New York City Rideshare Accident Lawyers
Trial-tested legal representation for Uber, Lyft, and rideshare accident victims across NYC.
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Why Hire Our New York City Rideshare Accident Lawyer?
Nearly $1 Billion Won
We’ve recovered almost $1 billion for injured clients across documented cases
Largest MVA Recovery
We recovered $69.25M, the largest single motor vehicle accident settlement
Media Recognition
We’ve been featured in national and local outlets including the New York Post, Daily Mail, and CBS New York
No Fee Unless We Win
Rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft, dominate busy streets of New York City. But when a crash happens, the legal process becomes complex immediately as multi-million-dollar insurance companies fight to deny liability.
Led by veteran trial lawyer Arkady Frekhtman across offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, our NYC rideshare accident lawyers leverage decades of local court experience to obtain in-app driver logs and enforce TLC commercial coverage limits.
Whether you were a passenger, motorist, or pedestrian struck, we know how to hold every negligent party financially accountable for your damages. Since 1999, Frekhtman & Associates has recovered nearly $1 billion for injured New Yorkers, securing multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements across the five boroughs.
If you were injured in a collision involving a rideshare vehicle or ridesharing app, give our New York City personal injury team a call: (866) 288-9529 or schedule a free consultation online.
Handling Your Uber and Lyft Accident Claims in NYC
Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, and New York courts are divided on whether that status shields the company from liability. The Appellate Division has let some claims against Uber go forward, while other courts have dismissed them. Even when the company is not liable, the commercial insurance on the vehicle remains a path to compensation. App records showing whether the driver was logged in support both paths, so save your trip receipt and screenshots.
How we build Uber and Lyft accident claims:
- Our investigators gather app records, the police report, and fault evidence.
- We document the serious injury from your first medical record.
- Our founder, Arkady Frekhtman, tries injury cases to verdict across all five boroughs.
- We meet clients at home or in the hospital, in English, Spanish, or Russian.
- We advance case expenses and deduct them from the recovery.
Passengers, drivers, and anyone struck by an Uber or Lyft vehicle can contact our office for a free case evaluation, available 24 hours a day.
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Rideshare Accident
Fault in a rideshare crash is determined the same way fault is determined in any motor vehicle accident: through police reports, dashcam and app data, witness statements, and evidence of traffic law violations. Depending on the facts, liability may rest with:
- The rideshare driver
- The driver of another vehicle involved in the crash
- A bicyclist or pedestrian whose actions contributed to the collision
- A transit company or government agency, if a municipal vehicle was involved
New York also recently changed how shared fault is handled in motor vehicle cases. Under CPLR § 1411(b), effective for actions commenced on or after May 26, 2026, a claimant whose fault is found to be greater than the combined fault of the defendants is barred from recovering damages entirely in motor vehicle personal injury cases subject to Article 51 of the Insurance Law. This is a meaningful shift from New York’s older rule, and it makes an early, thorough investigation into fault more important than ever. Read more in our guide to comparative negligence in New York car accidents.
What If a City Bus or Municipal Vehicle Is Involved
Rideshare accidents in NYC traffic sometimes involve an MTA bus, a sanitation truck, or another city-owned vehicle. If a city vehicle or a public authority such as the MTA contributed to your crash, a 90-day Notice of Claim deadline generally applies, and the lawsuit usually must follow within one year and 90 days. A court can allow late notice only in limited circumstances. Missing these deadlines can bar your claim. Our New York City MTA accident lawyers can review whether they apply to your case.
How Rideshare Insurance Coverage Works in New York City
Which insurance pays after an Uber or Lyft crash depends first on where the trip started.
Trips that start in New York City. Uber and Lyft vehicles picking up passengers in the five boroughs are licensed by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).
As a condition of that license, the vehicle’s owner must carry commercial insurance with these minimums:
- $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in liability coverage
- $100,000 per person in no-fault (PIP) benefits ($200,000 before March 1, 2026)
Trips that start elsewhere in New York State. Here, coverage depends on what the driver’s app showed at the moment of the crash, even if the trip ended in New York City.
| Driver’s App Status | Minimum Coverage | What This Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| App off | Driver’s personal auto policy | No rideshare coverage applies. Personal policies often carry lower limits. |
| App on, waiting for a ride request | $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist and no-fault coverage | Coverage exists but is limited. Proving the app was on unlocks it. |
| Trip accepted or passenger aboard | $1,250,000 in liability coverage and $1,250,000 in supplemental uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, plus no-fault | This is the highest tier. Proving the driver had accepted the trip unlocks it. |
Sources: New York State Department of Financial Services, FAQ on Transportation Network Company Services; NYC TLC, Personal Injury Insurance Coverage Rule.
These amounts are minimums, and some policies carry more. Insurers do not always volunteer which policy applies or what its limits are, so our NYC rideshare accident lawyers identify the policies that cover your crash and pursue the coverage available.
