New Jersey residents have enthusiastically embraced ridesharing, which has significantly grown in popularity in the past decade. You can request a ride anywhere simply by using an app on your smartphone. It is an easy and smooth way to get around. The service is convenient.
However, things do not always go smoothly. Troubles arise when a ridesharing vehicle is involved in an accident An injured ridesharing passenger may have to travel through a maze of bureaucracy in order to determine who is liable for the injuries he or she sustained in the accident.
Companies and their drivers
Among the complications that surface in a ridesharing crash is the overabundance of insurance companies. These include carriers that may cover the ridesharing driver, the ridesharing company, the injured party, as well as the driver of the other vehicles involved in the collision.
Another situation that surfaces is that ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft rely on thousands of independent contractors throughout the state. Are they considered employees under the law?
Negligence may be attributed to:
- Ridesharing companies: Firms such as Uber and Lyft do their best to defend themselves in lawsuits. It is not unusual for them to consider their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. And what about background checks? Maybe the companies did not do them properly.
- Ridesharing drivers: Have they received the proper amount of training to be a rideshare driver? In some instances, they have not. These people also may not have the right qualifications to serve in this role. Sometimes, the only qualification is owning a car. And they may not even own the car they are driving.
- The driver of the other vehicle: As in certain motor vehicle accidents, the other driver may be at fault. Blowing through a stop sign, driving drunk, or subscribing to distracted driving all may lead to a horrific accident with serious injuries.
Liability may be apportioned to any or all of these three players as their negligence could have led to your injuries. Resolution is not far away, but it may take time and patience. If you have been injured in an accident, going through this process is probably the last thing you’ll want to have to deal with as you attempt to recover. Experienced lawyers at our firm can help you navigate these issues and get you the compensation you are entitled to.