facts may seem, I work to build a strategic plan that addresses every obstacle, including insurance, no-fault disputes, liability questions, medical documentation, and negotiations with large corporations.
If you were injured in a rideshare accident in New York and need guidance rooted in real legal experience, I’m ready to help. Contact my firm today to schedule a consultation. I serve clients throughout New York City, including Kings County (Brooklyn), Queens County, New York County (Manhattan), Bronx County, and Richmond County (Staten Island).