Accidents involving rideshare vehicles at Newark Airport happen more frequently than many realize. The high volume of airport traffic creates challenging conditions for drivers.
If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident at Newark Airport, knowing what to do after the crash protects both your health and your legal rights. The immediate steps you take—from seeking medical attention to documenting the scene—can affect your ability to pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Why Choose Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers
When you’re injured in a rideshare accident, you need legal representation that understands personal injury law. You also need an attorney who knows the unique challenges of rideshare accident claims. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers states that it has recovered over $700 million for clients across New Jersey, and the site presents the firm as a New Jersey personal injury practice offering free consultations.
The firm’s trial attorneys have decades of experience handling accident cases, including rideshare incidents. They understand the difficulties accident victims face when dealing with insurance companies and multiple potentially liable parties.
We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay no fees unless there is a recovery in your case. Our team takes time to get to know you and your situation. We’re always available to answer your questions. Whether you need us to come to your home, hospital room, or office, we make ourselves accessible. Recovering from an accident is challenging enough without the added stress of managing a legal case alone. With a 4.9-star rating from over 5,900 client reviews, our clients often say they trust us to fight for the compensation they believe they deserve.
Immediate Steps to Take After Your Accident
What should you do after a Lyft/Uber accident at Newark Airport? Follow the following steps after your accident:
Check for Injuries and Call 911
Your safety and health come first after any accident. Immediately assess yourself and any passengers for injuries. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask pain from serious injuries. Call 911 right away if anyone is injured or if there’s significant vehicle damage. Emergency responders will provide medical care and create an official record of the accident. This record becomes important evidence for your claim. Tell the dispatcher exactly what happened and your location at Newark Airport, including which terminal or area you’re in.
Move to Safety if Possible
If it’s safe to do so and your vehicle is blocking traffic, move it to a safe location away from other vehicles. However, never leave the accident scene—this is a legal requirement in New Jersey. If you can’t move the vehicle safely, stay inside with your seatbelt on. Wait for emergency responders. At Newark Airport, airport security may also respond to the accident. Cooperate with all officials present.
Document Everything at the Scene
Gather Driver and Vehicle Information
Before leaving the accident scene, collect detailed information from the Uber or Lyft driver. Get their full name, phone number, and email address. Write down the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number. Ask for their insurance information and policy number. Also, note their Uber or Lyft driver ID number. You can find this on your app or receipt. If there were other vehicles involved, gather the same information from those drivers as well.
Collect Witness Information
Anyone who saw the accident can provide valuable testimony about what happened. Ask passengers, bystanders, or airport staff for their names and contact information. If airport security responded, get the officer’s name and badge number. Witness statements often become important evidence if your case goes to trial. Collect as much contact information as possible while people are still at the scene.
Take Photos and Videos
Use your phone to photograph the accident scene from multiple angles. Capture damage to all vehicles involved, the surrounding area, road conditions, traffic signals, and weather conditions. Take close-up photos of your injuries if they’re visible. Document the Uber or Lyft vehicle’s license plate and any identifying marks. If you’re able, record a brief video describing what happened while details are fresh in your mind. These photos and videos provide objective evidence that insurance companies may find harder to dispute.
Report the Accident Properly
File a Police Report
Contact the Newark Police Department or airport security to file an official accident report. Provide accurate, factual information about what happened. Don’t speculate or admit fault. Get the police report number and the officer’s name and badge number. Ask when the report will be available and how to obtain a copy. This official report becomes essential documentation for your insurance claim and any legal action.
Report to Uber or Lyft
Open the Uber or Lyft app and report the accident through the app’s safety feature. Document the date and time you filed the report. Take screenshots of your submission. The app will guide you through reporting the incident and may ask for details about what happened. Keep these records because they establish a timeline. They also show that you reported the accident promptly.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your personal auto insurance company and report the accident. Provide them with the police report number, the rideshare driver’s information, and photos from the scene. Your insurance company may have coverage that applies even though you were in a rideshare vehicle. Be factual in your description and avoid admitting fault. Keep detailed records of all communications with your insurance company. Note the date, time, and name of the representative you spoke with.
Seek Medical Attention and Document Your Injuries
Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, schedule a medical appointment within the next few days. Some injuries, like whiplash, internal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries, don’t show symptoms right away. A medical professional can identify injuries you might not realize you have. They create documentation that links your injuries directly to the accident. Keep all medical records, bills, test results, and treatment notes. Document any ongoing symptoms, medications you’re taking, and how your injuries affect your daily life. This medical documentation supports your claim for compensation. It helps establish the full extent of your damages.
Understanding Rideshare Insurance Coverage
Uber and Lyft Insurance Policies
Uber and Lyft provide insurance coverage for accidents. The amount of coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. When a driver is online and waiting for a ride request, Uber provides $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person. They provide $100,000 per accident. When a driver has accepted a ride and is transporting passengers, coverage increases to $1 million per accident. If the driver was offline, their personal auto insurance applies instead. Understanding these coverage limits helps you know what compensation is potentially available from the rideshare company’s insurance.
Your Personal Insurance Options
Your personal auto insurance may also provide coverage for injuries you sustained in the rideshare accident. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can help if the rideshare driver’s insurance doesn’t fully cover your damages. Health insurance covers your medical bills. You may need to reimburse your health insurance company from your settlement. An experienced attorney can work with these multiple insurance policies and seek to help you pursue the maximum compensation available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim after a rideshare accident?
In New Jersey, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, don’t wait until the last minute. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance companies move quickly to settle claims for less than they’re worth. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can begin investigating your case, gathering evidence, and working to protect your rights.
What if the Uber or Lyft driver was at fault?
When a driver is working for Uber or Lyft, the rideshare company’s insurance coverage applies to accidents caused by the driver’s alleged negligence. This provides access to substantial liability coverage, which is often higher than what a typical individual driver carries. An attorney can investigate the accident, determine fault, and pursue claims against all responsible parties.
Can I recover compensation for lost wages and pain and suffering?
Yes. New Jersey law allows you to seek both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages while you recover, and costs to repair or replace damaged property. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. The amount you recover depends on the severity of your injuries, how long your recovery takes, and the impact the accident has on your ability to work and enjoy life. An experienced personal injury attorney can help calculate the potential value of your claim.
Contact Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident at Newark Airport, don’t handle the recovery process alone. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers has the experience, resources, and dedication to fight for compensation on your behalf. The source page presents the firm as New Jersey personal injury attorneys offering a free consultation.
We offer a free consultation with no obligation. We work on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers today at (973) 364-8300 to discuss your case with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.
Related Posts
- How to Request an Accident Report
- Determining Fault in a Car Accident
- How the Car Accident Claim Process Works in New Jersey
- What Evidence You Need for a Slip and Fall Case
We are the trial attorneys with the experience and knowledge to get you the results you deserve. At Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers, we take time to get to know you, as well as your case. We are committed to excellence. It is important for our team to understand your fears, concerns and expectations. We are always available to answer any questions, and are willing to come to you if you are unable to come to us.
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