Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have become essential for many New Yorkers, facilitating daily commutes to work, rides home after a night out, or trips across town for errands. Despite their convenience, these services must ensure the safety of their passengers by employing responsible drivers.
If you’ve been involved in an accident as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft in the Bronx, you might be eligible for compensation. A Bronx-based lawyer specializing in Uber and Lyft accidents can help you file a claim and secure the compensation you need.
Additionally, suppose you were affected by the incident while driving or as a passenger in another vehicle. In that case, you may also have a claim against the at-fault Uber or Lyft driver.
Consider contacting the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for assistance with Uber or Lyft accident-related issues. Our team offers free consultations to help you understand your legal options and plan your next steps.
How Our Bronx Rideshare Accident Attorneys Help You
Following an Uber accident in the Bronx, negotiating the technicalities of submitting a claim can be intimidating. Accidents involving rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft involve multiple parties—ranging from the driver and their insurance to the rideshare company’s insurer and other involved individuals.
This complexity often results in disputes over liability.
To streamline the process and enhance your chances of securing the compensation you deserve, consider seeking the expertise of a seasoned Bronx personal injury attorney. At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our lawyers are dedicated to mastering personal injury law throughout the Bronx and New York City. Our firm is committed to staying abreast of legal developments, particularly those affecting the evolving field of rideshare services.
Choosing the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm means opting for a comprehensive legal service that includes:
- Detailed guidance through each decision-making step of your claim process
- Thorough investigations into your specific rideshare accident circumstances
- Collaborations with top auto accident and injury specialists in New York to meticulously prepare and appraise your claim
- Strategic negotiations conducted by our skilled attorneys aiming to achieve an advantageous settlement
Representation in court by our experienced trial lawyers should your claim proceed to trial.
We have dedicated ourselves to using our knowledge, reputation, and experience to increase your compensation. Contact us immediately to set up your free initial consultation and learn more about how we can help you following an Uber accident in the Bronx.
What Compensation Can You Expect From a Bronx Uber Accident Law Firm?
After experiencing an Uber accident in the Bronx, the compensation you can expect through a personal injury claim can be important for covering medical expenses and maintaining financial stability while you cannot work. The amount of compensation you may receive can depend on several factors.
Responsibility for the Accident: If another driver, not the Uber driver, caused the accident, the compensation might be affected. Typically, New York drivers who only carry minimum liability insurance might offer less compensation compared to what Uber’s insurance might provide its drivers.
Nature and Extent of Injuries: Your injuries and the ensuing medical bills are central to your claim. Serious injuries usually lead to higher medical costs, which can increase compensation. It’s important to diligently track all medical expenses related to the accident, including:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Surgeries and medical procedures
- Long-term care, whether at a hospital or home
- Durable medical equipment for mobility or independence
- Rehabilitation therapies, such as physical, occupational, and psychological therapy
Consult with your attorney to ensure that every relevant expense is accounted for in your claim to avoid undermining its value.
Lost Wages: Lost income can be claimed if your injuries prevent you from working. You should calculate this loss accurately, whether you’re completely unable to work or can only work in a limited capacity.
This includes lost wages, paid time off, and any vacation days used during recovery.
Impact on Quality of Life: Severe injuries can drastically affect your lifestyle, limiting your ability to engage in hobbies and leisure activities. It’s crucial to discuss with your Bronx personal injury lawyer how the injuries have impacted your life beyond the financial and physical aspects, including emotional and psychological suffering.
It’s recommended that you work closely with our attorney to address all these aspects in your compensation claim comprehensively. This approach ensures that you do not overlook any damages and maximize the compensation you deserve.
Who Could Be Held Responsible for Damages Suffered in a Bronx Rideshare Accident?
In the event of a rideshare accident in the Bronx, determining who is responsible for damages can be complex due to the involvement of multiple parties. The possible entities and individuals who could be held liable include:
- The Rideshare Driver: If the driver’s negligence or reckless driving caused the accident, they could be held personally liable for any resulting damages.
- The Rideshare Company: Companies like Uber and Lyft might face liability, especially if they can be shown to have inadequate hiring practices or insufficient safety measures. Although they often classify their drivers as independent contractors to minimize liability, courts have sometimes held these companies responsible for their drivers’ actions when those actions are within the scope of their duties.
- Other Drivers: This includes not only other private drivers who may have contributed to the accident but also other rideshare drivers who could be involved in a multi-car accident scenario.
- Third Parties: This could include vehicle manufacturers for defects, government entities for poor road conditions, or any other party whose actions could have indirectly caused the accident.
- Passengers: While less common, passengers could be liable if their actions contributed to the accident, such as physically distracting the driver.
