How Will I Pay My Medical Bills After an NYC Rideshare Accident?

A 2018 study suggested that rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have caused a 2% to 3% increase in traffic fatalities across the United States. The higher accident and injury rate are likely the result of increased congestion as rideshare drivers seek additional fares. 

This increase in fatalities obscures many collisions where riders suffer serious injuries. Passengers are entitled to reimbursement for their medical bills from the no-fault insurance policies covering the rideshare driver’s vehicle. The New York City car accident lawyers at Douglas & London negotiate no-fault insurance claims and help individuals to recover compensation for the full amount of their actual and anticipated future medical expenses. 

Which no-fault insurance policies cover a rideshare passenger’s medical bills?

By law, all New York State drivers must carry minimum no-fault insurance coverage for the personal use of their vehicles. When a car owner transitions to driving for Uber, or Lyft, those companies provide commercial insurance that protects the driver and rideshare passengers.

In addition, the Taxi and Limousine Commission requires rideshare drivers to purchase their own no-fault insurance with liability limits of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, $200,000 in personal injury protection, and $10,000 in property damage. An experienced NYC Uber accident lawyer will be an injured passenger’s best resource to untangle the interplay of the different insurance policies available to pay medical bills. 

What should a passenger do in the aftermath of an NYC rideshare accident?

Every person involved in an NYC car accident, regardless of whether that accident involves a rideshare service, should seek immediate medical attention. Some injuries, including concussions, do not have immediate symptoms and can worsen if they are ignored.

Next, passengers should also collect complete information about the rideshare driver’s insurance coverage, including personal and commercial. The passenger should get the driver’s contact information and the names and addresses of all other cars involved in the accident.  If possible, they should also get the names and addresses of any witnesses who saw the accident. Further, take photographs of the vehicles and accident site, and record other pertinent information about traffic and weather conditions.

What if the rideshare passenger’s medical bills are larger than the limits of the driver’s insurance coverage?

In most cases, New York State’s no-fault insurance rules preclude lawsuits against negligent drivers who cause accidents. A critical exception to this is when a party suffers serious injuries and incurs substantial economic and non-economic damages, including significant medical expenses, long-term lost wages, and extended pain and suffering.

If you do suffer severe injuries in an NYC rideshare accident, a liability insurance provider might tell you that you have no right or opportunity to sue– and try to convince you to accept a low settlement offer. You can protect your right to recover the full amount of your damages when you retain an NYC Lyft accident lawyer. We have expertise in negotiating with commercial rideshare insurance companies.

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have changed the way that New Yorkers commute around the city, but they have also increased accident risks by placing more vehicles on the city’s already-crowded streets. They have further increased the complexity of filing claims for reimbursements of medical bills with the addition of multiple insurance carriers.

Contact us for a free consultation

We fight to recover the full amount of medical bills and all other damages following an Uber or Lyft accident. Please see our website or call our Manhattan offices if this has happened to you. We will verify that your claims are filed with the correct insurance carriers, and we will resolve your claims with the largest available reimbursement that you are entitled to recover.  

Resources:

1. www.technologyreview.com: Uber and Lyft are behind a sharp rise in US traffic fatalities.
   https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/10/25/139300/uber-and-lyft-are-behind-a-sharp-rise-in-us-traffic-deaths/