New Jersey Uber Driver Accident Attorney

driver on the phone using uber

At Nagel Rice LLP, we are known for fine legal representation and a remarkable 30-year history of courtroom success relative to car accident injuries. One of our more recent areas of prowess is defending the rights of Uber drivers, workers who have often been mistreated although they provide a service New Jerseyans are grateful for. If you are an Uber driver and have been seriously injured in an accident, contact our New Jersey personal injury firm today to discuss your options.

As car accident attorneys with offices in Manhattan and Roseland, we have earned over a billion dollars in damages for our clients and we take pride in our ability to negotiate skillfully and litigate with savvy and determination. If all of this sounds like an expensive service, don’t worry. We will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we win you the compensation you deserve.

Since the advent of Uber and other similar services, a new category of transportation lawsuits has taken shape: a category involving rideshare injuries. While passengers worry about their safety and comfort in Uber vehicles, Uber drivers have their own concerns. Since as an Uber driver you may cover hundreds of miles daily, you are no doubt aware that you are more at risk of being involved in both fender benders and serious collisions than ordinary drivers. It is only prudent, therefore, that you question who will pay your bills if you are injured in a car accident or if you injure someone else.

How an Uber Driver Accident Is Affected By the New Laws?

Now that New Jersey Uber drivers are legally designated as employees, rather than independent contractors, you have many benefits you were previously denied, such as unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation. At the same time, you have fewer income tax advantages in terms of deductions since you are not self-employed.

As one would expect, being an Uber driver, no matter how your occupation is defined, adds a new layer of complexity to auto accidents. It is important to understand your rights and responsibilities in terms of insurance and personal injury costs before you have the misfortune to be involved in an accident. After all, you don’t want to be in a position in which you are unable to pay your medical bills or someone else’s.

New Jersey Is a No-Fault State

Because New Jersey is a no-fault state, regardless of whose fault the accident is, your own insurance policy will pay your medical costs. Still, since your policy will have both caps and deductibles, it is reassuring to know that Uber has back-up rideshare insurance that will kick in if your rideshare app is on.

The way Uber insurance works is determined by which “period” of connectedness to the company you are in when an accident occurs:

  • As an Uber driver, you are covered by rideshare insurance any time your rideshare app is on. If you are not “at work” with Uber when you have an accident, you’re on your own; in that case, only your chosen personal carrier will provide you with coverage.
  • If, on the other hand, you are available and waiting for a ride request, Uber maintains the following auto insurance on your behalf in case of a covered accident:
    • $50,000 in bodily injury per person
    • $100,000 in bodily injury per accident
    • $25,000 in property damage per accident
  • If you’re en route to pick up a rider or already engaged in traveling to your passenger’s destination, Uber maintains the following insurance for a covered accident:
    • $1,000,000 third-party liability (when another is responsible for your injury)
    • Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury (often applies in a hit-and-run)
    • Contingent comprehensive and collision up to actual cash value of car*
    • Lost income up to a capped amount 

*With a $1,000 deductible

What if you suffer long-term injuries from an accident as an Uber driver?

For most of us, the $1 million policy Uber carries may seem like a tremendous amount. If you suffer a long-term injury or become permanently disabled, however, $1 million may be only a drop in the bucket in terms of meeting long years of full-time care. This is especially true since you will have almost certainly lost your ability to be self-supporting.

This is where the experienced Uber driver attorneys at Nagel Rice come in. Whether or not you were driving for Uber at the time of your catastrophic injury — e.g. a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a spinal cord injury, a severe burn, or amputation — if another driver has caused you severe personal harm, we can help. We know precisely what strategies to use to hold the reckless driver (or negligent car manufacturer or road maintenance agency) accountable for your injury. 

Damages Nagel Rice Will Fight to Obtain for Uber Drivers

Even if you have a far less devastating injury, you may be out of work for some time and hurting financially; you may also be wondering who will pay for your ongoing pain and suffering

Depending on the nature of your injury, and the negligence of the other party, we may be able to win you damages to cover not only medical costs in full (including going forward), but lost income, present and future, and compensation for:

  • Physical pain
  • Emotional trauma
  • Permanent disfigurement
  • Permanent disability
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

If the defendant’s misconduct has been especially awful, our sharp Uber driver attorneys may also be able to win you punitive damages.

Contact Our Capable New Jersey Uber Driver Accident Attorneys Today

Once you become our client, we will dedicate ourselves to investigating your accident carefully, examining all police and medical records, and interviewing any witnesses. While you concentrate on recovering, we will take care of all communications with insurance adjusters and opposing attorneys. If necessary, we will also confer with medical or other experts who may be able to bolster your case at trial. At Nagel Rice, we will be your allies as well as your legal advocates, supporting you every step of the way.

Nagel Rice LLP helps their clients with their Uber driver injury claims throughout New Jersey including Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Sussex County.