Rideshare accidents in Essex County have the potential to change lives forever. Your decision to take an Uber or Lyft may have been motivated by necessity. Perhaps your vehicle was being repaired, and you had no other option but to rely on a rideshare app. Maybe you were trying to do the responsible thing after a night out. Whatever the case may be, this fateful decision can easily leave you with permanent injuries, emotional distress, and a lifetime of financial burdens. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to understand that you are not alone. With help from a rideshare accident attorney in Essex County, NJ, you can confidently pursue the compensation you need.
How Can an Essex County Rideshare Accident Attorney Help Me?
Located within the New York metropolitan area, Essex County has a population of over 800,000. This particular region of North Jersey is known for its relatively high per-capita income and vibrant Italian community. Unfortunately, its public transit system is rather lacking – prompting many people to rely on Uber and Lyft. These rideshare apps have increased in popularity within the past few years – mirroring similar trends across the entire nation.
Essex County rideshare accident attorneys can help you in numerous ways. After an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, these lawyers can investigate your collision in more detail. They might request and obtain official collision reports from local police departments. After examining these reports, they may also track down eyewitnesses and ask them more about what they saw.
During an initial consultation with an accident lawyer, you can explain your unique situation. After listening to your story, a lawyer might recommend that you take further legal action. You can also take the opportunity to ask numerous questions during an initial consultation.
One of the most important roles of a rideshare accident lawyer is to negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement. Almost inevitably, rideshare accidents are settled outside of court. Arbitration clauses are enforceable for Uber accidents in New Jersey, which means you might need to agree upon a fair settlement with Uber or Lyft and its representatives behind closed doors.
During these alternative resolution processes, your lawyer can represent you and pursue a fair settlement on your behalf. If you face a settlement offer that is too low, your lawyer can push back with a more suitable offer. Auto accident lawyers are often experienced negotiators.
What Do I Need to Prove in a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit in Essex County?
In order to pursue compensation after a rideshare accident in Essex County, you generally need to prove a few things. First of all, you need to show that you suffered legitimate injuries. As a result, it is very important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after your accident. Without sufficient medical records, it may be impossible to prove that your injuries actually occurred. You might also struggle to form a causational relationship between the rideshare accident and your injuries without medical treatment.
Furthermore, you need to establish that your accident actually occurred and that it involved a rideshare vehicle. You can file a rideshare injury claim if you were riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle or if your vehicle was struck by a rideshare vehicle. Alternatively, you can file a claim if you were struck on your bicycle or while walking across the street. A police report can easily establish that the accident occurred and involved a rideshare vehicle.
Aside from these basic facts, many rideshare accidents fall under the same “no-fault” principles as other auto accidents in New Jersey. Due to the no-fault system in New Jersey, proving negligence is often unnecessary. In other words, you may not need to prove that the rideshare driver did anything wrong. You could even theoretically file a claim after fully or partially causing a rideshare accident.
If your injuries are serious, you may have the opportunity to file a personal injury lawsuit instead. This might be the right call, especially since no-fault claims cannot compensate you for non-economic damages – including PTSD, depression, emotional distress, and disfigurement. Since these damages can lead to significant compensation, it may be worth pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
If you file a personal injury lawsuit for a serious injury instead of a no-fault claim, you must prove negligence. For example, you might show that the rideshare driver was distracted before the accident. You might also show that they were intoxicated or that they committed some kind of traffic infraction before the collision. Your rideshare accident attorney in Essex County can help you prove negligence with confidence. This might require evidence, including surveillance footage, eyewitness testimony, skid marks at the scene of the crash, photographs, and much more.
Find a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Essex County, NJ
If you have been searching for a qualified rideshare accident attorney in Essex County, NJ, look no further than the Smith & Williams Law Firm. We know that a rideshare accident can be both distressing and confusing – and you might not be sure how to proceed after suffering injuries. From the moment you team up with our experienced auto accident lawyers, you can proceed with confidence. We will help you collect evidence, negotiate for a fair settlement, and determine the most appropriate course of legal action. Book your consultation today to get started with an effective action plan.