Brooklyn Uber Accidents Lawyer

When you’ve been involved in a car accident involving an Uber in Brooklyn, you deserve to fully understand your legal rights and options. That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to contact the experienced Brooklyn Uber accident lawyers at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. For more than four decades, we’ve fought tirelessly to protect injured car accident victims and their right to recover compensation. When you call us for help, we’ll do everything in our power to get you the money you need and deserve.

We offer a free consultation, so please give our Brooklyn law offices a call to schedule a time to discuss your case with our skilled legal team. We’re always here to take your call – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Will a Personal Injury Lawyer Do to Help Me After a Brooklyn Uber Accident?

Uber accidents aren’t like other car accident cases. They’re more complicated. There can be a lot of different parties involved. When you get hurt, you may realistically be able to recover damages from the Uber driver, their insurance provider, Uber’s insurance company, and anyone else who caused you to get hurt. None of them will make it easy for you to get the money you deserve. Hiring the experienced Brooklyn personal injury lawyers at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. can make a world of difference.

Here’s what you can expect when you ask our Brooklyn Uber accident lawyers for help:

Analyzing all angles. Our team will conduct a thorough independent investigation into your Uber accident. We want to figure out what caused it and identify everyone who may share blame.

Tough negotiations. We’ll stand up to Uber, insurance companies, and anyone else who might be responsible for damages following your accident. Our skilled lawyers will prepare strong arguments – backed by solid evidence – to leverage at-fault parties into paying the money you deserve.

Downplaying your role. It’s common for negligent parties and insurers to point fingers and try to blame victims for their injuries after an accident. If those tactics are successful, that can really hurt your financial recovery. Our team will work hard to minimize your contributions – if any – to your Uber accident. 

Expert consultations. We know the laws and procedures that will affect your case. We know what it takes to force insurance companies to take your claim seriously. Many times, that involves asking for a little bit of help. That’s why we’ve worked hard to establish relationships with some of the most prominent personal injury expert witnesses in New York City. The information they provide can be critical in making sure that your claim is valued properly.

If insurance companies don’t budge or extend a fair settlement offer, our award-winning trial attorneys won’t hesitate to take your case to court. We’ll do whatever is necessary to secure compensation on your behalf. That’s why we can proudly say that we’ve recovered more than $1 Billion in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients.  

Contact our Brooklyn Uber accident lawyers today to set up a free consultation and learn more.

Causes of Uber Accidents in Brooklyn

Ubers and other rideshare services seem to be everywhere in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, Uber is not always the safest choice when commuting in and around the city. Ubers and Uber drivers are involved in car accidents in the borough just about every day. Why? Here a few of the leading causes of accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles in Brooklyn:

  • Parking or stopping Uber vehicles at intersections or other dangerous locations
  • Uber drivers searching for passengers, rather than paying attention to the road
  • Uber drivers distracted by their phones, GPS, or passengers
  • Drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Making unsafe or illegal turns
  • Speeding to get passengers to their destination as quickly as possible, and
  • Defective or dangerous vehicles.

Uber drivers aren’t always responsible for accidents involving their rideshare vehicles. Other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, or hazardous road or weather conditions can also cause these traffic accidents.

Securing Compensation After a Brooklyn Uber Accident

There are a few possible ways to recover compensation if you’ve involved in an Uber accident in Brooklyn, New York. Liability ultimately depends on what the Uber driver was doing at the time of the accident and if anyone else shares fault for the accident.

Accidents Involving Off-Duty Uber Drivers

When an Uber driver is off-duty – meaning that they’re not logged into and actively using the Uber app – you’ll have to pursue compensation from the driver and/or their insurance provider. Uber’s insurance company will deny any claims for benefits if the driver wasn’t working at the time of the accident.

Accidents Involving Uber Drivers Who Haven’t Accepted a Ride Request

Uber has a limited insurance policy that is effective while Uber drivers are logged into the app and actively waiting for a ride request. However, this is a secondary policy. It will only cover your damages to the extent they exceed what the Uber driver’s insurer will pay. So, you’ll still have to file a claim with the Uber driver’s insurance company. If, and only if, your damages are more than the policy maximum, you can submit a claim to recover additional compensation from Uber’s policy.

Accidents Involving Uber Drivers Who Have Accepted a Ride Request

Uber has a $1 Million insurance policy that kicks in the moment a driver accepts a ride request. The coverage is effective until the passenger has been dropped off at their location and the ride has been terminated in the app. Again, this coverage is secondary to Uber driver’s personal insurance policy. So, you’ll have to exhaust any benefits available through the Uber driver’s insurer before filing a claim with Uber’s provider.

Accidents Where Someone Other Than the Uber Driver is At Fault

When someone other than (or in addition to) an Uber driver is responsible for an accident, you can pursue compensation from them and/or their insurance company. However, keep in mind that New York has “no-fault” insurance rules. This simply means that you’re required to seek benefits from your own insurer first, regardless of who’s at fault for the accident. Once you’ve maxed out your own benefits, you can pursue additional compensation from negligent parties and their insurance companies.

Can I Sue Uber After a Car Accident in Brooklyn?

Probably not successfully. Uber has been working hard to make sure that its drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees. Why? The classification helps to protect Uber from liability for accidents involving its drivers. At this point in time, Uber can generally only be held accountable if it negligently hired its drivers or obviously overlooked a safety issue that led to your injury. Generally speaking, you’ll be limited to recovering compensation from one of Uber’s insurance policies.

What Damages Are Available After a Brooklyn Uber Accident?

When you get hurt in an Uber accident, you might be entitled to compensation. This can include money for:

  • Medical bills and expenses
  • Rehabilitation
  • Property damage
  • Lost income and wages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement 
  • Scarring
  • Emotional distress, including PTSD and depression
  • Pain and suffering, and more.

At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., our Brooklyn Uber accident lawyers will go above and beyond to secure meaningful compensation on your behalf. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for immediate assistance if you’ve been hurt through little-to-no fault of your own.

How Long Do I Have to File an Uber Accident Claim in Brooklyn, NY?

It depends. Insurance claims, which typically have to be exhausted before you consider additional legal action, have to be filed within a reasonable amount of time after your accident. Insurance companies dictate what length of time is reasonable. After your Uber accident, the best rule of thumb is to notify insurers and contact an attorney right away so that your claim can be preserved.

If you ultimately have to file a lawsuit, you’ll generally have three years from the date of your Uber accident. Failing to file a claim within the applicable statute of limitations will bar you from getting the money you deserve.

Contact Our Brooklyn Uber Accident Lawyers Today

Have you or someone you care about been injured in a rideshare accident in Brooklyn? Whether you’re struggling with broken bones, chest trauma, whiplash, or a brain injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Let Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. fight for monetary damages on your behalf. Give us a call to schedule a free consultation today.