Rideshare Accident Attorney in Buffalo

Over 55 Years of Personal Injury Experience for Your Rideshare Claim

After an Uber or Lyft car accident, determining which insurance policy applies can be frustrating and confusing. That uncertainty can affect an injury claim whether you were a rideshare passenger, driver, pedestrian, cyclist, or another motorist.

At Faraci Lange, LLP, we provide personal injury legal services to clients in Buffalo and Western New York. A rideshare crash may involve the driver’s personal policy, a Transportation Network Company policy, another motorist’s insurance, and New York no-fault benefits. The driver’s app status, whether a trip was accepted, and your role in the crash can all affect the claim.

Call (888) 997-4110 to request a free consultation with our rideshare accident lawyers.

Who Can Be Liable for Rideshare Accidents?

A collision involving an Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service may involve different responsible parties than a typical car accident claim. Our rideshare accident lawyers in Buffalo can evaluate the circumstances of the crash and identify parties that may be responsible while you focus on medical care and recovery.

Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of other vehicles can be involved, and more than one party may have a potential claim or share responsibility. Liability can depend on the available evidence, each driver’s conduct, the rideshare driver’s activity at the time of the collision, and the relationship between the driver and the rideshare company.

The liable party or parties in your rideshare accident might be:

• Rideshare driver
• Another motorist
• Rideshare company
• A third party, such as a vehicle owner or property owner

We can review the crash details, available insurance information, and the evidence needed to assess potential liability.

Rideshare Insurance Coverage Explained

The insurance policies available after a crash involving Uber or Lyft may provide coverage for injured passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and rideshare drivers. The amount and source of coverage available in your situation depend on the driver’s app status and the specific facts of the accident.

How App Status Affects Coverage

New York Transportation Network Company rules establish different coverage requirements based on whether the driver was using the digital network. Required coverage may be provided through one policy or a combination of policies, including a rideshare company group policy. Reviewing the accident report, insurance information, trip records, and communications from the rideshare company can help determine which policy may apply.

Determining the possible coverage in a rideshare collision requires reviewing the following:

• Driver app status: Whether the driver was offline, logged in and waiting for a request, en route to a pickup, or transporting a passenger
• Liability limits: Reviewing policy limits that may affect the insurance available for an injury claim
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Determining what coverage may apply if another driver lacks insurance or has insufficient coverage
• Personal injury protection: Reviewing New York no-fault insurance benefits, which can help address certain medical expenses and lost income regardless of fault

New York Coverage Requirements

New York coverage requirements generally depend on the driver’s activity:

• App Off: When the rideshare app is off, the driver’s personal automobile insurance may be the primary source of coverage.
• Logged In & Waiting: When the driver is logged into the network and available for requests, New York requires at least 75/150/25 liability coverage.
• Prearranged Trip: Once a trip is accepted through the completion of the ride, New York requires at least $1,250,000 in liability coverage. Required Transportation Network Company coverage also includes uninsured motorist and personal injury protection coverage in circumstances specified by state law.

A rideshare company’s stated policy limits and the minimum coverage required by New York law are not necessarily the same thing. Our attorneys can review the available policies and communications from insurers before advising on next steps. You should also be cautious about recorded statements until you understand which insurers may be involved.

Understanding Deadlines & the Claims Process in Buffalo

New York law requires people hurt in a rideshare accident to pay close attention to deadlines. The general statute of limitations for many personal injury claims is three years under New York law, but exceptions and claim-specific rules can apply. Missing an applicable deadline can affect the ability to pursue a claim for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.

Claims involving government vehicles or municipal agencies may require a notice of claim within 90 days in applicable cases, along with other deadlines. The relevant time limit can change based on the defendant, injury, claim type, and required notice procedures. We can review the facts and identify potentially applicable deadlines.

New York law also has notice requirements for insurance claims. Prompt reporting can help preserve access to no-fault benefits, while photographs, witness information, medical records, vehicle information, app screenshots, and insurance correspondence may help preserve evidence. Keep copies of trip details, pickup and drop-off information, and any messages from the rideshare platform or insurer.

Types of Compensation Available in Buffalo Rideshare Accident Cases

Available damages depend on the evidence, fault, the nature and severity of the injury, and available insurance coverage. New York no-fault benefits and a personal injury claim serve different purposes, so they should be evaluated separately.

