Rideshares like Uber and Lyft provide a much-needed service. But when a rideshare crash happens, it can leave you injured, out of work, and unsure who is responsible for your bills. At the Reinartz Law Firm, we step in as your New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer to help people hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes pursue full and fair compensation.
Our founder, Richard Reinartz, spent more than a decade trying injury cases for two large national firms before opening our doors. That background means we understand how the insurance companies on the other side value a claim, and we put that knowledge to work for you. From our office on Main Street in Hackensack, we help injured people across Bergen County and all of New Jersey.
Whether you need an Uber accident lawyer in New Jersey or a Lyft accident attorney in NJ, we handle both, and we treat your case with the attention it deserves. Call (201) 289-8614 today for a free consultation, available 24/7.
Table of contents
- How Our Team Helps After a Rideshare Crash
- Who Is Responsible After an Uber or Lyft Accident in New Jersey?
- Rideshare Insurance Coverage Under New Jersey Law
- What Compensation Can You Recover After a New Jersey Rideshare Crash?
- Common Injuries in Uber and Lyft Crashes
- What Makes Rideshare Claims Harder Than a Normal Crash?
- Rideshare Cases in Hackensack and Across Bergen County
- What to Expect When You Work With Us
- Why Choose the Reinartz Law Firm?
- FAQs Answered by Our New Jersey Rideshare Accident Lawyers
- Speak With a New Jersey Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
How Our Team Helps After a Rideshare Crash
A rideshare accident lawyer handles the parts of your claim you should not have to think about while you heal. We find every insurance policy that applies, deal with the adjusters, gather the evidence, and press for the compensation your injuries call for.
The primary reason people call us early is simple. The sooner we begin, the more we can protect the proof that supports your case, from vehicle data to witness memories.
We also make sure your medical care is documented from the start, because clear records connect your injuries to the crash. That connection is often what separates a fair recovery from a denied claim.
- Investigate the crash and preserve app records, dashcam video, and driver history
- Identify which insurance coverage applies based on the driver's status at the time
- Handle every conversation with Uber, Lyft, and their insurers so you do not have to
- Calculate the full value of your medical care, lost income, and pain
- Take your case to trial when an insurer refuses a fair result
From the first phone call to the final settlement, we carry the legal weight so you can focus on getting better.
Who Is Responsible After an Uber or Lyft Accident in New Jersey?
Responsibility after a rideshare crash can rest with the rideshare driver, another motorist, the rideshare company's insurer, or a combination of them. The right answer depends on who caused the crash and what the Uber or Lyft driver was doing at the moment it happened.
Sometimes the rideshare driver is at fault for a distracted or rushed maneuver. Other times a third driver runs a light or makes an illegal turn, and you are hurt as a passenger through no fault of your own.
- The rideshare driver, when a distracted or careless move caused the crash
- Another motorist who struck the rideshare vehicle
- The rideshare company's insurer, through the coverage the law requires
- A vehicle or parts maker, when a defect played a role
We look at each of these possibilities so no responsible party is overlooked.
Federal safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also track vehicle defects that can play a role in a crash. When more than one party shares blame, we pursue each source of recovery so nothing is left on the table.
Rideshare Insurance Coverage Under New Jersey Law
New Jersey's Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act sets the insurance that Uber and Lyft must carry, and the amount changes with the driver's status. Knowing which phase applied to your crash is often the key to your recovery.
The law creates three phases of coverage, and each one carries different limits.
- App off: the driver's personal auto policy applies, much like standard car accident claims in New Jersey
- App on and waiting for a ride request: lower contingent coverage applies
- Ride accepted or a passenger on board: the company must provide at least $1.5 million in liability coverage and $1.5 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Because the coverage can shift by the second, pinning down the driver's exact status is one of the first things we do.
As a passenger, you may also have access to personal injury protection benefits, the same no-fault medical coverage New Jersey drivers carry. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance explains how this coverage works.
Even with higher limits available, a rideshare insurer will not simply hand over fair value, so it helps to understand how rideshare insurers negotiate injury settlements before you accept any offer.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a New Jersey Rideshare Crash?
You may be able to recover money for medical treatment, lost wages, future care, and the pain and daily limitations your injuries cause. New Jersey law lets injured people seek both the financial and the human costs of a serious crash.
- Emergency care, surgery, and ongoing medical treatment
- Physical therapy and future medical needs
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Pain and the limits a serious injury places on your daily life
We build your claim around the full picture of your recovery, not just the bills that have already arrived.
When a rideshare crash takes a life, we also help families pursue a wrongful death claim. For those families, a claim is never about money. It is about justice and the resources a family needs to move forward.
