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. n experienced Buffalo Uber accident lawyer at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you. Contact us today at (716) 222 2222.

Understanding the complex insurance laws that apply in rideshare accident cases is critical to your financial recovery. A 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. 

We offer a free consultation, so there’s no risk in calling for advice.

What Should I Do If I Was Involved in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Seek medical attention immediately to address any injuries, even minor ones. Some injuries may not be apparent right away, so it’s essential to get evaluated by a medical professional. Delaying treatment could also impact any potential legal claims by allowing insurance companies to argue that your injuries were not severe.

After ensuring your safety, follow these steps:

  • Call 911 to report the accident. A police report is critical evidence for your claim and helps establish fault.
  • Collect driver and witness information, including names, contact details, and insurance details. If the Uber or Lyft driver was at fault, their insurance or the rideshare company’s policy may be responsible for your damages.
  • Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries. Capture street signs, traffic signals, and any conditions that might have contributed to the crash.
  • Notify Uber or Lyft through their app about the accident. The rideshare company may have additional reporting requirements that could affect insurance coverage.
  • Consult a Buffalo Uber and Lyft accident lawyer to understand your legal options. A lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of rideshare insurance policies, determine liability, and ensure you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

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.

Understanding Uber Accident Policies in Buffalo

Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage for their drivers, but it varies based on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. Different insurance policies apply depending on whether the driver was logged into the app, waiting for a ride request, or actively transporting a passenger. 

App Off: 

The driver’s personal insurance is responsible for covering any damages or injuries.

App On, No Passenger: 

Uber or Lyft provides contingent liability coverage, which includes coverage up to specific limits:

  • Up to $50,000 per person for injuries.
  • Up to $100,000 per accident.
  • Up to $25,000 for property damage.

App On, Passenger in Car: 

Uber and Lyft maintain a $1 million liability policy and contingent collision coverage. This policy is designed to protect passengers and third parties in case of an accident while a ride is in progress.

Consulting a Buffalo Uber and Lyft accident lawyer ensures you pursue the correct insurance claim. Without proper guidance, victims may face delays or denials from insurance providers who attempt to minimize their payouts.

Legal Requirements for Uber and Lyft Drivers in Buffalo

Uber and Lyft drivers in Buffalo must meet specific legal requirements before operating. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, these requirements include:

  • Holding a valid New York driver’s license issued by the DMV.
  • Completing a background check to ensure no history of serious traffic violations or criminal offenses.
  • Passing a vehicle inspection to confirm the car meets safety and emissions standards.
  • Carrying a Transportation Network Company (TNC) insurance policy that provides coverage beyond personal auto insurance.
  • Maintaining a vehicle that meets Uber and Lyft’s safety and age requirements typically includes restrictions on the car’s age and condition.

In addition to these requirements, drivers must always comply with local and state traffic laws. Failure to meet these regulations could result in penalties and impact liability and the ability to recover damages in an accident case. If an Uber or Lyft driver involved in an accident was operating without proper credentials, it may significantly affect the claims process and potential compensation for victims.

Who Is Liable for Uber and Lyft Accidents?

Liability depends on the circumstances of the crash and who acted negligently and is crucial for securing compensation. Insurance companies may attempt to shift blame, so gathering evidence such as accident reports, witness statements, and rideshare app data is essential. 

In many cases, responsibility may fall on:

  • The Uber or Lyft driver if they were reckless or negligent, such as speeding, driving while distracted, or violating traffic laws.
  • Another driver caused the accident while the Uber or Lyft vehicle was transporting passengers or waiting for a ride. A driver who runs a red light or engages in reckless driving may be held accountable.
  • The rideshare company failed to conduct proper background checks, allowed an unsafe driver to operate on their platform, or had a policy that indirectly encouraged hazardous driving practices, such as requiring drivers to meet unrealistic ride quotas.
  • A third party, such as a manufacturer, if vehicle defects contributed to the accident. Faulty brakes, malfunctioning airbags, or other mechanical issues may shift liability to the car manufacturer or maintenance provider.

A Buffalo Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help investigate the accident, identify the responsible parties, and file the appropriate claims to ensure fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

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:

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

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 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:

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.

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 Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers 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 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 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, to comply with the statute of limitations.

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.

Practice Areas We Manage in Buffalo, NY

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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