Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers in New Jersey

Rideshare Injury Claims Handled by a Litigation-Ready NJ Personal Injury Firm

Rideshare crashes aren’t ordinary car accident claims. When an Uber or Lyft is involved, multiple insurance policies may apply, and determining which one covers your injuries depends on details like whether the driver had the app open and whether they had accepted a ride at the moment of the crash. DeZao & DeZao, P.C. has represented injured New Jerseyans from our Parsippany office for over 40 years, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in personal injury verdicts and settlements. We handle rideshare accident cases throughout Morris County, Essex County, and across New Jersey.

Why Injured Riders & Drivers Choose DeZao & DeZao, P.C.

Our motor vehicle accident results reflect what we bring to rideshare injury claims. We secured an $8 million settlement in a motor vehicle accident case, along with $14.1 million and $14 million settlements in drunk driving matters. Those results weren’t driven by generous insurers. They came because we were prepared to take each case to trial.

That litigation posture matters in rideshare cases, where Uber’s and Lyft’s insurers bring significant resources to claims defense. We intentionally limit our caseload so you work directly with our attorneys, not primarily with paralegals or case managers. Many of our clients reach us through referrals from past clients and attorneys who know how we work. We offer same-day appointments for urgent matters and are reachable around the clock.

New Jersey’s Rideshare Insurance Tiers

New Jersey’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act requires Uber and Lyft to carry liability insurance for their drivers, but the coverage that applies to your crash depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of the collision.

Three distinct coverage phases apply:

• App off: The driver’s personal auto policy applies, and the rideshare company’s insurance isn’t involved.
• App on, waiting for a request: Contingent liability coverage from the rideshare company’s insurer applies, but at lower limits than when a ride is active.
• En route to a pickup or transporting a passenger: Higher liability coverage through the rideshare company’s policy is in effect.

New Jersey is also a no-fault state, which means your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. PIP applies as a first layer of compensation, and understanding how it interacts with the applicable rideshare coverage tier is one of the more complex pieces of these claims.

Who May Be Liable in a New Jersey Rideshare Accident

A rideshare crash can involve several potentially responsible parties. The rideshare driver may be at fault. A third-party motorist may have caused the collision. The rideshare company’s insurer steps in based on which coverage phase was active. And if the at-fault driver carried no insurance, uninsured motorist coverage may become relevant.

Injured parties in these crashes include passengers riding in the Uber or Lyft, the rideshare driver, occupants of other vehicles, and pedestrians or cyclists struck by a rideshare vehicle. New Jersey applies a modified comparative negligence standard, meaning any recovery can be reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault, and recovery is barred entirely if that share exceeds the fault of the party being sued. Identifying every liable party and every applicable policy is where early legal involvement can make a concrete difference in what you may be able to recover.