South Jersey Uber/Lyft Injury Lawyer
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Today, roadways in South Jersey are more crowded than ever, with fewer people relying on public transit and the roads crowded instead with Uber and Lyft vehicles. With the rapid rise of rideshare apps, studies link rideshare vehicles with a 3% increase in traffic fatalities nationwide and an even greater rise in overall traffic accidents. Estimates put the costs of rideshare accidents at over $10 billion each year.
Rideshare vehicles are a convenient option for travel within South Jersey communities for residents and visitors, but when a rideshare trip ends in an accident, you may be left wondering where to turn for compensation for the damages, especially in a no-fault insurance state like New Jersey.
If you’ve been in an accident with a rideshare vehicle as either a passenger or another driver, you need an experienced South Jersey accident attorney with a deep understanding of the tiered framework used by rideshare drivers to determine the coverage in place at the time of your accident. The attorneys at Grungo Law have years of experience in this specialized area of injury law. Contact our South Jersey office today so we can begin working on securing compensation for your damages.
Why Choose A Lawyer From Grungo?
No one should take on a complex rideshare accident claim without a knowledgeable attorney in their corner. The South Jersey rideshare lawyers at Grungo Law are ready to provide the following advantages in your case:
- A free consultation about your case and no fees until we recover your compensation
- Skilled investigation to determine the at-fault party and the insurance coverage in place at the time of the accident
- A results-oriented attorney working on your case to form a personalized strategy for your financial recovery
- Dedicated client advocates who use both timeless legal advocacy methods and the latest technologies to streamline a claim for the best possible outcome
- A successful track record and strong local reputation to put a powerful voice behind your claim
When you’ve been injured in an accident, you need time to focus on healing while the attorneys at Grungo Law focus on achieving your financial recovery in a South Jersey Uber/Lyft claim.
Causes of Uber/Lyft Accidents In South Jersey
We often rely on rideshare vehicles for safe transportation in unfamiliar locations or within our communities if we’ve been out enjoying adult beverages with friends. While most Uber/Lyft journeys end successfully, when an accident occurs in a rideshare vehicle it can be overwhelming to tackle a legal claim. Common causes of Uber and Lyft vehicle accidents in South Jersey include the following:
- Distracted driving: rideshare drivers must use apps for navigation and to communicate with rideshare companies and prospective passengers
- Traffic congestion: New Jersey’s roadways are congested with commercial trucks and private vehicles and include some of the most dangerous intersections in the U.S.
- Driver fatigue: Uber and Lyft drivers often work day jobs and then pick up driving shifts in their off-hours for extra income. This may result in drowsy driving accidents
- Driver inexperience: College students and young drivers often rely on Uber and Lyft jobs to earn income around their school schedule so many are inexperienced drivers
- Speeding and reckless driving: rideshare drivers may exceed speed limits or take risks to maximize the number of jobs they complete in a shift, leaving them at increased risk of an accident
- Intoxicated driving: in some cases, rideshare drivers may be intoxicated while driving
- Third-party drivers: sometimes the rideshare driver is not at fault in an accident, but another driver causes the accident
In less common cases, Uber/Lyft accidents may result from dangerous road conditions, negligent road maintenance agencies, and defective equipment on a vehicle. Your attorney from Grungo Law will investigate all aspects of your rideshare accident to determine the cause of the accident and prove liability.
Injuries from South Jersey Uber/Lyft Accidents
Car accidents can cause injuries ranging from minor to grave or catastrophic. Common injuries in rideshare accident claims include the following:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Burns
- Injuries to internal organs/ thoracic injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Bruises, lacerations, and abrasions
If your Uber/Lyft accident caused injuries, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A successful claim can open doors to the best possible medical care and help victims of rideshare accidents in New Jersey to achieve a sense of justice.
South Jersey Uber/Lyft Statute of Limitations
Like all states, New Jersey places a time limit—or statute of limitations—on injury claims, including for injuries sustained in Uber and Lyft accidents. In New Jersey, accident victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for their damages, including for personal injuries. This time limit may be extended only under specific circumstances, such as the delayed discovery of an injury, or when an accident victim is unconscious or incapacitated for a time after the accident. Also, underage accident victims have two years from the date of their 18th birthday to file claims.
It’s important to speak to your attorney from Grungo Law about the timing of your claim. Your attorney must have time to investigate, document evidence, and engage in back-and-forth negotiations with the insurance company to attempt a settlement. If the insurer fails to offer an ample settlement amount or wrongfully denies the claim, your attorney must file a lawsuit within New Jersey’s two-year statute of limitations.
Determining Liability in an Accident
Car accident claims rely on proving negligence and liability on the part of the at-fault driver, even in no-fault insurance states. In New Jersey, accident victims may still file claims against at-fault parties in many circumstances. Determining liability requires a diligent investigation of all aspects of an accident to uncover the truth about who caused the accident. Then the attorney must prove liability by demonstrating the following:
- That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to the victim and others on the road to take reasonable measures to prevent causing injuries
- They breached this duty through an act of negligence, reckless driving, or intentional wrongdoing
- Their breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The injury victim suffered significant damages from the injury
“Damages” in a personal injury or car accident claim in New Jersey refers to more than just property damage. All of the consequences of an accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are “damages” to the victim.
How Do Rideshare Insurance Claims Work?
With the rise of rideshare use, Uber and Lyft companies managed to distance themselves from liability by remaining within their app-only platform connecting passengers with contracted drivers. However, they address the liability issue by requiring their contracted drivers to carry specialized rideshare insurance policies that offer different levels of compensation depending on the stage of the rideshare experience. The policies in place work within the following tiered framework:
- While the rideshare driver is using their vehicle in a personal capacity their private insurance policy is in effect
- Once the driver turns on their rideshare app and awaits a ride request, their special rideshare insurance coverage is in place, providing up to $25,000 in property damage and $50,000 in coverage for personal injury per person, or $100,000 total per accident
- When the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger and throughout the drive to their destination, the rideshare insurance is in full effect, providing up to $1 million in personal injury coverage and property damage
It often takes an experienced personal injury lawyer in South Jersey to untangle the complex system of rideshare insurance with a thorough investigation of the accident, especially when insurance companies commonly attempt to deny their coverage was in place at the time of the accident as a way to maximize profits by minimizing payouts. If your accident involved a motorcyclist, please speak to our motorcycle accident attorneys in South Jersey for more information.
What Can a South Jersey Uber/Lyft Accident Attorney Do For Me?
An experienced accident attorney knows how to maximize the compensation for your damages by diligently pursuing every legal avenue available through the rideshare insurance in effect at the time of the accident. If you’ve sustained serious injuries, or a death has occurred, reach out to our South Jersey wrong death attorneys. Ultimately, you deserve compensation for damages such as:
- Property damage
- Medical costs
- Future medical costs if you require further treatment
- Lost paychecks during treatment and recovery
- Pain and suffering damages
While you focus on your recovery, your Uber/Lyft accident attorney can focus on recovering your financial losses and gaining compensation for the associated pain and suffering.
Contact A South Jersey Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
At Grungo Law, we understand the short and long-term impacts of a car accident, including devasting consequences to your physical, emotional, and financial health. Our highly capable attorneys have a successful track record of navigating complicated rideshare accident claims for our clients so they can focus on healing from their injuries. Contact our South Jersey law office today so we can evaluate your case. Pay nothing upfront and we don’t take a fee until we secure ample compensation for your losses.