Victims of rideshare accidents in Buffalo may seek a variety of damages, depending on the details of their injury and its impact on their life:

• Medical expenses: Emergency care, hospital stays, continued treatment, prescription costs, and travel for medical appointments
• Lost income: Wages missed during recovery and, when supported by evidence, reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress related to the accident
• Disability-related costs: Expenses associated with long-term impairment, including home changes or assistive devices when appropriate
• Rehabilitation and therapy: Physical therapy and other recovery services supported by medical evidence

If the accident causes a long-term or permanent injury, you may benefit from reviewing the catastrophic injury resources available through our Buffalo catastrophic injury attorneys.

Our Buffalo Uber accident lawyers can clarify which damages may be available, particularly when you have ongoing medical needs or are uncertain about future wage loss. Future medical costs, reduced earning capacity, and long-term care needs require supporting medical and financial evidence rather than assumptions.

New York also permits damages for pain and suffering or reduced quality of life in appropriate cases. Thorough documentation from your medical providers, employer, and other relevant sources can support an accurate evaluation of accident-related losses.

Why Hire a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Buffalo?

A rideshare accident can leave people uncertain about the next steps. Multiple insurers may request information, while the driver’s app status and trip records can affect the coverage analysis. Our firm has helped injured clients since 1968, and we have focused solely on personal injury law throughout that time.

Here are some ways our attorneys can assist after a rideshare accident:

• Insurance policy review: We can identify potentially applicable policies and determine which insurer should receive notice.
• Evidence preservation: We can gather accident reports, witness information, medical records, insurance correspondence, and available app or trip information.
• Comparative negligence analysis: We can assess whether more than one party may be assigned fault under New York’s comparative negligence rules.
• Litigation preparation: We can represent clients through personal injury litigation, including Erie County litigation when a case proceeds in court.

Our attorneys provide personalized legal services throughout personal injury matters. Twelve of our attorneys have been selected for Upstate New York Super Lawyers, and 11 are listed in Best Lawyers in America. We also represent pedestrians struck by rideshare vehicles through our Buffalo pedestrian accident lawyer services.

How Lyft & Uber Accident Claims Differ

Multiple insurance policies may overlap, and each carrier may examine the driver’s app status and trip status before addressing a claim. Our Buffalo Lyft accident lawyers can help determine which company should be contacted first, what information to preserve from the driver’s app, and how no-fault benefits may interact with rideshare coverage.

These cases can also raise questions that don’t arise in typical car accidents, such as whether the driver was logged into the app, picking up a passenger, transporting a passenger, or driving for personal reasons. New York defines Transportation Network Company activity to include a driver who is logged onto the digital network or engaged in a prearranged trip. Passengers, drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists may each face different insurance and damages questions after the same collision.

Uber and Lyft claims are analyzed under the same New York legal framework, but policy language, claim handling, and available coverage may differ. Preserving app activity, trip acceptance information, pickup status, and platform communications can be particularly important in determining the coverage that may apply.

Rideshare Accident Safety Considerations in Buffalo

No single condition establishes fault on its own; each must be considered with the other evidence.

Factors that may be relevant to a rideshare accident investigation include:

• Weather conditions: Rain, snow, ice, and reduced visibility can affect stopping distance and vehicle control.
• Pickup and drop-off activity: A vehicle stopping unexpectedly or pulling into an unsafe location can create risks for passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists.
• Navigation and app use: App notifications, navigation directions, and driver distraction may be relevant to how a collision occurred.
• Traffic conditions: Congestion and sudden changes in traffic flow can affect whether drivers had adequate time and space to react.

Buffalo Rideshare Accident? Contact Us to Discuss Your Next Steps

Our Buffalo rideshare accident attorneys represent rideshare passengers, drivers, other motorists, and pedestrians. We can review available evidence, disputed coverage, and communications from multiple insurers to help you understand the next steps.

We offer free and confidential consultations, and we work on a contingency fee basis. Our Buffalo office opened in 2012, and we serve injured people throughout Buffalo and surrounding Western New York areas. If you are unsure which insurance policy applies after an Uber or Lyft crash, our attorneys can discuss your situation.

Call (888) 997-4110 to request a free, confidential consultation with our rideshare accident attorneys.