When a Lyft ride ends in a crash, your life can change in an instant. One moment you are heading home from a dinner near the Hudson Lights or finishing a workday in Manhattan, and the next you are dealing with pain, missed work, and confusing insurance questions.
As a Fort Lee Lyft accident lawyer team, Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. is here to listen, answer your questions, and stand beside you. We have spent decades helping the people next door, and we are ready to help you, too.
You did not ask for this crash. You should not have to fight the rideshare company, the driver, and the insurance adjusters alone. Call us today at 201-585-9111 for a free, no-pressure conversation about your rights. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Why Choose Us as Your Fort Lee Lyft Accident Attorney
Lyft cases are not regular car accident cases. They involve a large tech company, layered insurance policies, and rules that change depending on whether the driver was waiting for a ride, on the way to pick up a passenger, or already had someone in the car.
We have handled these complicated motor vehicle claims for years, and we know how to push back against insurance companies that try to deny or delay payment.
When you work with our Fort Lee Lyft accident lawyer team, you get:
- A team of about 30 dedicated people supporting your case, not just one attorney handling everything alone
- More than 100 years of combined legal experience across our partners
- A firm that handles both your injury claim and any workers’ compensation claim, so nothing falls through the cracks
- Honest, plain-English answers to your questions, every step of the way
- A contingency fee promise, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we win
- Peer recognition from Martindale-Hubbell and Best Lawyers in America
We listen first. We learn about you, your family, your job, and how this crash has changed your day-to-day life. Then we build a case that tells your full story. Reach out today by calling 201-585-9111 to speak with a member of our team.
I cannot express how grateful and pleased I am to have had Christopher DiGirolamo and his paralegal Christine Carrino represent me in connection with my personal injury action.
What had happened to me was an event that was about to completely change my life.
Initially I was unable to go to the offices of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi because of my injuries. I had been hit by a motor vehicle while walking in a crosswalk. Christopher came to me. He offered not only expert legal advice but helped significantly with other things like obtaining police reports, how to handle telephone calls, photographing the scene and even advice about warding off “adjusters” who came knocking on my door. Most importantly, Christopher listened. His compassion, knowledge and understanding cannot be overstated.
I, as a lawyer with medical knowledge who needed a lawyer, would consider myself to be somewhat of a challenging client. Christopher took all this in stride and was fearless in offering guidance and advice when I was having difficulty looking at things objectively. Christopher allayed my anxieties and made me feel better each and every time we spoke. He put things in perspective for me while at the same time, not sugar coating the difficult days ahead that were in store for me, both physically and throughout the legal proceedings. Christopher asked me about my preferences and my choices. He was always interested in my ideas and my point of view. Christopher balanced my convictions with his undeniable objectivity and expertise.
Throughout the protracted course of discovery and pre-trial conferences, Christopher went out of his way to communicate with me and keep me informed. When Christopher was in court we engaged in many real time texting sessions. He respected my decisions about strategy and was constant in upholding his integrity. With Christopher’s tenacity and wit, the case was ultimately resolved without trial.
Christopher and the law firm of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. made every effort to accommodate me in whatever way they could. I offer my thanks and gratitude.
Mr. Michael Maggiano is an outstanding attorney who uses his many years of experience and wisdom to put forth a solid representation of his client. In my particular case, Mr. Maggiano showed compassion, caring, and commitment in order to bring about a successful resolution involving a local municipality. My case seemed to be unique in that it’s not often that there is a successful pursuit of justice when a municipality is involved. I was lucky to find Mr. Maggiano through the recommendation of other outstanding attorneys, and he certainly measured up to every expectation. Mr. Maggiano’s thoroughness and drive to seek a justifiable agreement in my favor cannot be under-stated; he met with me and my husband day or night, weekend or weekday; he always gladly returned calls and emails promptly. The devotion Mr. Maggiano and his staff displayed to us made us feel that we were his sole priority; simply stated he makes you feel special. While being reassuring and kind, Mr. Maggiano leaves no stone unturned in his research, preparation, and presentation. His vast knowledge works to his client’s advantage, and he is revered by fellow attorneys and judges in New Jersey and New York.
In addition, the staff at Maggiano, DiGirolamo, and Lizzi always represented the highest caliber of professionalism. Office staff, legal assistants, and the firm’s attorneys were always diligent while being respectful, polite, and caring. It is without hesitation that I give Mr. Maggiano my highest praise and recommendation.
I have been a practicing personal injury lawyer in New Jersey for over twenty years. I knew Michael Maggiano by reputation and when I was involved in an automobile myself I went to him to handle my case. I learned that the reputation was well founded and he has an outstanding law firm, very efficient and professional. He and his staff were always available and helpful during every step of the process and the resultant settlement was excellent. I could not recommend Mr. Maggiano and his firm more highly. Thank you to all at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi .
