Buffalo Uber Accident Lawyer

Were you or a loved one hit by an Uber driver or injured as a passenger in Buffalo, NY? You may be entitled to significant compensation. Understanding the complex insurance laws that apply in rideshare accident cases is critical to your financial recovery. An experienced Buffalo Uber accident lawyer at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you fight for money to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

For over two decades, our team has provided compassionate, quality legal guidance for accident victims in Buffalo. Our lawyers have 84 years of combined experience and have secured tens of millions of dollars for our clients. 

If you were hurt and someone else was to blame, contact us today at (716) 222 2222. We offer a free consultation, so there’s no risk in calling for advice.

How Can O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After an Uber Accident in Buffalo?

How Can O’Brien & Ford, PC Help Me Recover Compensation After an Uber Accident in Buffalo?

O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is one of the most respected personal injury law firms in update New York. We’ve been listed among the Top 50 Update New York Super Lawyers. We’ve also been recognized by the WNY Legal Elite.

If you were injured in an accident, count on our trusted Buffalo personal injury attorneys. We’ll help you stand up to the insurance company and demand full compensation. 

We can help with your case by:

  • Handling the paperwork and insurance communications
  • Collecting evidence to prove who is responsible for your crash
  • Determining the correct insurance policies that are available in your case
  • Hiring experts to prove the value of your intangible losses
  • Working with your doctor and other specialists to estimate your future losses
  • Protecting you from blame-the-victim games
  • Negotiating for the maximum compensation you deserve

Rideshare accident claims can be complex. Call our personal injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York, to get the legal representation you deserve after a crash.

How Do I Get Money After an Uber Accident in Buffalo?

New York is a no-fault insurance state. You’ll start by filing an insurance claim against your own policy. However, if your injuries are severe or your damages exceed your policy limits, you can seek additional compensation from the at-fault parties.

You can’t sue Uber or Lyft for damages after a rideshare accident. Uber classifies drivers as independent contractors. That means they aren’t responsible when Uber drivers cause accidents.

You’ll only have a claim for compensation against the at-fault Uber driver’s personal insurance policy if they were logged out of the Uber app when the crash happened. Personal auto insurance doesn’t cover accidents when the insured driver is using the vehicle for a profit.

That’s one reason why Uber is now required to carry commercial insurance coverage in New York. The insurance coverage limits depend on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. As the victim, it’s up to you to identify the correct policy.

Driver Is Logged in and Ready To Accept Ride Requests

When the Uber driver is logged into the app and awaiting a ride request in New York, Uber’s insurance provides:

  • $50,000 for bodily injury coverage per victim
  • $100,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage
  • $25,000 in property damage 

Other types of coverage might apply as well, depending on the case.

Driver Has Accepted a Passenger Request

Once the Uber driver accepts a passenger request, Uber must provide: 

  • $1 million in bodily injury coverage 
  • Comprehensive and collision coverage for vehicle damages up to the value of your vehicle is also available if you maintain comprehensive and collision coverage on your own vehicle

This more generous coverage is available when the driver is en route to pick up a passenger and during rides.

Third-Party Insurance Claims

Not all accidents involving rideshare drivers are the Uber driver’s fault. 

If a third party contributed to the crash, you may have a valid claim against:

  • The at-fault driver
  • Pedestrians 
  • Bicyclists 
  • Employers of negligent parties
  • Government transit authorities
  • Manufacturers of defective vehicles
  • Trucking companies

You can count on our Buffalo Uber accident attorneys to help you identify all sources of compensation after a crash. You can get the legal advice you deserve by calling our law firm for a free case review today.

Should I Take the Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer After an Uber Accident in Buffalo?

Once you identify the correct insurance company, don’t expect them to hand over a fair check without a fight. You’ll have to prove your case value. If you don’t know what your case is worth, it’s impossible to know whether the insurance offer is fair.

When we calculate the value of your personal injury case, we examine:

  • Whether your injuries are severe
  • Your financial losses, including medical treatment costs and lost income
  • Whether your doctor expects you to suffer a long-term disability
  • Your expected future costs
  • How the injury has impacted your mental health and quality of life
  • Your physical pain
  • Whether you share blame

If you were injured in an Uber accident, call O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about how we can help you get every dollar you deserve.

What Types of Compensation Are Available to Uber Accident Victims in Buffalo?

Under New York personal injury law, injury victims can seek economic damages and non-economic damages.

If your injuries were caused by someone else, you can seek compensation for:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Nursing care
  • Rehabilitation 
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Anxiety and depression 
  • Shame or humiliation 
  • PTSD
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Physical disfigurement and scarring
  • Loss of consortium

Your damages depend on the types of losses you have experienced due to the accident and injury.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Buffalo?

At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. Like most personal injury attorneys, we don’t charge upfront fees or retainers. We only take our attorney’s fees once your case is successfully resolved. After we’ve negotiated your settlement or won a verdict, we’ll take a percentage of the amount we win for you.

How Can New York’s Shared Fault Laws Impact My Right to Compensation?

You don’t lose your right to compensation if you share blame for a car accident in New York. Instead, your compensation is reduced to account for your share of fault.

New York follows a pure comparative negligence law. Each party to the crash is assigned a percentage of fault. Your compensation is reduced by the blame allocated to you.

Our Team Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Uber Accident Injuries

Some common examples of Uber accident injuries include:

  • Facial injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Concussions 
  • Broken bones
  • Nerve damage
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Burns
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Seek medical attention quickly if you are involved in an accident. Your medical records will be key to establishing the link between the crash and your injuries.

What Causes Most Uber Accidents in Buffalo, New York?

Uber drivers don’t have any type of professional training. The same factors that cause your ordinary auto accident also factor into Uber crashes.

Some of the most common causes of Uber accidents include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way 
  • Tailgating 
  • Speeding
  • Aggressive driving
  • Dangerous turns
  • Stopping in dangerous locations
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Drunk driving
  • Drug use
  • Hazardous road conditions
  • Fatigued rideshare drivers

Uber drivers are often unfamiliar with the area and distracted by the Uber app. These factors can increase the risk of accidents.

How Do I Prove Negligence After an Uber Accident in New York? 

Because New York is a no-fault state, you must prove someone else was negligent to recover damages above and beyond what your own insurance coverage.

Someone is negligent when they fail to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances.

In legal terms, you must prove four elements:

  • Duty of care
  • Breach of duty
  • Causation
  • Damages 

Generally speaking, you must prove that someone else’s careless acts directly caused your accident and injuries.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After an Uber Accident in New York?

Most Uber accident claims are resolved by negotiating with the insurance company. Still, it’s important to understand that New York’s statute of limitations limits the amount of time you have to sue for damages. The law only gives accident victims three years to file a personal injury lawsuit.

After three years pass, you lose your right to pursue compensation entirely. There are exceptions, but only in some cases – get in touch with us as soon as you can for help.

Contact a Skilled Buffalo Uber Accidents Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation Today

Uber accident injuries can dramatically impact your life. If you need help with the insurance process or are curious about your legal rights, reach out to O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today. We proudly serve al throughout Erie County and surrounding areas.

An experienced Buffalo car accident lawyer would be happy to sit down and discuss your case.

Our Personal Injury law firm in Buffalo also provides:

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Buffalo, NY

O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
4549 Main St Suite 201 Buffalo, NY 14226
Phone: (716) 222-2222
Opening Hours: From 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
7 days a week

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