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Any car accident has the potential to turn your life upside down, but Uber and Lyft accidents are uniquely complex. In New York, city-specific insurance requirements, state law, and the rideshare system itself overlap to create a confusing landscape for accident victims. 

FAQ About Uber and Lyft Accidents in NYC 

Who pays for medical bills after an Uber or Lyft accident in New York City?

In most cases, medical bills are initially paid through no-fault insurance, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP). In NYC, Uber and Lyft drivers are required to carry at least $200,000 in PIP coverage. If your injuries are serious under New York law, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through a lawsuit.

Does Uber or Lyft automatically pay if their driver causes an accident?

Not automatically. Uber and Lyft drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees. However, Uber or Lyft’s insurance may apply depending on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the crash and whether the company’s full liability coverage was active.

How does the driver’s app status affect who pays after a rideshare accident?

The driver’s app status is critical. If the driver was logged out, only their personal insurance applies. If they were logged in and waiting for a ride, a limited rideshare policy applies. If they had accepted a ride or were transporting a passenger, Uber or Lyft’s $1.25 million liability policy is typically in effect.

Can I sue after an Uber or Lyft accident in NYC?

You can file a lawsuit if your injuries meet New York’s legal definition of a “serious injury,” such as a fracture, permanent impairment, significant disfigurement, or substantial disability. If your injuries qualify, you may seek compensation beyond no-fault insurance.

What if another driver caused the Uber or Lyft accident?

If another motorist was at fault, you may be able to pursue a claim against that driver’s insurance. Depending on the circumstances, multiple insurance policies—including the rideshare policy—may be involved in covering your damages.

Can multiple parties be responsible for an Uber or Lyft accident?

Yes. In some cases, liability may be shared among the rideshare driver, another driver, or even the rideshare company itself. New York’s comparative fault rules allow injured victims to seek compensation from more than one responsible party.

Should I talk to a lawyer after an Uber or Lyft accident in NYC?

Yes. Rideshare accidents involve complex insurance rules and New York–specific laws. An experienced NYC Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can investigate your case, identify all liable parties, and help you pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries.

In this post, we’ll look at how to determine who pays for a rideshare accident in New York City and who may be liable for a crash. 

What Factors Determine Who Pays After an Uber or Lyft Accident in NYC? 

If you’ve just been in an Uber or Lyft accident in New York, you might be unsure of who is financially responsible. There are three main factors that shape financial responsibility: 

• The severity of your injuries 
• The driver’s status in the app 
• Who was at fault for the accident 

Here’s a closer look at each factor and how it influences who is financially responsible for an Uber or Lyft accident in New York City. 

The Severity of Your Injuries 

Because New York is a no-fault state for car insurance, the seriousness of your injuries plays a major role when it comes to who pays. Ordinarily, after a car accident, each injured party would file a claim with their own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. 

In New York City, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) requires Uber and Lyft drivers to have at least $200,000 of PIP coverage. If your injury is relatively minor, this insurance may cover all of your medical bills. 

However, if your injuries meet the state’s statutory definition of “serious,” you have the option to file a lawsuit. In New York, injuries are classified as “serious” if they include at least one of the following: 

• A fracture 
• Loss of a fetus 
• Permanent loss of use (or major limitation) of a body part or system 
• Dismemberment 
• Significant disfigurement 
• Death 

You may also file a lawsuit if your injuries caused 90 days of disability in the 80 days after the accident. 

If you’re eligible to file a lawsuit, your lawyer might be able to identify other potentially liable parties. For example, if the Uber driver was only partly to blame for the crash, you may be able to pursue damages from the other at-fault driver as well. 

The Driver’s Status in the App 

Rideshare companies generally have three “phases” of insurance: 

• When the driver is logged out, only their personal insurance applies 
• When the driver is logged in and waiting for a fare, the rideshare company’s lower-limit liability policy is active 
• When the driver has accepted a fare, the rideshare’s full liability policy is in effect 

New York requires rideshare companies to carry at least $1.25 million in liability insurance. This coverage is active from the time the driver accepts a fare to the time they drop off the passenger. 

Who Was at Fault for the Accident 

If your injuries don’t meet the statutory definition of “serious,” determining who was at fault for the crash is likely irrelevant. However, if you need to file a lawsuit to recover damages, this consideration will become much more important. Here are some of the entities that may be liable: 

The Driver 

If your rideshare driver caused the accident, they could be directly responsible for your injuries. 

The Rideshare Company 

Because rideshare drivers are independent contractors and not employees, Uber and Lyft aren’t automatically responsible for their conduct. However, if there’s evidence that the rideshare company itself was reckless or negligent in some way, it could be liable. 

For example, imagine that you’re hurt in a collision caused by a drunk Uber driver. Your lawyer finds out that the driver had multiple DWIs, but Uber allowed them to operate on the platform anyway. In this case, the company could be liable because it failed to screen its drivers properly. 

Another Driver 

In some cases, the rideshare driver may not be the one at fault. If another driver’s error led to the crash, they may be on the hook for providing compensation instead. 

What if Multiple Parties Are Responsible? 

If more than one party contributed to your injuries, you might be able to seek compensation from each one. Your legal representative can investigate the circumstances of the crash and identify all potentially liable parties. 

Hurt in an NYC Uber or Lyft Accident? Ask4Sam! 

There are thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers in NYC, and accidents are more common than many people realize. If you’ve been hurt, you shouldn’t have to spend your time figuring out insurance requirements — you should be focusing on getting well.  

Silberstein & Miklos can assess your situation and help you pursue the compensation you need to move forward. Reach out today to set up a free consultation.