Rideshare companies have strategies to limit their liability:
- Forced Arbitration: Rideshare companies often require disputes to be resolved through arbitration as a condition for using their services, though this generally applies only to those directly using the app.
- Independently Contracted Drivers: By classifying drivers as independent contractors, rideshare companies attempt to distance themselves from their drivers’ actions. Despite this, they can still be held accountable if it is determined that the driver was acting under the company’s direction and within the scope of their assigned tasks.
These factors make rideshare accident cases particularly intricate, requiring thorough legal examination to determine all potentially liable parties.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in the Bronx, New York
Rideshare drivers in the Bronx, like those working for Uber and Lyft, are not always required to undergo formal evaluations of their driving abilities before being hired. This oversight can lead to an increase in unsafe drivers on the road.
If you are involved in an accident where your rideshare driver was engaged in any of the following behaviors, they may be liable for compensation:
- Aggressive Driving: Speeding and erratic lane changes increase accident risks.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drug use slows reaction times and impairs decision-making.
- Distracted Driving: Using GPS or not focusing on the road leads to missed signals and accidents.
- Fatigue: Excessive tiredness impairs concentration and reaction time.
- Eating While Driving: Divides attention, delaying reactions to road conditions.
- Ignoring Traffic Signals: Disrupts traffic flow and increases accident likelihood.
- Illegal Passing: No-pass zone maneuvers can cause dangerous collisions.
- Reckless Driving: Disregard for road rules and safety through excessive speeding and aggressive maneuvers.
- Rushing for Fares: Making risky decisions in a hurry to pick up passengers.
- Abrupt Stopping: Sudden stops to pick up or drop off passengers pose rear-end collision risks.
- Swerving: Sudden lane or direction changes without signaling confuse other drivers.
- Tailgating: Following too closely reduces stopping ability, increasing rear-end collision risks.
- Texting While Driving: Diverts focus from the road, creating high-risk scenarios.
- General Negligence: Any carelessness deviating from safe driving practices can cause accidents.
Suppose you’re involved in a rideshare accident. In that case, a skilled Bronx accident attorney specializing in rideshare cases can thoroughly investigate your claim, develop a strong legal strategy, and advocate to secure the compensation you deserve from those at fault.
The Aftermath Injuries of Bronx Uber Accidents
Handling the dense traffic of the Bronx can be challenging, especially for Uber drivers, who may face pressures from tight schedules. Their heavy reliance on GPS due to unfamiliar routes can lead to hurried decisions, increasing the risk of accidents.
In such situations, the injuries sustained can be severe, possibly more so than in other types of vehicular accidents, due to the risky maneuvers often associated with the urgency of their schedules.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Victims of traumatic brain injuries in Bronx Uber accidents may experience profound changes in their lives. These injuries can impair one’s ability to work, perform everyday self-care tasks, and engage in leisure activities.
TBIs can affect memory — from erasing memories to causing difficulties with short-term recall — and disrupt focus and concentration. Furthermore, they might alter emotional regulation, leading to exaggerated or subdued reactions to situations.
Back and Neck Injuries
Common complaints following an Uber accident include whiplash, herniated discs, and muscle strains in the back and neck. Such injuries can significantly limit daily activities, causing victims to avoid not only their favorite hobbies but also necessary actions like sudden movements.
The pain may lead to missed work, especially if the job involves sitting for long periods or handling heavy loads. In extreme cases, injuries might involve the spinal cord, potentially resulting in paralysis and affecting organ function below the injury site.
Amputations
Severe auto accidents can sometimes lead to limb amputations, either performed immediately at the accident scene or later due to extensive crushing injuries.
Amputations can dramatically alter a victim’s life, imposing permanent limitations. While prosthetics can aid independence, they do not fully restore the functionality of a biological limb and require regular replacement, representing a continuous expense.
Broken Bones
Broken bones can severely restrict one’s daily life and ability to work, particularly if the injuries are extensive or located in critical areas like the hands or legs. Handling typical job duties becomes challenging, and even basic self-care can be daunting. Broken bones can result in prolonged pain and long-term physical limitations.
Each of these injuries not only impacts the physical capabilities of the victims but also places a significant emotional and financial burden on them, illustrating the severe consequences of Uber accidents in high-traffic areas like the Bronx.
Do You Need a Bronx Rideshare Accident Lawyer? Call Us Now!
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can assist you if you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in the Bronx. We pledge to assist you at every level of your claim and litigation proceedings.
Our Bronx personal injury law firm strives to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Contact us today at (516) 689-1132 for a complimentary evaluation of your case, or fill out our online contact form to explore your legal options.