Common Injuries in Uber and Lyft Crashes
Rideshare crashes cause the same serious injuries as other high-speed collisions, and passengers are sometimes hurt worse because they are seated without a clear view of the road. Recognizing an injury early protects both your health and your claim.
- Whiplash and other neck and back injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and torn ligaments
- Spinal cord injuries that affect movement
- Cuts, deep bruises, and lasting scars
Because some of these injuries surface days later, prompt medical care is one of the strongest steps you can take after a crash.
What Makes Rideshare Claims Harder Than a Normal Crash?
Rideshare claims are harder because they usually involve more than one insurer and a large company with an experienced defense team. The primary reason these cases stall is that each insurer tries to point at the other.
A single crash can trigger the rideshare driver's personal policy, the company's commercial policy, and your own coverage all at once. Sorting out which one pays, and in what order, takes careful work.
We keep the pressure on every responsible party so the finger-pointing does not delay your care or shrink your recovery.
These cases also move better when a lawyer collects the app and trip data early, because that record can be hard to recover later. We know what to request and how to hold each company to the coverage the law requires.
Rideshare Cases in Hackensack and Across Bergen County
We handle Uber and Lyft injury cases throughout Hackensack, Bergen County, and the wider New Jersey area. Local knowledge of the courts and the roads where your crash happened is part of building a strong claim.
Our office sits at Court Plaza South on Main Street, a short walk from the Bergen County Justice Center. We know the busy stretches of Route 4 and Route 17 where many rideshare crashes happen.
Local knowledge matters when a case reaches a Bergen County courtroom. We understand how juries here weigh the evidence, and we prepare every claim as if it will be tried.
If your crash happened in the city, our Uber accident attorney in Hackensack can meet with you close to home and start work right away.
What to Expect When You Work With Us
When you hire us, you get a clear plan and a single point of contact who keeps you informed. You should always understand where your claim stands and what happens next.
We begin with a free review of your crash, then move quickly to preserve evidence and open the insurance claims. As your treatment continues, we document your injuries and losses so your demand reflects the full cost of your recovery.
When the insurers make an offer, we tell you honestly whether it is fair. If it is not, we are ready to file suit and take your case before a judge and jury.
You will never be pressured to settle. The decision is always yours, and we make sure you have the information to make it with confidence.
Why Choose the Reinartz Law Firm?
Injured New Jersey clients choose us because we pair real trial experience with steady, personal attention. Our founder learned how the other side builds its defense, and we use that insight for you.
- More than a decade of trial experience earned on the defense side, now working for injured people
- Free consultations and 24/7 intake, so someone is always ready to take your call
- Direct attention from a trial lawyer who knows your case, not a file number
- A firm rooted in Hackensack that serves clients across New Jersey
These are the reasons injured people across Bergen County trust us with their recovery.
Richard Reinartz holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is a life member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Call (201) 289-8614 for a free consultation and let us review your rideshare claim today.
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and you can review the award methodology.
FAQs Answered by Our New Jersey Rideshare Accident Lawyers
Here are answers to questions we often hear from people injured in Uber and Lyft crashes across New Jersey.
New Jersey generally gives injured people two years from the date of the crash to file a claim, though some situations shorten or change that window. The New Jersey Courts handle these civil cases, and because deadlines can arrive sooner than you expect, it is wise to speak with a lawyer early. You do not always need your own policy to recover as an injured passenger. During an active ride, the rideshare company's coverage usually applies, and you may also have personal injury protection benefits available to help with medical bills. You can still pursue compensation even when the rideshare driver did nothing wrong. The at-fault driver's insurance may apply, and the rideshare company's uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can step in when the other driver lacks enough insurance. We handle rideshare injury cases on a contingency basis, so there is no upfront cost to you. Your first consultation is free, and we are paid only if we recover money for you. New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you may still recover as long as you were not more than half responsible for the crash. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, so an honest review of the facts matters. Yes, a rideshare claim often involves more insurance layers and more than one company. Sorting out which policy applies and how much coverage is available is where an experienced rideshare accident lawyer in NJ makes a real difference.How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in New Jersey?
Do I need my own car insurance to file after an Uber or Lyft crash?
What if the rideshare driver was not at fault?
How much does it cost to hire a rideshare accident lawyer?
Can I still recover money if I was partly at fault?
Is a rideshare accident claim different from a regular car accident claim?
Speak With a New Jersey Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
You do not have to face Uber, Lyft, and their insurers alone. At the Reinartz Law Firm, we are ready to review your crash, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call (201) 289-8614 now for a free, 24/7 consultation with a New Jersey rideshare accident lawyer.
The Reinartz Law Firm - Hackensack Office
Court Plaza South - West Wing
21 Main St Suite 205,
Hackensack, NJ 07601