How Lyft Accidents Are Different from Regular Car Crashes
A crash with a Lyft driver involves more than the two cars at the scene. Lyft is a transportation network company, or TNC, and New Jersey treats these companies differently under the law. The Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act sets the rules for how Lyft, Uber, and similar services must operate here.
What makes a Lyft crash different:
- The driver is usually classified as an independent contractor, not a Lyft employee
- Multiple insurance policies may apply, including the driver’s personal policy and Lyft’s commercial coverage
- The coverage available depends on what the driver was doing when the crash happened
- Electronic ride records, GPS data, and app activity logs are key pieces of evidence
- Lyft has corporate lawyers and insurance adjusters whose job is to limit what the company pays
Without help, you may be offered a quick settlement that does not come close to covering your medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care needs. Our job is to make sure that does not happen.
Common Lyft Accident Scenarios We Handle
Lyft crashes happen in many ways across Fort Lee, Hackensack, and the surrounding Bergen County area. The George Washington Bridge approach, Route 4, Route 46, and Lemoine Avenue are all spots where ride traffic is heavy.
You may have a Lyft injury claim if you were:
- A passenger in a Lyft when your driver crashed
- A passenger in a Lyft that was hit by another vehicle
- The driver of another car struck by a Lyft driver who ran a light or was distracted
- A pedestrian hit while crossing the street by a Lyft driver picking up or dropping off
- A bicyclist struck by a Lyft driver who failed to check for cyclists
- A motorcyclist hit by a Lyft driver changing lanes without looking
- A Lyft driver yourself, injured by another negligent motorist while logged into the app
Each of these situations brings its own insurance and liability questions. We sort through those questions for you so you can focus on healing.
Insurance Coverage After a Lyft Crash in New Jersey
One of the most confusing parts of a Lyft claim is figuring out which insurance pays. The answer depends on what stage the driver was in at the time of the crash, sometimes called the “driver period.”
Here is a plain-English breakdown:
- Period 1 (App off): The driver was not logged in to Lyft. Only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies.
- Period 2 (App on, no ride accepted): The driver was logged in but had not yet accepted a ride. Lyft provides limited liability coverage at amounts set by state law.
- Period 3 (Ride accepted or passenger in the car): Lyft’s $1 million third-party liability policy generally applies, along with uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage required when a passenger is in the vehicle.
The driver period is often disputed because it controls how much money is available. Insurance companies may argue that the driver was between rides or that the app was not actually active.
Our team digs into ride logs, app records, and witness accounts to prove what was happening at the moment of the crash, then pushes the right insurance company to pay what your case is worth.
Injuries We See in Fort Lee Lyft Accident Cases
Lyft crashes can leave people with injuries that last weeks, months, or a lifetime. Many of our clients did not realize how badly they were hurt until days after the crash. That is normal. Adrenaline can hide pain at the scene, and some serious injuries take time to show up on scans.
Injuries we commonly handle include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries, herniated discs, and chronic back pain
- Broken bones, including ribs, arms, legs, and pelvis
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries that may require surgery
- Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and nerve damage
- Fibromyalgia and chronic pain conditions triggered by trauma
- Emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress and travel anxiety
Our firm has recovered over $1 million for a truck driver who developed fibromyalgia after a multi-vehicle crash.
Conditions like fibromyalgia are sometimes dismissed by insurance companies as too hard to prove, but with the right medical evidence and expert support, real compensation is possible. If you are dealing with new chronic pain after a Lyft crash, we want to hear about it.
Who May Be Responsible for Your Lyft Crash
Figuring out who is at fault is a big part of building your case. In a Lyft accident, more than one party may share responsibility. Identifying every responsible party often increases the total compensation available to you.
Possible at-fault parties include:
- The Lyft driver who caused the crash through speeding, distraction, or fatigue
- A third-party driver who struck the Lyft vehicle
- Lyft itself, in certain cases involving driver screening failures
- A vehicle manufacturer, if a defective part contributed to the crash
- A government entity responsible for a dangerous roadway near places like the George Washington Bridge approaches
- A maintenance company that failed to keep the vehicle safe
Our Lyft accident lawyers in Fort Lee work with crash reconstruction professionals, medical experts, and economists to build a complete picture of what happened and what your future will look like. Once we have that picture, we are ready to negotiate or, when needed, take your case to trial.
Our Track Record in Motor Vehicle Cases
Our results speak for themselves. While each case is different, our experience handling motor vehicle and rideshare-style crashes has helped countless families move forward financially after a serious wreck.
A few examples of motor vehicle results we have obtained:
- $10,000,000 for a worker thrown from a vehicle in a serious crash
- $7,000,000 for a young person with lifelong impairments after being struck on a highway
- $3,350,000 in a post-collision fire case involving severe burn injuries
These results came from years of careful preparation, hard negotiation, and a willingness to take cases to court. We cannot promise the same number for every case, but we can promise that we will treat your case with the same care and effort.
Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
After a Lyft crash, you may face costs that go far beyond the immediate emergency room visit. Settlements should reflect the full impact of the crash on your life, not just the easy-to-add bills.
Damages we may pursue for you can include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, therapy, and home care
- Lost wages and lost future earning ability
- Pain and suffering, including chronic pain conditions
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Out-of-pocket costs like transportation to medical appointments
- Property damage to your vehicle or personal items
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one
We sit down with you and your family to understand what has been taken from you. Then we put a value on each part of your life that has been affected.
Verdicts and Settlements
$2,600,000 - Deceased Dock Builder
Settlement awared to the widow and child of a deceased dock builder injured during a pile driving operation. Defendant Developer and General Contractor placed blame on employer of deceased worker who could not be sued because of the Worker Compensation Statute that says you can not sue your employer. We proved that even though the employer was negligent, the Developer and GC had the primary duty of…
$500,000 - Birth Control Caused Fatality
Needless death; following a plane flight, a woman died of a pulmonary embolism from birth control pills prescribed even though her chart was red flagged against birth control pills. We contended that this loss of a young life was a family loss and the result of system errors brought about by failures in the system of the defendant’s medical practice due to simple management carelessness. This was…
$1,067,000 - Fibromyalgia Caused by Truck Accident
A female truck driver suffered fibromyalgia following a multi-vehicle accident.
How the New Jersey TNC Law Protects You
The Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act of 2017 was passed to set safety and insurance standards for Lyft and other rideshare services in our state.
Key protections under the law include:
- Required criminal background checks and driving history checks for all rideshare drivers
- Vehicle safety inspections at set intervals
- A ban on drivers with certain convictions, such as DUI or violent offenses in the past seven years
- Required liability insurance coverage during prearranged rides
- Required uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage when a passenger is in the vehicle
When a Lyft driver fails one of these requirements, or when Lyft fails to enforce them, that can become an important part of your case. We use these legal standards to hold the right parties accountable.
Time Limits for Filing a Lyft Accident Claim
New Jersey law gives injured people a limited window to file a personal injury lawsuit. For most car and rideshare crashes, the deadline is generally two years from the date of the injury. If a loved one passed away from crash injuries, the wrongful death deadline is also generally two years from the date of death.
There are exceptions that can shorten or change these deadlines, especially when a government vehicle, a public roadway, or a minor is involved. Because evidence such as app data, vehicle damage, and witness memories can disappear quickly, it is best to talk with a lawyer as soon as you are able. The sooner we get involved, the more we can do for your case.
FAQs Answered by Our Fort Lee Lyft Accident Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from people hurt in a Lyft crash. If your question is not covered here, please reach out and we will be glad to help.
Do I have to pay anything up front to hire a Lyft accident lawyer?
No. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay any legal fees unless we win money for you. The first consultation is also free, so there is no risk in reaching out to learn about your options.
What if the Lyft driver was technically off duty when the crash happened?
You may still have a claim. If the driver was using a personal vehicle for personal reasons, your case may proceed against the driver’s personal auto insurance. If the driver was logged into the app at any point, Lyft’s coverage may also come into play. The exact answer depends on the driver’s status at the moment of the crash, which we will investigate carefully.
Can I file a claim if I was a passenger and do not know whose fault the crash was?
Yes. As a passenger, you are almost never responsible for a crash. You can usually pursue a claim regardless of which driver was at fault, because both the Lyft driver and any other involved driver carry insurance. We will identify all available coverage sources for you.
What if Lyft offers me a settlement directly?
We encourage you not to accept any settlement from Lyft, the driver’s insurance, or any adjuster before speaking with a lawyer. Early offers are often much lower than what your case is actually worth, especially if you have injuries that may need future treatment. Once you sign, you usually cannot ask for more later.
Will my case go to trial?
Most personal injury cases settle without a trial. However, the readiness to take a case to trial is one of the main reasons insurance companies pay fair settlements. We prepare every case as if it will go to court, and we are ready to take it there if that is what your case needs.
Can I still recover money if I was partly at fault for the crash?
In many situations, yes. New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which generally allows you to recover damages as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the crash. Your recovery would be reduced by your share of fault.
What should I bring to my first meeting with the firm?
If you have them on hand, useful items include the police report, photos from the scene, your Lyft ride receipt or trip history, medical records or bills, insurance information, and contact details for any witnesses. If you do not have these yet, do not worry. We can help you collect everything you need.
Talk With a Fort Lee Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
You do not have to figure this out alone. A Lyft crash can leave you in pain, out of work, and worried about money. We see you. We hear you. We are ready to stand in your shoes and fight for what you deserve.
From our Fort Lee office, we serve clients across Bergen County, Hackensack, and the Bronx, and we have the experience to take on Lyft and the largest insurance companies in the country.
Call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. today at 201-585-9111 for your free consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case. Let us help you take the next step toward healing and justice.
