Newark Lyft Accident Lawyers

Car accidents happen anytime, anywhere. They may even involve ride-share service vehicles, such as Newark Lyft drivers. At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we’ve handled hundreds of such crashes. We’re here for you when you need us. Just call us for help. Our Newark Lyft accident attorneys can be contacted at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm at (973) 920-7900.

It is important to understand why a Newark Lyft accident, while similar to a regular car accident, is different because Lyft vehicles are owned by the driver, and not the company. This makes filing a lawsuit claim more difficult, but not impossible. The statute of limitations in New Jersey for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. 

It can be even more confusing because in New Jersey the Department of Labor advanced its worker misclassification case in 2022 against Lyft by asking an Administrative Law Judge to determine if Lyft drivers are employees rather than independent contractors.

The decision came in the wake of a 4-year audit that resulted in the Department of Labor assessing that Lyft improperly classified drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Should a court decide Lyft drivers are employees, they would be required to reimburse unpaid employer contributions and penalties for 2014-2017 – a total of 16 million dollars. Any decision in this area would impact other gig employment workers, such as Uber, Doordash, and similar jobs.

Common Newark Lyft Accident Injuries

Accidents involving Lyft drivers are confusing and require the skilled assistance of an experienced Newark Lyft accident lawyer at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm. Our attorneys determine the relevant facts relating to the collision and assess who was responsible and what insurance is available for compensation. The aftermath of a crash can range from minor to serious injuries to death. 

Common injuries sustained in a Lyft rideshare accident can include:

• Amputations
• Broken and/or fractured bones
• Crush injuries
• Decapitation
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Paralysis, partial or total
• Scarring, disfigurement
• Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)
• Torn ligaments
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we are here to help you understand your legal rights, assess your Lyft accident case, help you file a claim for compensation for your injuries, and help you understand all the ins and outs of filing a Lyft claim. How the case progresses can depend on how the Lyft driver was classified while working and logged into the application at the time of the accident. 

Lyft Driver Time Periods And What They Mean

Another important determination that needs to be made when someone has been involved in a Newark Lyft accident revolves around the time period the driver was in when the collision happened. This can be a nightmare and requires an experienced Newark Lyft accident attorney to sort out the case facts and details and applicable time periods. 

New Jersey is a no-fault state. In most collisions, survivors use their own insurance for compensation for injuries. However, Lyft accidents are different as they have commercial insurance policies in play.

What Lyft insurance covers during the three distinct periods on the application:

• When the application is off, the driver’s personal auto insurance applies.
• When the application is on, and the driver can receive ride requests, Lyft has third-party liability insurance if the driver’s personal insurance does not apply, and that is $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage.
• When the application is on and the driver is heading to pick up passengers or during rides.

Injuries and any losses depend on the circumstances of the accident. Every accident is different. Each crash results in different injuries, the drivers being in different time periods, the damages being unique to each case, and different responses by insurance companies, usually aiming to reduce a payout on a claim or deny it.

Why You Need a Newark Lyft Accident Lawyer 

At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we handle Lyft accidents, which are considered to be personal injury accidents. Our attorneys are your voice, and we seek equitable and fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our Newark Lyft accident lawyers have extensive experience in proving liability and can extract compensation from an insurance company and/or the other driver once fault is established.

The basis of a Lyft accident claim means proving the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road to drive responsibly. Our attorneys can prove the injuries sustained in a Lyft collision were a direct result of the at-fault party’s breach of duty of care.

Compensation is often available in Newark Lyft accident cases for losses like:

• Pain and suffering related to the crash, including the costs of treatment for anxiety, depression, or trauma symptoms in the aftermath of the accident.
• Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working, either temporarily or permanently.
• Medical bills, including the costs of emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, medical devices and medications, and follow-up care from doctors or specialized therapists. 

Working with a Newark Lyft accident attorney at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm means you only pay the attorney when they win your case. If, for some reason, a case is lost, you do not pay anything.

Contact Our Experienced Newark Rideshare Car Accident Lawyers for Immediate Assistance!

If you suffered a serious injury in a New Jersey Lyft or Uber accident, or sadly, lost a loved one in a Lyft or Uber accident, the dedicated Rideshare Accident Injury Lawyers at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm are here to help. For more than 30 years, we have been helping clients who have been seriously injured in all types of accidents. We are a five-star rated law firm, recovering a total of more than $100 million on behalf of our clients. We will do our best to hold the negligent driver fully accountable for their actions and get you the justice you deserve. We recognize the challenges you face as a result of a serious motor vehicle crash and are uniquely positioned to protect your rights and help you through the recovery process. To learn more and to schedule a FREE consultation, give us a call today at 973-920-7900. You can also connect with us through our online form. There is never a fee unless we win your case. We have two conveniently located offices in Denville and Morristown, New Jersey.