Uber Accident Lawyers at Newark Liberty International Airport

Uber is the first on-demand smartphone platform ride-share application developed and launched into the marketplace in San Francisco in 2012. By September 2018, the popularity of Uber was so widespread that it is available globally in over 789 cities and more than 84 countries. Uber was the precursor to other well-known ride-share applications, such as Lyft, Sidecar and Curb. However, Uber remains the most popular with over 41.8 million U.S. users and more than 75 million globally.

Uber does not own their own vehicles and does not manage fleets. They rely on drivers, classified as independent contractors, with their own vehicles. Uber provides the technological platform to connect a customer with a driver.

A ride-share company’s vehicles in service are the drivers’ personal cars that offer discounted-fare rides to your destination. The actual model and year requirements vary by car service and city-specific requirements. The Uber smartphone application, downloadable to iPhone, Windows and Android, handles the whole ride-hailing and payment process, however, if you wish, in some cities, riders may pay cash for the services.

Uber drivers must be at least 21 years old and have one year of licensed driving experience (3 years if under age 23) and drive an approved four-door vehicle.

Uber application users must be at least 18 years old to open an Uber account and hire a vehicle. To hail a ride, the user installs the Uber application on their smartphone and provides credit card information or another payment method, such as PayPal. The user then types in their pickup location and the app replies confirming how many minutes until pickup, which ranges from 3 to 10 minutes in larger centers. The application texts the user when the ride has arrived and shows the driver’s name, photo and the kind of car the driver is using. Once the ride arrives, the user need to get in and confirm their destination and name.

If you happen to be sharing an Uber with others riders, you will share the fare electronically all through the application. Drivers may be tipped and both the Uber driver and the rider(s) are rated on a scale of 1-5.

Uber offers several service options from a single rider to groups, and up to executive limousine service. Ride hailers may choose from:

• UberX – the economy option
• UberPOOL – the pooling option
• UberXL – option for up to six passengers
• UberSELECT – four rider option with luxury sedans
• UberBLACK – luxury limousine service
• Accessibility – car seats available, wheelchair access

You can see the estimated cost of your ride by using Uber Estimate, the online Uber fare calculator. Uber does charge a “surge rate” for busier times.

Given how busy it is at the Newark Liberty International Airport, it is no surprise there are accidents involving Uber drivers and other vehicles. Whether it is dropping a passenger off or picking one up the airport traffic may result in an accident and serious injuries to those involved.

If there is an accident caused by an Uber driver, things can get complicated, because Uber is considered a commercial carrier and drivers get paid for giving rides. Uber also considers their drivers to be independent contractors who do not work for the company. Ride-hailing companies have been present in New Jersey for years, but state regulations did not apply to that kind of service. There are now statewide regulations for all ride-hailing companies.

The Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act, signed in 2017, requires every ride to be covered by at least $1.5 million in commercial insurance and mandates all drivers submit to a criminal background check. New Jersey was the 36th state in the United States to address regulations and standards for rides-haring companies.

Even though a collision between an Uber driver and another vehicle is similar to two private vehicles crashing, there is one major difference. That difference is that you may be able to file a claim against Uber, the driver’s personal insurance policy, or another at-fault driver’s insurance coverage.

Uber Insurance Requirements

Once an Uber or Lyft driver accepts a passenger, they must have a commercial car insurance policy with at least $1.5 million in liability coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage. They must also provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in an amount of at least $1.5 million, which covers all who occupy the vehicle if another motorist causes an accident and does not have any insurance, or does not have sufficient insurance.

In New Jersey, if you are in a car accident, and you have selected the “limitation on lawsuit option” for your car insurance coverage, you will need to prove that you have sustained a permanent injury based on objective evidence, even if the other driver was at-fault. However, if you are injured in an accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver, whether you are a driver or passenger of the other vehicle, or a passenger of an Uber vehicle, the limitation on lawsuit option does not apply and you will not need to prove you have sustained a permanent injury. As written in the statute, it states:

“The limitation on lawsuit option set forth in subsection a. of section 8 of P.L.1972, c.70 (C.39:6A-8) shall not be assertable by a transportation network company or a transportation network company driver in any action for damages arising from a prearranged ride, or be asserted against any party not receiving personal injury protection benefits in any action for damages arising from a prearranged ride.”

When not providing a pre-arranged ride, an Uber driver must maintain liability insurance for at least $50,000 for death or bodily injury, per person, and $100,000 for death or bodily injury per incident, and $25,000 for property damage.

If you have been involved in an Uber accident at Newark Liberty International Airport, the best person to help guide you through your claim and to determine the facts of your case is an experienced Uber accident attorney at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm who can answer your questions and properly advise you.