- April 19, 2025
- Tucker Law
- Car Accident Lawsuits
Getting into a car accident is jarring and stressful under any circumstances. When it happens while you’re the passenger in an Uber, it adds a whole new layer of complexity and confusion. Pursuing Uber accident claims in New York is even less straightforward than regular car accidents, which can already be complicated.
You might be unsure about how to report the incident, whose insurance applies, and, importantly, how you’ll cover your medical expenses. Because multiple parties could be involved, including your Uber driver, another driver, and even Uber itself, determining liability and securing fair compensation is a delicate dance. For your claim to succeed, you must know the specific rules and insurance structures that govern rideshare services in New York.
Insurance Coverage After a New York Uber Crash
Who Pays for Your Accident?
In the interest of protecting passengers, New York has specific insurance requirements in place for rideshare companies like Uber. As a company, Uber maintains different levels of insurance coverage that apply, depending on a driver’s status at the time of a car accident.
For example, when you’re a passenger in an Uber that’s actively engaged in a trip, meaning the driver has accepted the ride request and is either en route to pick you up or already in the process of transporting you, Uber’s highest level of liability insurance typically applies. In New York, that’s at least $1.25 million in coverage for death and bodily injury per accident.
Additionally, New York operates under a no-fault insurance system, which means up to $50,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) benefits are generally available to cover necessary medical costs (and sometimes lost wages) for injury victims, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
If you’re injured as an Uber passenger, you would typically file a no-fault claim against the insurance policy covering the vehicle you were riding in when the accident happened. PIP coverage is primarily designed to provide you with immediate financial relief for essential expenses while the more complicated parts of the case, such as determining liability, are sorted out.
Protecting Your Rights as a Passenger in Uber Accident Claims
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate aftermath of your accident, the process of pursuing compensation for your injuries begins.
Handling Uber accident claims in New York often involves dealing with multiple insurance providers. There’s the Uber driver’s personal insurance company (though they may deny coverage if the driver was working), Uber’s commercial provider, and the insurers for any other vehicles involved.
Each company will conduct its own investigation into the incident to determine liability, which is why it’s essential to keep meticulous records of everything related to the accident and your injuries from the moment it happens. That includes all medical treatments and bills, diagnostic reports, proof of lost wages, and communications with insurance adjusters.
Additionally, you’re likely to be entitled to compensation beyond the basic no-fault benefits. The damages available from a personal injury claim can cover the full scope of your medical expenses — past, current, and future — as well as lost income and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other related losses.
Your damages can be calculated via a thorough assessment of your injuries and their long-term impacts. Insurance adjusters often attempt to minimize payouts, making understanding your rights as an injured passenger in New York and prioritizing thorough documentation even more critical.
If you’ve been hurt in an Uber accident in New York, don’t go through the legal process alone. Call Tucker Lawyers at (516) 399-2364 to get trustworthy guidance.
What Does a Rideshare Injury Lawyer Do for Injured Passengers?
The thought of all the threads you’ll have to pull together as an injured rideshare passenger — including insurance policies, liability disputes, and settlement negotiations, on top of your medical care and adjusting to a new normal with life-altering injuries — is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Dependable legal guidance can offer a lifeline.
A rideshare injury lawyer in NYC will understand the specific laws and insurance regulations that govern these types of accidents. They can investigate the crash, make sure no key evidence is overlooked, identify all potential sources of compensation, and accurately calculate the full extent of your losses.
A good New York Uber accident attorney will also handle all necessary communication with the insurance companies on your behalf, shielding you not only from their scrutiny but also from being bullied into settling for less than you deserve. They’ll negotiate firmly with adjusters and represent you in court if it comes to that.
Having a dedicated Uber accident injury lawyer on your side will ensure your rights are protected throughout the claims process so you can focus on your recovery, not the legal hurdles preventing you from getting the help you need.
Establishing liability and interpreting multiple insurance policies after a rideshare accident can be overwhelming, making a solid understanding of your rights central to your recovery.
Important Legal Considerations for New York Rideshare Accidents
At their core, rideshare accidents are personal injury claims, and two key legal factors impact such claims in New York: the state’s comparative negligence rule and statute of limitations.
New York operates under a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages if you’re found to be partially at fault for your accident (this is unlikely for Uber passengers but not entirely impossible). Your eligible compensation will be reduced to reflect your percentage of fault.
The statute of limitations is simply the legal deadline for filing a legal claim. In New York, you have three years from the date of the accident to initiate your claim. That may sound like a long time, but if you miss the cutoff, you’ll lose your right to pursue damages. Moreover, it will be much easier to build a strong case when the evidence is fresh.
Tucker Lawyers Is in Your Corner
If you’re in need of competent, compassionate legal guidance and advocacy after a rideshare accident, Tucker Lawyers is here to help you pick up the pieces and move forward.
Don’t get stuck facing the consequences of an accident that wasn’t your fault. Contact Tucker Lawyers today at (516) 399-2364 to discuss your case with a qualified attorney.
Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.
John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]