What is the Statute of Limitations on a Rideshare Accident Claim in NYC?

In most cases, the statute of limitations for filing a Lyft or Uber accident lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident. However, exceptions exist for special circumstances, such as fatalities or injuries to a minor.

Contact a Douglas & London NYC Uber accident lawyer today for a free consultation after a car accident involving a rideshare service. Speedy action can help you to get maximum compensation.

The special circumstances surrounding NYC Uber/Lyft ridesharing

Anyone who drives in NYC understands the unique challenges that come with this ultra-dense urban environment. While rideshare services are a convenient and easy way to get around, they also come with safety concerns. In fact, studies suggest that companies like Uber and Lyft are behind a distressing uptick in the number of traffic deaths nationwide.

To address these problems, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has instituted a number of special rules for Uber and Lyft contractors. These include:

  • Limits on the numbers of drivers: Currently, Uber and Lyft have imposed moratoriums on hiring new contractors within the city.
  • Requiring a commercial driver’s license: In addition to a regular state-issued driver’s license.
  • Mandating special classes: Designed to demonstrate the driver’s defensive driving and customer service skills.
  • Undergoing a medical exam: A healthcare provider must verify that the applicant is physically qualified to operate a rideshare vehicle.
  • Submitting to fingerprinting and drug tests: To screen out applicants with criminal records or substance abuse problems.

In addition, NYC requires that Uber and Lyft drivers carry enhanced insurance coverage limits. These break down as follows:

  • $100,000 per person.
  • $300,000 per accident.
  • $200,000 in personal injury protection.
  • $10,000 in property damage protection.

As you can see, rideshare contractors in NYC are held to an extremely high standard. Let’s see how this relates to NY statutes of limitations.

How NY’s statute of limitations affects rideshare accidents

As stated earlier, victims of an auto accident have three years from the date of the crash to file a claim in NY civil court. This includes accidents involving rideshare operators.

However, there are two primary exceptions to this rule:

  1. When the crash causes a fatality: In such cases, the decedent’s family has two years from the date of the passing in which to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
  2. When the victim of the crash is a minor: In such cases, the accident victim has three years from the date of his or her 18th birthday in which to file a lawsuit.

What if the costs of your accident exceed coverage limits?

New York may allow you to seek compensation above and beyond the amounts provided by the driver’s insurance. A crucial question is whether or not you suffered what state law defines as a “serious injury.” Common examples include:

  • Broken or fractured bones.
  • Impairment of an organ or limb.
  • Disfigurement.
  • A period of disability lasting at least 90 days.

Talk to an NYC Lyft accident lawyer today to find out if your injuries fit these criteria. 

Why now is the time to act

Liability issues regarding ridesharing accidents in NYC are complicated by a maze of regulations and rules governing increased coverage amounts.

This means that a consultation with a personal injury lawyer is crucial for getting the compensation you deserve. The longer you wait, the more roadblocks you’ll face in winning your case. Here’s why:

  • Evidence has a “shelf life:” Skid marks fade, witnesses forget, and documentation is destroyed or misfiled.
  • Life happens: Other priorities, such as focusing on your recovery, can force you to put off legal action until it’s too late.
  • Winning your case is only the first step: You must then seek to collect the damages, which adds to the amount of time it takes to achieve resolution.

For all these reasons, we invite you to contact Douglas & London to schedule your free consultation. Our attorneys have recovered more than $18 billion for their clients over the years. They’re skilled at dealing with NYC laws and agencies.

Remember, we collect our fees only if you win your case. So don’t delay. Get in touch with us today for a better tomorrow.