Types of Injuries in Common in NYC Rideshare Accidents
A rideshare crash can cause the same range of injuries as any New York City car accident, and the severity of your injury determines whether you can sue for pain and suffering under New York’s no-fault system.
Traumatic brain injury and concussion
A sudden impact or whiplash motion can cause a closed head injury, ranging from a mild concussion to a severe TBI. Our New York City brain injury lawyers work with neuropsychologists to document cognitive deficits that meet New York’s serious injury threshold.
Spinal cord injury
Rideshare crashes can cause partial or complete spinal cord damage, including specific injury syndromes that affect mobility and sensation. Our spinal cord injury attorneys partner with spinal rehabilitation specialists to calculate lifetime care costs.
Fractures, whiplash, and soft tissue injuries
A fracture is one of the categories that satisfies New York’s serious injury threshold on its own. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries require objective medical evidence, such as imaging or documented range-of-motion loss, to meet the threshold.
Wrongful death
If a rideshare accident is fatal, the estate’s representative may bring a claim for the family within two years of death under EPTL §5-4.1. Our wrongful death lawyers handle these claims for families across the five boroughs.
Every one of these injury categories still must clear New York’s serious injury threshold under Insurance Law §5102(d) before a lawsuit for pain and suffering can proceed. An early medical record is what makes that threshold provable.
What Compensation Can You Recover
Motor Vehicle Case Results from Our NYC Practice
Frekhtman & Associates helped me get my settlement from an injury I got in a car accident. From phone calls, to depositions and hearings, I've received nothing short of an excellent service. Katie Adaven was amazing in helping prepare all of the paperwork and addressed each and every one of the many concerns I had. I would gladly recommend this firm based on the service and attention I have received.
Frequently Asked Questions About NYC Rideshare Accident Claims
Who Pays If I Am Injured in an Uber or Lyft in New York City?
Who pays depends on where the trip began and, for trips outside NYC, the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash. Pickups within the five boroughs fall under NYC TLC rules; pickups elsewhere in the state fall under the statewide Article 44-B period system. Our attorneys identify the correct policy and pursue it directly.
What If the Rideshare Driver Says They Were Not Logged Into the App?
Rideshare app data can contradict a driver’s account. Uber and Lyft trip logs and GPS data can show a driver’s app status at the time of a crash. For trips that begin outside NYC, that status decides which Article 44-B coverage applies and can also affect whether the company is liable. We seek these records rather than relying on the driver’s word.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft Directly, or Only the Driver?
Yes, a rideshare passenger can sue Uber or Lyft directly in some cases. Both companies classify drivers as independent contractors, and New York courts are divided on whether the company can be held liable for a driver’s negligence. A claim against the insurance on the vehicle does not depend on that question. Frekhtman & Associates evaluates both options for every case.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partly at Fault?
Yes, a partly at-fault claimant can still recover compensation in most New York accidents. CPLR §1411(b) bars recovery entirely if a claimant’s fault exceeds the combined fault of the defendants, for cases filed on or after May 26, 2026. This differs from New York’s ordinary comparative negligence rule. Frekhtman & Associates builds fault evidence early to protect your recovery.
What If a Taxi Hit Me Instead of a Rideshare Vehicle?
A taxi crash is not governed by the app-status rules. Like TLC-licensed Uber and Lyft vehicles, taxis must carry TLC-required commercial coverage. Injured passengers receive no-fault benefits regardless of fault, but a pain and suffering lawsuit still requires proof that a driver was negligent. A struck driver must establish the taxi driver’s fault, like any two-vehicle accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Rideshare Accident?
New York gives you three years from the date of a rideshare accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under CPLR §214. This deadline applies to claims against the driver, Uber, Lyft, and any other private at-fault party. Shorter deadlines apply to government vehicle claims, and wrongful death claims have a two-year limit.
How Much Is My Rideshare Crash Claim Worth?
Your rideshare crash claim’s value depends on your injury severity, the insurance coverage available, and your share of fault. A case that meets New York’s serious injury threshold can pursue pain and suffering, and higher policy limits increase the funds available to pay a claim. We review these factors for free.
What If I Was the Rideshare Driver and Another Vehicle Caused the Crash?
A rideshare driver injured by another vehicle can pursue the at-fault driver’s insurance, including pain and suffering damages if the injury meets New York’s serious injury threshold. Depending on the circumstances, the driver may also qualify for workers’ compensation through the New York Black Car Fund or for no-fault benefits. We review your recovery options in a free consultation.
Contact Our New York City Rideshare Accident Lawyers
The Right Representation Near You
While it’s possible to handle a personal injury case on your own, having an experienced attorney by your side significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome. We have our office located all over New York City, so you don’t have to worry about office visits. You can find and visit one of our offices near you.