Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Massena, New York
If you or someone you love was hurt in a rideshare accident in Massena, New York the Stanley Law Offices can help. Our Massena, New York rideshare lawyers help victims and rideshare independent contractors with their rideshare insurance claims, and with passenger personal injury claims. Rideshare accidents can be more complicated than passenger vehicle auto accident claims. Rideshare companies provide their drivers with commercial insurance, but the insurance only applies during specific circumstances. Personal insurance that rideshare drivers have may or may not cover an accident that takes place when a rideshare driver is considered off-duty. Definitions of what “off duty” entails can vary among rideshare companies.
A rideshare accident attorney in Massena, New York at the Stanley law Offices can help. We can review the details of your case, identify stakeholders, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and help you and your family get the best possible settlement permitted under the law. As with any accident, you only have a limited time to make a claim under the law. Contact the Massena, New York rideshare accident lawyers at the Stanley Law Offices today.
Rideshare Applications and Driver Distraction in Massena, New York
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2023 alone 3,275 people were killed due to distracted driving. These figures don’t even begin to account for the number of people who survive distracted driving accidents, but with serious and life-altering injuries or disability. Rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft use rideshare applications to find rides, find passengers, and navigate the city once riders are in the vehicle. Rideshare drivers also use these applications to collect tips, resolve disputes, and contact the rideshare company when issues arise. It is a widely known fact that cellphone use while driving is the leading cause of driver distraction and many jurisdictions have explicit laws against cellphone use for commercial drivers and have laws prohibiting texting and driving. In New York State, texting and driving is against state law. Unlike some driving violations, texting and driving is a primary offense in New York state, meaning that police can pull a driver over if the driver is suspected of texting and driving or using a handheld device while behind the wheel.
Rideshare drivers are uniquely at risk of distracted driving accidents. University of Illinois researchers found that rideshare drivers were more at risk of getting into accidents when using the rideshare application. When riders use Lyft or Uber applications to respond to drivers, get information about riders, locate riders, or navigate unfamiliar roads, their attention can be split between driving and “doing their job” on the application. This can lead to accidents.
So, when it comes to rideshare accidents due to distracted driving, what rights do passengers have? The Uber accident and Lyft accident lawyers in Massena, New York at the Stanley Law Office may be able to help you make a claim against the companies or the driver if you believe distracted driving may have contributed to your crash.
Can I Sue Uber, Lyft, or my Driver for Distracted Driving After a Rideshare Accident?
To be able to pursue an automobile personal injury claim, a victim must be able to show that a driver was negligent for the accident. Negligence and liability arise when a driver fails to take precautions that a reasonable person would be expected to take to drive safely. It is a known fact that distracted driving is dangerous. It is against the law to text and drive in New York state. If an Uber or Lyft driver was distracted because he or she was using Uber or Lyft’s applications while driving, then victims and their families might have the right to pursue a lawsuit for negligence and for distracted driving.
Victims and families might wonder how far they might be able to take their claim. Uber and Lyft require drivers to be logged onto their applications when picking up and transporting passengers. Couldn’t this be seen as encouraging distracted driving? This is one of the more complex points in rideshare personal injury claims. Companies like Uber and Lyft provide their drivers with high-limit commercial insurance policies to cover drivers and passengers when accidents occur, when drivers had the application turned on and when drivers are transporting passengers. Things can get more complicated when rideshare drivers are using their vehicles for personal purposes or where the lines between personal use and commercial use get blurred.
More sophisticated rideshare accident lawyers have been investigating how rideshare application design, driver monitoring systems, GPS, and other application issues have impacted rideshare accidents and accident risk. The Lyft and Uber accident lawyers in Massena, New York at the Stanley Law Offices closely investigate each case to determine the factors that led up to an accident. If distraction is found to be an issue, the Stanley Law Offices can take steps to fully pursue a claim under the law.
Rideshare Driver Onboarding Practices and Algorithmic Pressures
Rideshare drivers are subject to unique pressures that other commercial drivers don’t face. For one, because rideshare drivers are independent contractors, they aren’t subject to hours of service laws that govern other commercial drivers. Many rideshare drivers consider Uber or Lyft their second job, so they might be driving after an already long workday, increasing the risk of fatigue and therefore of accidents. Rideshare drivers are also subject to additional pressures. They only get paid when transporting passengers, but a great deal of their time can go to finding rides, for which they are not paid. Attempts to “game” the app, and over-focus on the app while looking for rides can increase the risk of driver distractibility and accidents.
While Uber and Lyft do have onboarding processes, these processes are not as robust as the licensure process that most commercial drivers must navigate. This can also raise questions about whether companies like Uber and Lyft are properly vetting their drivers. If a truck company failed to properly investigate a driver’s background, and the driver was then involved in an accident, the truck company could potentially be held liable. Should Uber and Lyft also be held similarly liable when they allow drivers with poor driving records onto their platforms?
A rideshare injury accident lawyer in Massena, New York at the Stanley Law Office can investigate your Uber or Lyft driver’s background and driving history. If red flags come up, our rideshare accident lawyers can bring this to the attention of the rideshare companies. We can write demand letters and fight to hold rideshare companies accountable when a driver’s background is questionable.
We can also take the time to learn more about your driver’s work schedule, driving hours, and potentially even look at the data the rideshare companies have about a given rider’s schedule, incident history, and more. Some Uber and Lyft drivers use dashcams. These cameras can also be valuable evidence to support liability and help with your claim.
Rideshares are a relatively new industry, but have been existence long enough for some legal precedents to have been set in cases where individuals were injured while riding in a rideshare. If you or someone you love was hurt, contact the rideshare injury lawyers in Masssena, New York at the Stanley Law Offices today. We can help.
What Can I Do as a Rideshare Driver Involved in an Accident in Massena, New York?
As a commercial rideshare driver involved in an accident in Massena, New York, an auto accident is so much more than an inconvenience or a tragedy, it can affect your livelihood and bottom line. Uber and Lyft provide their drivers with commercial coverage, but this coverage only applies in certain circumstances, and the level of coverage will depend on whether you were carrying a passenger, driving to pick up a passenger, had the application turned on and were looking for a rider, or were using your car for personal use.
If you were involved in an accident as a rideshare driver, it’s important to keep in mind that negligence can be complicated. If other vehicles or drivers were involved in your accident, they might have liability and might be responsible for paying a claim. In some cases, an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer may even be able to establish that Uber or Lyft were responsible for the accident. This can be due to failure of the company to vet its riders (issues of injury due to assault have been reported for Uber and Lyft drivers), or due to application design or distractions due to the application.
Other factors can also impact your case. If you’ve been in an accident while driving for Uber and Lyft, it’s important to protect your rights. Reach out to the Uber and Lyft rideshare accident lawyers in Massena, New York at the Stanley Law Offices today.
How Can I Contact a Rideshare Injury Lawyer in Massena, New York?
The rideshare injury lawyers in Massena, New York at the Stanley Law Offices can be reached by calling 1-800-450-2810. We offer clients a free initial consultation during which we can review your case and offer guidance on the next steps. If you’ve been hurt in a rideshare, you have rights. Reach out to a personal injury law firm with a proven track record of success. Reach out to the Stanley Law Offices today.
