Were you recently involved in an accident with a Lyft rideshare vehicle in the Bronx, NY? If so, it’s important to seek legal help immediately. You may be entitled to compensation, and an experienced Bronx Lyft accident lawyer at Oresky & Associates, PLLC can help you maximize your recovery.
Since 1992, our law firm has helped crash victims and their families stand up and fight for the compensation they deserve. Putting more than a century of combined experience behind every case, we’ve won over $400 Million (and counting) for clients like you.
Now we’re here to help you after your rideshare accident. Contact our law office serving the Bronx, New York, to get started with a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our team is standing by to take your call at (929) 560-0687 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How Oresky & Associates, PLLC Can Help After a Lyft Accident in the Bronx
What caused your Lyft accident? Who’s at fault? Who’s financially responsible for the costs and consequences? What happens if someone tries to blame you?
These are all important questions, but the answers aren’t always easy to find. And you should be focused on getting better right now, not on navigating a legal claim for damages.
That’s where our Bronx car accident lawyers can help.
At Oresky & Associates, PLLC, we understand how important a financial recovery can be after a rideshare accident in New York. We also know that insurance companies won’t make things easy for you. We’re here to level the playing field and work hard to get you every cent you deserve.
While you focus on getting better, our law firm will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your Lyft car accident
- Determine the Uber or Lyft driver’s status at the time of the crash
- Identify who, other than the negligent rideshare driver, may be financially responsible for your damages
- Defend you against claims that you share fault
- Bring in experts and specialists as we build and assess the value of your case
Our personal injury attorneys in the Bronx will work tirelessly to negotiate the best possible settlement on your behalf.
However, rest assured that we’ll be prepared to take your case to trial if you’re not offered a fair deal.
Our respected litigators have a demonstrated ability to win the toughest cases and this can be a huge asset to you throughout the claims process.
How Common Are Lyft Car Accidents?
There are no hard statistics on Lyft car crashes, but one study did reveal that traffic accidents have increased since ridesharing services first began to operate.
According to researchers from the University of Chicago and Rice University, fatal car accidents have increased by 3 percent since 2011, the first year that ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft were on the road. That’s an extra 1.100 deaths a year.
Now, not all of these deaths directly involve Lyft rideshare vehicles. However, the presence of Uber and Lyft vehicles and the way they’re operated have seemingly made roads less safe.
What Causes Most Lyft Accidents in the Bronx, NY?
Most motor vehicle accidents, including those involving Lyfts, are avoidable. Most often, they happen because someone is negligent.
Given the demands of the job, it’s often a Lyft driver who gets careless and causes a wreck.
Driver distraction
Distracted driving is increasingly problematic for all motorists. Lyft drivers are tied to their phones and electronics almost constantly. It’s how they find passengers, navigate the borough’s streets, and communicate. So, rideshare drivers tend to be even more distracted than your average driver.
Driver fatigue
Lyft drivers can work long hours particularly at night. If a person is driving for Lyft to earn a second income, it means they’ve probably already logged 8+ hours at their primary job. Fatigued drivers are less likely to react to hazards on the road and more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.
Impaired driving
Drugs and alcohol can, and do, play a role in many accidents with Lyft vehicles.
Inexperienced drivers
Just because someone drives a Lyft doesn’t mean they’re good at their job. There are no special requirements, unlike taxi drivers, limo drivers, or other service drivers. Lyft drivers don’t have to get a special license or endorsement to do the job.
Speeding
The more rides a Lyft driver can complete, the more money they can make. So, for some drivers, the speed limit may become more of a suggestion than a rule to follow. This can be particularly dangerous in the Bronx with its busy roads and intersections.
Unsafe turns and stops
Lyft passengers will want to be picked up and dropped off in very specific locations and that can pose a problem in a borough like the Bronx. Lyft vehicles may stop and block traffic, which can create a potential for a crash.
It’s not just Lyft drivers who can share responsibility for an auto accident. Other contributing factors can include:
- Distracted bicyclists or pedestrians
- Aggressive drivers
- Improperly stopped buses or vehicles
- Road defects
- Hazardous weather conditions
- Vehicle malfunction or defect
It’s important to identify every possible cause of a Lyft accident in the Bronx. Under New York state law, anyone who shares responsibility can be on the hook for the costs.