New Jersey Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
A rideshare crash isn't a normal car accident claim — the insurance that applies depends entirely on what the driver's app said at the moment of impact. Onal Injury Law sorts out who pays and fights for the full compensation available. No fee unless we win.
Uber and Lyft accident claims turn on which insurance period applied when the crash happened — app off, waiting for a match, en route to a rider, or actively on a trip — because each carries different coverage limits. During an active trip, rideshare companies are generally required to provide $1 million in liability coverage, far more than a typical driver carries. Rideshare companies also argue drivers are independent contractors, not employees, to limit their own direct liability. You generally have two years to file in New Jersey. No fee unless we win. Free review: (201) 335-6788.
The coverage depends on the app, not just the crash.
In an ordinary car accident, you look at the at-fault driver's insurance policy. In a rideshare crash, the driver may be covered by up to three different policies — their own personal auto policy, a limited "contingent" rideshare policy, or Uber or Lyft's full commercial policy — and which one applies depends entirely on the driver's exact status in the app when the crash occurred.
Rideshare companies and their insurers know this, and they move quickly to characterize the driver's status in whatever way limits their payout. Pulling the trip data and app logs to establish exactly what was happening at the moment of the crash is often the whole case.
Coverage changes with every stage of the trip.
App Off
The driver is off duty. Only their personal auto insurance applies, the same as any other driver.
Waiting For A Match
App on, no ride accepted yet. Limited contingent liability coverage applies, with the driver's personal policy generally responding first.
En Route To Pickup
Ride accepted, driver heading to the rider. Full rideshare liability coverage generally applies.
Passenger On Board
Trip underway with a rider in the car. The highest tier of coverage applies — typically $1 million in liability, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
More than just the driver.
- The rideshare driverFor negligence behind the wheel — distraction, speeding, fatigue, or recklessness.
- The rideshare company's insurerUber's or Lyft's policy, when the driver's status at the time of the crash triggers it.
- The driver's personal insurerOften the first line of coverage, especially during lower-coverage periods.
- A third-party driverWhen another vehicle caused or contributed to the crash.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturerIf a defect contributed to the crash, under product-liability law.
- A negligent maintenance providerIf poor upkeep of the rideshare vehicle played a role.
Why suing Uber or Lyft directly is hard.
Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, not employees — a distinction that matters because it lets the companies argue they aren't directly, vicariously liable for a driver's negligence the way a typical employer would be. Their rider and driver agreements also generally include arbitration clauses that make it harder to bring a direct lawsuit against the company itself.
In practice, that's why most rideshare claims are pursued against the applicable insurance coverage — the driver's personal policy, the rideshare company's contingent or full liability policy, or a third party's coverage — rather than against Uber or Lyft as a company. We evaluate every avenue a specific case may support.
Any of these could be your claim.
If You Were The Passenger
You were generally not at fault, which often simplifies the claim — but identifying every available policy is still what maximizes what you recover, especially in a serious injury case.
If You Were Hit By A Rideshare Vehicle
As a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you pursue whichever coverage tier applied when the driver hit you — potentially including the $1 million policy.
What you should know.
Two years to file — usually. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, most New Jersey rideshare accident claims must be filed within two years of the crash.
Transportation Network Company regulation. New Jersey law requires companies like Uber and Lyft to carry specific minimum insurance coverage tied to the driver's app status, which is exactly why establishing that status is central to every case.
Being partly at fault doesn't end your case. New Jersey follows modified comparative negligence — you can recover as long as you weren't more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share.
Serving New Jersey & New York.
From our offices in Elmwood Park and Brooklyn, we represent rideshare accident victims throughout Bergen County and the greater New York metro area, including:
No Case Too Small.
No Case Too Big.
Whether it's a low-speed fender-bender in the back of a rideshare or a serious injury from a high-speed crash, you get the same thing from us: direct attention from John Onal, a full investigation into exactly which insurance applied, and a file prepared as if it's going to trial.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Available 24/7.
Get Your Free Case Review →Uber & Lyft accident questions, answered.
Does it matter whether the Uber app was on or off when I was hit?+
Yes — it's usually the whole case. Rideshare insurance works in tiers tied to the driver's exact status in the app at the moment of the crash: offline, waiting for a ride request, en route to a pickup, or actively carrying a passenger. Each tier carries a different level of coverage, so pinning down the driver's status is the first thing we do.
How much insurance coverage is available during an actual trip?+
While a driver is en route to a pickup or has a passenger in the car, Uber and Lyft are generally required to provide $1 million in third-party liability coverage, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. That's far higher than a typical personal auto policy.
What if the driver was logged into the app but hadn't accepted a ride yet?+
That's the "waiting" period, and it carries lower contingent liability coverage than an active trip — with the driver's own personal auto policy typically responding first. Because coverage is thinner here, insurers fight harder over which period actually applied.
I was a passenger in the Uber. Who do I make a claim against?+
Potentially several parties: the rideshare company's insurance policy, the driver's personal insurer, and the other driver involved if a second vehicle caused the crash. As a passenger you generally weren't at fault, which often makes your claim more straightforward — but identifying every available policy is still what maximizes your recovery.
I was hit by an Uber driver while I was walking or driving my own car. What are my options?+
You pursue the coverage tier that applied when you were hit, the same way a passenger would. If the driver had a passenger or was en route to one, the $1 million rideshare policy is typically in play in addition to the driver's own insurance.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?+
Rideshare companies classify drivers as independent contractors specifically to argue they aren't directly liable for a driver's negligence, and their user agreements include arbitration clauses that complicate direct suits. In practice, most claims are pursued against the applicable insurance coverage rather than the company itself — we evaluate every avenue your case may support.
How long do I have to file a claim in New Jersey?+
Generally two years from the date of the crash under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Rideshare trip data can be harder to obtain the longer you wait, so it's best to call as soon as possible.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?+
New Jersey follows modified comparative negligence — you can still recover as long as you weren't more than 50% at fault, with your award reduced by your share.