Getting injured in an Uber or Lyft accident raises questions that regular car crashes don't. Who pays your medical bills, the driver or the rideshare company? What happens if the driver was logged into the app but hadn't picked you up yet? And how do you fight for fair compensation when you're dealing with a massive corporation instead of just another driver's insurance?
These are the kinds of questions a Bronx rideshare accident lawyer can answer. If you were injured as a passenger, struck by a rideshare vehicle, or hurt in any crash involving Uber or Lyft, you have legal options, and the insurance coverage available may be larger than you realize.
I'm Ivan Diamond, and for nearly 30 years, I've helped injured Bronx residents cut through insurance red tape and recover the compensation they need to move forward. Call Diamond Injury Law at (718) 588-2000 for a free consultation.
Get a free case reviewWhat Every Rideshare Accident Victim in the Bronx Needs to Know
- Rideshare accident claims involve multiple insurance policies, and the coverage available depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash.
- New York's no-fault insurance system provides initial benefits regardless of who caused the accident, but serious injuries may allow you to file a lawsuit for additional compensation.
- Uber and Lyft carry up to $1.25 million in liability coverage when drivers are actively transporting passengers.
- A Bronx rideshare accident lawyer can investigate the crash, handle insurance negotiations, and protect your claim from tactics that reduce payouts.
- Diamond Injury Law offers free consultations and works on contingency, so you pay nothing unless I recover compensation for you.
Why Do Bronx Residents Choose Diamond Injury Law?
I am Ivan Diamond, a true New Yorker born in Brooklyn, raised in Manhattan, and practicing out of the Bronx for nearly three decades. Since 1995, I have helped thousands of injured New Yorkers recover compensation for their injuries. I am a small firm by design because every client deserves personal attention, not a case number at a factory-style practice. When you call Diamond Injury Law, you work directly with me.
How We’ve Helped Injury Victims
See Our ResultsWhy Rideshare Accidents Are Different From Regular Car Crashes
Rideshare vehicles now account for roughly 10% of all traffic in major urban areas, according to research from the National Bureau of Economic Research. In a borough as congested as the Bronx, that translates to thousands of Uber and Lyft trips every single day along routes like the Cross Bronx Expressway, Grand Concourse, and Fordham Road. And with more rideshare vehicles on the road, accidents involving these cars have risen sharply.
A typical car accident usually involves two drivers and two insurance policies. Rideshare accidents are far more complicated. Three or more insurance policies may apply, and figuring out which one covers your injuries depends on the driver's status at the exact moment of the crash.
Uber and Lyft also use a tiered system based on driver activity to determine their liability for a rideshare accident:
Stage one: The driver was offline
When a rideshare driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, they are just a regular driver. Their personal auto insurance policy applies, and the rideshare company has no responsibility. These policies often have lower limits, which may not fully cover the costs of serious injuries.
Stage two: The driver was logged in but waiting for a ride request
Once a driver logs into the app and is available for rides, a limited amount of rideshare company coverage kicks in. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 44-B, Section 1693, the driver or company must carry at least $75,000 for one person's injuries, $150,000 for injuries to multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage.
Stage three: The driver was en route to pick up a passenger or actively giving a ride
This is when the strongest coverage applies. Uber and Lyft must maintain at least $1.25 million in liability coverage per accident during this phase. This higher coverage gives injured victims a much better chance of recovering full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Sorting through these insurance layers takes time and legal knowledge. As your Bronx rideshare accident lawyer, I handle the investigation and insurance negotiations so you can invest your time and energy in healing.
How New York's No-Fault Insurance System Affects Your Claim
New York operates under a no-fault insurance system, which means your own auto insurance (or the rideshare driver's insurance if you were a passenger) pays for initial medical expenses and lost wages through Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. These benefits are available regardless of who caused the accident.
PIP coverage in New York provides up to $50,000 in benefits. This covers medical treatment, a portion of lost income, and certain other expenses. You receive these benefits quickly without having to prove the other driver was at fault.
However, PIP has limits. The $50,000 cap may not come close to covering the cost of a serious or catastrophic injury. And PIP does not compensate you for pain and suffering at all.
To pursue additional compensation beyond PIP, New York law requires you to show that you suffered a "serious injury" as defined by Insurance Law Section 5102(d). The law lists specific categories of injuries that qualify.
Injuries that meet the serious injury threshold include:
- Bone fractures
- Significant disfigurement
- Permanent limitation of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of a body function or system
- Loss of a fetus
- Death
An injury also qualifies if it prevents you from performing your daily activities for at least 90 of the first 180 days after the accident. Many rideshare accident victims meet this standard without realizing it, especially those dealing with back injuries, concussions, or soft tissue damage that requires ongoing treatment.
Common Locations for Rideshare Accidents in the Bronx
The Bronx presents driving challenges unlike anywhere else in New York City. Heavy traffic, aging infrastructure, and a mix of residential streets and major highways create conditions where rideshare accidents happen frequently.
High-risk areas for rideshare crashes include:
- The Cross Bronx Expressway, one of the most congested highways in America, where rear-end collisions and sudden stops catch passengers off guard
- The Bruckner Expressway and Major Deegan Expressway, with heavy commercial traffic creating dangerous lane-change situations
- Fordham Road, where busy shopping districts mean constant double-parking and pedestrian conflicts
- The Grand Concourse at major intersections, despite recent safety improvements
- Streets around Yankee Stadium during game-day traffic surges
- Routes connecting the Bronx to LaGuardia Airport, with drivers often rushing and unfamiliar with local roads
Whether your accident happened in Riverdale, Hunts Point, Throggs Neck, Co-op City, or anywhere else in the borough, Diamond Injury Law can help. I know these streets, and I know how to build strong cases for injured victims.
