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.
Michael Maggiano is one of the hardest working, ethical attorneys that you can have represent you. When I was going through my injury, emotional pain and suffering, the last thing I wanted to think about was who would be the right lawyer who is caring and understanding of my situation. Well Michael was there every step of the way. Through his guidance, support and legal advice, somehow he got me through this ordeal. If I have to rate Michael between 0 to 10, he is definitely a 12! Believe it or not, if you call Michael on his telephone, he will call you back the same day or night to try to help you with your concerns and questions. Why? BECAUSE HE CARES
In my Book Chris gets 10+ stars. An Incredibly Talented Attorney. I cannot begin to express my sincere appreciation for all that Chris DiGirolamo has done for me. He took on a most challenging Title59 Immunity Case, against all odds. He always leveled with me as to the complex nature of the case, but with a positive and professional attitude. He was aided in this case, by a fantastic Paralegal, Marisol Suarez. Marisol made a difficult time much easier with her courtesy, humor, and always being responsive. Chris made you feel at all times that he was fighting for you as he would fight for a member of his family. It would not be a trite statement to say that watching him prepare my case was like watching a Maestro conduct a Philharmonic Orchestra. He always kept you informed as to the latest developments in a case that took 3 1/2 years to settle. Chris was able to achieve a settlement that both of us were happy with especially considering the very complex set of circumstances. Simply put, Chris is an Incredible Attorney who is empathetic yet tough and most important ” A Good Guy.”
After thirteen surgeries, multiple procedures and over two months in the ICU, all due to the negligence of one of my doctors, I was referred to Michael Maggiano to pursue a medical malpractice case. I had never been involved in a lawsuit in my life and from the moment I met Michael and his team at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi I knew I was in extremely competent hands. Michael is the best lawyer you could imagine – he is intelligent, detail oriented, extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his work and his clients. Michael is a consummate professional and I will forever be impressed by, and indebted to, both him and his team. The entire staff at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi is friendly, welcoming and do everything to make their clients comfortable. I would like to specifically thank Linda Reid and Bernadette Elbert who both went above and beyond to make my experience as comfortable as possible, from including me in all detailed correspondence to sending encouraging texts and even giving hugs when needed. Thank you so much to everyone at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi – I highly recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a compassionate team to handle a personal injury claim.
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
$780,000 - Work Reconditioning Injury
New York medical malpractice settlement of $700,000 plus an additional reduction of $80,000 in a worker’s compensation lien (total $780,000). Recovery was obtained for a 29 year old man who suffered a back injury and subsequent fusion surgery while engaging in a box lifting exercise undertaken as part of a work conditioning program at a New York physical therapy facility.
$1,067,000 - Fibromyalgia Caused by Truck Accident
A female truck driver suffered fibromyalgia following a multi-vehicle accident.
$900,000 - Failure to Diagnose
A 35 year old woman suffered cardiac arrest under anesthesia due to failure to diagnose congestive heart failure by her treating physicians and the anesthesiologist, all of whom cleared her for gall stone surgery despite signs pointing to an underlying heart condition. Settlement awarded to her two remaining children.
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.
