If you’ve been injured in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare crash, it is crucial to have a New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer from Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers looking out for you. With busy roads and crowded highways all over the state, rideshare accidents can happen fast, leaving you dealing with hospital stays, missed work, and steep medical bills. These claims can become complicated quickly, and you shouldn’t have to handle the process on your own. Contact us at (973) 364-8300 today to learn how we can help safeguard your rights.
Rideshare Accidents Across New Jersey’s Roads
Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, have transformed the way people travel throughout New Jersey, carrying thousands of passengers daily across cities like Jersey City, Newark, and Paterson. While these rides are convenient, the risks remain real.
Major highways like the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 21, and Route 280 carry heavy rideshare traffic every day. Crashes often occur when drivers hurry between trips, glance at their phones, or attempt to navigate unfamiliar streets. In Newark, busy areas such as Broad Street attract many rideshare drivers, raising the risk of collisions. Even low-speed rideshare accidents can cause serious injuries, especially for backseat passengers who might not be wearing seatbelts.
Rideshare accidents occur in various ways, and no two collisions unfold in the same manner. Common types of rideshare crashes in New Jersey include:
- Rear-end collisions at intersections like those along Broad Street in Newark
- T-bone crashes in Jersey City’s tight urban streets
- Pedestrian impacts near rideshare pick-up zones in Hoboken
- Sideswipe crashes on highways such as Route 22
- Rollover accidents on curves near Paterson
These crashes can hurt drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and others on the road. In heavy traffic, rideshare drivers sometimes make quick lane changes that cause accidents. It’s not uncommon for drivers searching for passengers to hit someone crossing the street accidentally.
Victims often face significant injuries, including fractures, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, or psychological trauma. Strict liability may arise if a defective vehicle component – like faulty brakes – played a role in the collision, meaning manufacturers and others could be held responsible even without proof of negligence.
If you are suffering pain after a rideshare vehicle accident, a rideshare accident attorney in New Jersey can investigate the cause of your crash and help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Why Rideshare Accidents Are Legally Complex
Rideshare crashes may appear to be standard car accidents, but the legal aftermath is often far more complex. Several factors make these cases challenging, including insurance disputes, evolving liability laws, and the classification of rideshare drivers by these companies.
Unlike traditional employers, Uber and Lyft treat drivers as independent contractors, which can limit the companies’ direct liability and shift legal responsibility onto drivers or their insurers. Meanwhile, rideshare liability laws in New Jersey remain nuanced and continue to evolve through new regulations and court decisions.
Insurance coverage is one of the most significant disputes in rideshare accident claims. Companies like Uber and Lyft divide coverage into separate periods, each determining which policy applies after a crash:
- Period 0 – The driver is offline; only personal auto insurance applies.
- Period 1 – The driver is online but waiting for a ride request; limited liability coverage applies.
- Period 2 – The driver has accepted a ride but has no passenger in the vehicle yet; higher liability coverage applies.
- Period 3 – A passenger is in the vehicle; full commercial coverage is in force.
In New Jersey, rideshare drivers often switch between different driving times during the day. Insurance companies sometimes argue about what the driver was doing when a crash happened because they don’t want to pay for the accident. For example, if a passenger gets hurt, both the rideshare company’s insurance and the driver’s own insurance may need to help, depending on the part of the ride during which the crash occurred.
Strict liability can also apply if a vehicle defect – such as faulty brakes – contributed to the accident, adding further legal complexity.
A New Jersey Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can clarify your rights, pinpoint all possible insurance coverage, and aggressively pursue compensation. Our firm stays current on legal changes that may affect your rideshare claim.
Proving Liability in Rideshare Accidents
After a rideshare crash, you must establish who bears legal fault for your injuries. Possible legal theories include:
- Negligence – Rideshare drivers may speed, drive distracted, or run red lights.
- Strict Liability – Manufacturers may be held liable for defective vehicle parts, regardless of their own negligence or fault.
- Negligent Hiring or Supervision – Rideshare companies may fail to screen or monitor drivers who pose a risk.