Common Injuries From Bronx Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare drivers, often unfamiliar with specific Bronx neighborhoods or distracted by their app, may be especially prone to sudden stops, missed turns, and collisions.
Passengers in rideshare vehicles face particular risks because the back seats often lack the safety features found in the front. Side-impact crashes and rear-end collisions can severely injure passengers who have little warning and no ability to brace themselves.
Injuries I commonly see in rideshare accident cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions from striking the window, seat, or another passenger
- Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs and whiplash
- Broken bones, particularly in the wrists, arms, ribs, and legs
- Knee and shoulder injuries requiring surgery
- Cuts and lacerations from broken glass
- Internal bleeding and organ damage from blunt force trauma
Some of these injuries show up immediately. Others, such as concussions and soft tissue damage, may take days or even weeks to reveal themselves fully. Seeking medical attention promptly after any rideshare accident protects both your health and your ability to connect those injuries to the crash.
Who May Be Held Liable for a Rideshare Accident?
Determining liability in a rideshare crash often requires looking beyond the driver. Multiple parties may share responsibility, and identifying all of them increases the available insurance coverage.
If the rideshare driver ran a red light, was speeding, or was distracted by the app, they bear direct responsibility. But Uber and Lyft may also face liability. New York law requires these companies to conduct background checks under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1696. If a company allows an unqualified driver onto its platform, such as someone with a suspended license or a disqualifying criminal history, the company itself may be responsible.
Other potentially liable parties include:
- Another motorist who caused or contributed to the crash
- The City of New York if a dangerous road condition played a role
- A vehicle manufacturer if a defective part contributed to the severity of injuries
- A maintenance company if improper vehicle upkeep caused a mechanical failure
Rideshare companies must maintain trip records for at least six years under Section 1697. Diamond Injury Law obtains these records and uses them to support your claim.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Rideshare Accident
The value of a rideshare accident claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the insurance coverage available. Economic damages cover financial losses documented through bills, receipts, and pay stubs. Non-economic damages address the harder-to-measure ways an injury affects your quality of life.
Economic damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, hospital stays, physical therapy, and medication
- Lost wages or income from missed work during recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job
- Out-of-pocket costs such as medical equipment and transportation to appointments
Non-economic damages compensate for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and depression
- Loss of enjoyment of activities you once loved
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
The full extent of your losses may not be obvious right away, especially if your injuries require ongoing treatment or prevent you from returning to work. Diamond Injury Law takes the time to get to know you and understand how the accident has affected your life, not just your immediate medical bills, so that any settlement or verdict reflects the true cost of what you've been through.
How Comparative Fault Works in New York Rideshare Cases
New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule under Civil Practice Law and Rules Section 1411. This means you may still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from making a claim.
Insurance companies typically try to shift blame onto injured victims to reduce what they owe. They may claim you were not wearing a seatbelt, that you distracted the driver, or that you failed to take some action that could have prevented your injuries. I know how to counter these arguments and protect the full value of your claim.
The Deadline to File a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit in New York
New York law sets a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, including rideshare accidents. This deadline begins on the date of the accident. If you miss it, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, regardless of how strong your evidence might be.
Three years may sound like plenty of time, but building a solid case takes effort. Evidence needs to be gathered, medical records obtained, and witnesses interviewed while memories are still fresh. Insurance companies also benefit from delay. The longer you wait, the more opportunities they have to challenge your version of events or argue that your injuries came from something other than the accident.
If your claim involves a government entity, such as a crash caused by a poorly maintained Bronx road or intersection, the timeline is much shorter. You may need to file a notice of claim within 90 days of the accident. Speaking with a Bronx rideshare accident lawyer early protects your right to pursue every available option.
Questions People Often Ask About Rideshare Accident Attorneys in the Bronx
What should I do if the rideshare driver's insurance company contacts me?
Be cautious. Insurance adjusters may seem friendly, but their goal is to minimize the company's payout. Avoid giving recorded statements or signing any documents before speaking with a lawyer. Anything you say may be used to reduce or deny your claim.
What if I was a passenger and both drivers blame each other?
You still have a strong path to compensation. As a passenger, you almost certainly bear no fault for the crash. I can pursue claims against both drivers and their respective insurance policies, letting the insurers sort out who pays what.
How much does a Bronx rideshare accident lawyer cost?
I handle rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing up front. My fee comes from a percentage of the compensation I recover for you. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing.
What if the rideshare driver was logged into the app but had not accepted a ride?
Coverage still applies, though at lower limits than during an active trip. Under New York law, the rideshare company's policy provides at least $75,000 per person for injuries during this phase. I can determine exactly what coverage applies based on the driver's app status at the time of the crash.
Can I still file a claim if I did not seek medical treatment right away?
Yes, though delays can complicate your case. Insurance companies often argue that gaps in treatment mean your injuries are not serious or were caused by something else. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible creates documentation that links your injuries directly to the accident.
Our Auto Accident Resources
Take Control of Your Case: Talk to a Bronx Rideshare Accident Lawyer
A rideshare accident can leave you dealing with chronic pain, unexpected bills, a confusing tangle of insurance claims, and I have spent nearly 30 years fighting for injured New Yorkers in the Bronx and throughout the city, and I know how to hold rideshare companies and negligent drivers accountable.
Call Diamond Injury Law at (718) 588-2000 or contact me online for a free consultation. I will review your case, explain your options, and help you take the next step toward fair compensation.
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