New York City
Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Ridesharing has transformed the way New Yorkers get around the city. With millions of Uber and Lyft drivers operating throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond, rideshare services offer fast and convenient transportation. Unfortunately, accidents involving these vehicles have also increased. If you’ve been injured while in a rideshare or by a rideshare driver, you need experienced New York City rideshare accident lawyers to help you obtain fair compensation. Our team at The Silbowitz Firm has decades of experience handling complex car accident cases, including those involving multiple parties and layered insurance coverage.

Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians can be affected by:

• Reckless or negligent driving by Uber or Lyft drivers
• Distracted driving, such as texting or app notifications
• Poor road conditions, potholes, or improperly maintained streets
• Construction zones and other temporary hazards
• Collisions with other motorists who fail to yield or follow traffic laws

In New York City, high-traffic areas like Times Square, the Upper West Side, and the Bronx can increase the risk of serious collisions. Rideshare drivers often work long hours and face constant pressure to complete trips quickly, which can contribute to accidents.

Understanding Liability in Rideshare Accidents

Determining who is responsible in a rideshare accident can be complicated. Liability may fall on the rideshare driver, the company, another motorist, or even the city if poor road conditions played a role. Some key factors include:

• Whether the driver was logged into the app but waiting for a ride
• Whether the driver was en route to pick up a passenger
• Whether the driver was actively transporting a passenger at the time of the crash

Insurance coverage also depends on these factors. Drivers logged into the app may have liability coverage from $50,000 per person up to $1.25 million per accident when actively transporting a passenger. If the driver was off duty, their personal insurance might apply instead.

Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident

Taking the right steps after a collision is critical for protecting your rights:

• Call emergency services immediately, even if injuries seem minor
• Document the accident scene, including photos of vehicles, road conditions, and traffic signs
• Collect information from all parties involved, including license plates and insurance details
• Seek medical attention promptly to ensure injuries are properly diagnosed
• Notify your own insurance company and consider consulting a rideshare accident lawyer before speaking with other insurers

Acting quickly can help preserve evidence and prevent delays in your claim. In New York, PIP (personal injury protection) insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault, but serious injuries often require additional claims against at-fault parties.

Types of Compensation for Rideshare Accident Victims

Victims of rideshare accidents may be entitled to several forms of compensation, including:

• Medical expenses and future care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering or emotional distress
• Property damage, including vehicle repairs
• Loss of quality of life or consortium
• Wrongful death damages in fatal accidents

Rideshare accidents often involve multiple insurance policies. Our attorneys work to identify which policies apply and maximize the compensation clients deserve. Serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or broken bones can result in settlements ranging from six to seven figures depending on liability and documentation.

Why Rideshare Cases Can Be Complicated

Rideshare cases are more complex than typical car accidents for several reasons:

• Multiple parties may be involved, including other drivers, passengers, and the rideshare company
• Insurance coverage changes depending on the phase of the trip
• Proving fault may require trip logs, app records, video footage, police reports, and witness statements

These complexities make early consultation with an experienced attorney important. Collecting evidence immediately after an accident increases the likelihood of recovering fair compensation.

About Mitchell Silbowitz, Founder & Trial Attorney

Mitchell Silbowitz has spent more than 30 years fighting for personal injury victims in New York City. He has handled over 1,000 successful cases, recovering compensation for clients injured in car accidents, construction incidents, defective products, and medical malpractice. His reputation as a skilled trial attorney ensures clients receive aggressive representation and thorough preparation.

Mr. Silbowitz is admitted to the New York State Bar and federal courts, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He is a designated Super Lawyer and a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Trial Lawyers. Clients benefit from his decades of experience and personal attention on every case.

How Our Attorneys Help After a Rideshare Accident

Our team focuses on guiding clients through each step of their claims, including:

• Investigating accident circumstances thoroughly
• Communicating with insurance companies to prevent low settlements
• Preparing all documentation, from medical records to witness statements
• Calculating damages for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering
• Representing clients in court if necessary to achieve maximum compensation
  

By combining local knowledge of New York City streets, landmarks, and traffic patterns with decades of legal experience, our attorneys can provide tailored strategies for each case.

Common Locations for Rideshare Accidents in New York City

Certain areas in NYC are more prone to collisions due to traffic density and complex intersections:

• Times Square and Midtown Manhattan with heavy pedestrian and vehicle congestion
• Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue and Williamsburg Bridge
• Queens’ Long Island City and Flushing areas with high traffic volume
• The Bronx near Yankee Stadium and major highways
• Manhattan bridges and tunnels with merging traffic and limited visibility

Understanding these local traffic patterns helps our attorneys build stronger cases by highlighting environmental factors that contributed to the accident.

Why You Need Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Cases involving Uber or Lyft often involve:

• Multiple insurers with varying coverage limits
• Shifts in liability depending on the driver’s app status
• Complex rules under New York’s no-fault law and personal injury protection

Working with experienced attorneys ensures you receive guidance on which policies apply, how to document your case, and the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys work to hold negligent parties accountable while keeping you informed throughout the process.

Schedule a Free Consultation

If you were injured in a rideshare accident, you should not wait to take action. Call (516) 375-6692 to schedule a free consultation with our team. We handle all cases on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis. Our goal is to help you recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by your accident.

Every rideshare accident is unique, but with the right legal representation, victims can pursue the compensation they need to recover and move forward. Let us put our experience and knowledge of New York City streets and insurance rules to work for you.