Public transportation and common carriers are essential to getting around in the great state of New York, and many other places across the U.S. There are a variety of forms of hired vehicles, such as taxis, airport shuttles, and medical transportation, but the most common or popular are the rideshare platforms Uber and Lyft.
When you are involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Buffalo, you may be unsure of how to proceed, or who would be responsible for providing compensation for any injuries or losses you sustain. An experienced car accident attorney from Richmond Vona, LLC can help you understand your options and pursue what you need to get back on your feet. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help.
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How Do Uber Accidents Differ From Other Car Accidents?
From a legal perspective, there are differences in how a car accident with a taxi or Uber driver in Buffalo is handled versus a car accident involving someone just using their car for personal use. For example, with Uber specifically, drivers will have a commercial insurance policy typically worth $1 million. For a personal driver, with their own insurance plan, the minimum in New York State is $25,000. This means there could be two insurance policies at play, both the driver’s personal plan and the commercial plan through Uber. However, while the available compensation may be more for an Uber or Lyft wreck, this is only accessible when the driver is on duty. This makes establishing the driving status of a rideshare driver at the time of a collision one of the most important aspects of a claim.
If the driver was logged into the Uber app, and in the process of dropping someone off or picking someone up, they are considered to be on duty, and the $1 million coverage will be there. Alternatively, if the Uber driver was just logged in and waiting to be hired, only the motorist’s private policy would come into play. The same rule applies if the Uber driver is not logged in at all.
Who Is Responsible for Paying Damages in Rideshare Accidents?
In Buffalo Lyft accidents, the rideshare driver, if they caused the wreck, is responsible for paying damages either with their private insurance policy or through the commercial plan their employer provides, depending on their status at the time of the event. However, in rideshare accidents, like other types of accidents, there may be other liable parties, including bicyclists, pedestrians, vehicle manufacturers, government agencies, and other third parties.
There could be a lot of entities or individuals involved who may share responsibility, which is why it is crucial that a thorough investigation by an experienced attorney is completed quickly after the accident.
What Damages Are Available?
Typically, economic and non-economic damages will be available as a settlement. Economic damages reimburse an injured person for their financial losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages refer to compensation for subjective harm such as emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and lost enjoyment of life. In some instances, punitive damages may be available if there was highly reckless or malicious conduct.
How Can an Attorney Help After an Uber Accident?
After a Lyft or Uber wreck in Buffalo, insurance companies will often try to get the injured person to do things they are not required to do, like give recorded statements or accept quick lowball settlements that will preclude them from ever recovering the true value of their case. Insurance companies may also refuse to pay or omit details on how much coverage is available. It takes a skilled attorney to determine who has coverage, how much coverage is available, and how to prove that those insurance policies need to come into play and compensate the injured party.
In addition, an attorney can work to hire professional investigators to collect evidence, interview witnesses, totally reconstruct the accident, extract black box or event recorded data from the cars, and ultimately put together or recreate the accident in full to determine who is at fault.
They can also work to ensure that they properly evaluate the case’s value based on precedent and handle all communication with insurance companies, so all the injured person has to do is focus on getting better and going to their treatment.
Work With Our Team After a Buffalo Uber/Lyft Accident
When you are uncertain of what you should do or what steps to take following an Uber or Lyft accident in Buffalo, let our seasoned team guide you through the process. Reach out to Richmond Vona, LLC to speak with our team during a free consultation.
With over 25 years of combined personal injury experience, our co-founding attorneys, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have helped injury victims and their family members recover more than $150 million in financial relief.
John E. Richmond
Co-Founding Member
As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John E. Richmond understands that clients come first. With over a decade of experience representing plaintiffs, he knows how to hold negligent corporations and big insurance companies liable.
In his nearly 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys.
