Uber & Lyft Accident Attorneys in New Jersey

65 Years of Personal Injury Experience, Applied to Rideshare Claims

Rideshare accident claims aren’t standard car accident cases. When an Uber or Lyft driver causes a crash, injured victims face a tangle of overlapping insurance policies, corporate defendants with experienced claims teams, and legal disputes over which coverage applies. At Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin, Plaza & Reed, Attorneys at Law, we bring more than 65 years of personal injury experience in New Jersey and New York directly to these claims, helping passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers pursue recovery against well-funded opponents.

Our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars®, and our Newark base gives us familiarity with the courts and regulatory landscape that govern rideshare litigation in this state. We represent individuals and corporations alike, which means we understand how the other side prepares and defends these cases.

If you or someone you love was injured in a rideshare accident, contact our office for a case evaluation. Call (973) 828-0203 or submit your information online to speak with a New Jersey rideshare accident attorney.

New Jersey’s Three-Phase Insurance Structure

What makes a rideshare accident claim legally distinct is the driver’s app status at the exact moment of the crash. Under New Jersey’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act (N.J.S.A. 39:5H-1 et seq.), enacted in 2017 and administered by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the applicable insurance coverage shifts based on whether the driver was logged off, waiting for a ride request, or actively transporting a passenger. The figures below reflect current statutory minimums and are subject to legislative change.

• Phase 0 (App Off): The driver’s personal auto insurance governs. The rideshare company provides no coverage.
• Phase 1 (App On, Awaiting a Request): Minimum coverage of $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
• Phase 2 & 3 (En Route or Passenger On Board): The Transportation Network Company’s policy becomes primary, with a minimum of $1,500,000 in liability coverage and $1,500,000 in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

When a passenger is aboard during an active ride, New Jersey law places the claim outside the standard no-fault personal injury protection framework, allowing direct access to the $1.5 million liability policy. Determining which phase applies requires app-status records, internal TNC dispatch logs, and other digital evidence that can be overwritten within days of a crash. Early attorney involvement can help preserve it.

Why the Corporate Defense in Rideshare Claims Is Layered

Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This is a deliberate choice that limits the direct corporate liability argument available when a traditional employee causes harm on the job. Despite this, New Jersey’s TNC Act creates a coverage obligation that applies regardless of how drivers are classified, meaning the rideshare company’s insurer may provide coverage during active rides even without an employment relationship.

In practice, multiple insurers covering the TNC, the driver, and potentially a third-party vehicle may each argue that another carrier bears responsibility. New Jersey also applies a modified comparative fault standard under N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.1, reducing a victim’s recovery proportionally if they are found partially at fault. Additional defendants can include third-party drivers, manufacturers of defective vehicle components, or government entities responsible for road conditions. Untangling these layers is exactly the kind of multi-party dispute we handle across practice areas.

Damages Recoverable in a New Jersey Rideshare Accident Claim

Injured rideshare accident victims in New Jersey may pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses: medical bills, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages address the broader harm: pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent disability, disfigurement, and loss of consortium.

New Jersey’s two-year statute of limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 applies to rideshare personal injury claims. Missing that deadline can bar recovery. Beyond the filing deadline, physical evidence such as dashcam footage, traffic camera recordings, and the driver’s trip history can disappear quickly. The sooner an attorney is involved, the stronger the evidentiary record may be.

Why Rideshare Accident Victims in New Jersey Work with Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin, Plaza & Reed, Attorneys at Law

Founded in 1955, we’ve represented individuals, families, and businesses in personal injury matters throughout New Jersey and New York for over six decades. That foundation means we don’t approach rideshare claims as a new category. We bring an established litigation practice to cases that involve the same corporate insurers and defense strategies our attorneys have encountered across commercial and personal injury work for years.

Our attorneys serve on government boards and bar associations and are regularly invited to lecture within the New Jersey and New York legal communities. This keeps us current on how regulatory changes, including those under the TNC Act, affect active litigation. Our full-service capability matters here: when a rideshare case raises overlapping corporate, insurance, and liability questions, we handle them under one roof rather than routing issues to outside counsel. We’re recognized as one of the leading mid-sized firms in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas, and our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars®.

Start Your Case Evaluation Today

Rideshare accident claims move against well-resourced defendants. The sooner evidence is preserved and a legal strategy is in place, the stronger your position may be. We serve clients throughout New Jersey and New York, and consultations are available by phone or through our online submission form.

Call (973) 828-0203 to speak with a New Jersey rideshare accident attorney at Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin, Plaza & Reed, Attorneys at Law. We can review your case.