For example, a crash on Route 280 could result from a rideshare driver distracted by navigation apps. If a defective steering system contributed to the accident, strict liability might apply against the vehicle manufacturer.
In Hoboken, pedestrian injury claims may arise when rideshare drivers make illegal U-turns. In Paterson, driver negligence often involves reckless driving through congested areas.
A NJ rideshare injury lawyer will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and obtain expert opinions to prove your claim. Legal representation for crash victims can mean the difference between recovering your losses and facing financial hardship on your own.
Losses You Can Recover After a Rideshare Accident
A rideshare crash can cause severe physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Losses may include:
- Medical bills for emergency treatment, hospitalization, and therapy
- Future medical expenses for chronic injuries
- Lost wages due to missed work
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit future work
- Pain and suffering losses for physical and emotional distress
- Property repairs if your vehicle sustained damage
In cities such as Elizabeth, even minor rideshare collisions can leave victims struggling to pay medical bills. A backseat passenger injury lawyer can help passengers who sustain severe injuries despite wearing seatbelts.
Rideshare accidents often involve significant psychological trauma. Victims may develop anxiety, depression, or PTSD after violent crashes on busy roads.
If your loved one died in a rideshare accident, surviving family members may pursue wrongful death claims. Compensation may cover funeral costs, lost financial support, and emotional suffering.
Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers helps clients in Newark, Jersey City, and throughout New Jersey pursue every dollar owed for these losses.
Why Choose Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers as Your Rideshare Accident Lawyer
We understand how stressful a rideshare crash can be. Victims face complex insurance questions, uncertain liability issues, and aggressive insurance companies. Our lawyers have deep experience handling cases involving:
- Uber or Lyft collisions
- Insurance disputes over driver status
- Serious injuries from rideshare crashes
- Wrongful death claims
- Strict liability actions against manufacturers
- Negotiations with corporate insurers
We have a deep understanding of the local courts and roads across New Jersey. We are aware of how traffic patterns and busy areas can contribute to accidents. This regional insight gives us an advantage when proving how a crash occurred.
Our legal team will fight for your interests, whether in negotiations or at trial. Let us handle legal details while you focus on recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rideshare Accidents in New Jersey
If you feel overwhelmed after a rideshare accident, you are not alone. These answers address common questions from victims across New Jersey.
What steps should I take immediately after a rideshare crash in New Jersey?
Call 911 for emergency assistance and request medical attention, even if the injuries appear minor. Document the scene with photos and gather the driver’s and any witnesses’ contact and insurance information. Avoid discussing fault. Report the incident to the rideshare company through its app and speak with a lawyer for rideshare accidents in New Jersey quickly to protect your legal rights.
Are rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft liable under New Jersey law?
Under New Jersey law, rideshare companies can be held responsible if they failed to properly check a driver’s background or allowed unsafe drivers to keep working. Even if the driver caused the crash, victims might still have claims under the rideshare company’s insurance policies. Proving the company’s liability often involves gathering evidence, such as app data, trip records, and driver histories, to demonstrate whether the company contributed to the incident.
How are settlement amounts calculated in NJ rideshare accident cases?
Settlements typically depend on factors such as medical costs, lost income, future care needs, pain and suffering losses, and property damage. Factors such as insurance policy limits, evidence quality, and fault all influence case value. A skilled New Jersey attorney for Uber or Lyft accidents can calculate a fair settlement based on your losses.
These answers offer general guidance, but every case is different. It’s essential to seek legal advice specific to your circumstances.
Talk to a New Jersey Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
Rideshare accidents cause physical pain, financial burdens, and emotional stress. If you’ve been hurt in a rideshare vehicle accident in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, or anywhere in New Jersey, a skilled New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer can guide you through complex insurance issues and protect your rights.
Contact Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers today at (973) 364-8300 for a complimentary consultation and discover how we can help you fight for the recovery you deserve.
Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers also helps individuals who have been sexually assaulted in an Uber or Lyft.
Written by: Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers Last Updated : July 17, 2025We 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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