Long Island Uber Accident Lawyer

Uber Accident Lawyer Long Island, NY

Rideshare accidents are a different kind of case. Not harder, necessarily. But different. The insurance coverage shifts depending on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash. Was the app on? Had the driver accepted a ride? Was a passenger already in the car? Each answer changes which policy pays and how much coverage exists.

That complexity is the whole reason you need an attorney who has actually handled these claims before. At Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP, we have represented accident victims across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the broader New York area since 1978. We know the insurance structure, we know the deadlines, and we know how Uber and Lyft respond when someone files a claim. Every rideshare case we take is on contingency. If you need an Uber accident lawyer Long Island, NY residents can trust to sort through this, call us for a free consultation.

Why Choose Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson for Uber Accident Cases in Long Island, NY?

We Know How Rideshare Insurance Actually Works

Most car accident cases involve two drivers and two insurance policies. Rideshare crashes? Three, four, sometimes five potential sources of coverage. The driver’s personal policy. Uber’s corporate policy. Maybe a supplemental commercial policy. And possibly your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on top of it all. Getting this wrong means leaving money on the table. Or worse, filing against the wrong carrier and watching the clock run out.

Our Long Island injury attorneys know New York’s Transportation Network Company regulations under VTL Article 44-B. We’ve handled the coverage disputes. We’ve dealt with Uber’s claims adjusters. And we’ve recovered compensation for passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians who were hurt because a rideshare driver wasn’t paying attention.

Decades in the Courtroom

Martin Schiowitz co-founded this firm 47 years ago. He graduated from New York Law School in 1972, has tried cases throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties for over five decades, and has been peer-selected as a Super Lawyer, a recognition limited to the top 5% of attorneys. He is a member of the NYSTLA and the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Jeremy Schiowitz has been litigating injury cases for over 16 years, holding licenses in New York and New Jersey. He earned his J.D. at Brooklyn Law School. Super Lawyer every year since 2014. Top One Percent, NADC. 10 Best Attorneys in New York, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. Before joining the plaintiffs’ side, Jeremy worked defense, which means he knows the playbook insurers use to deny and delay rideshare claims.

Results Across $200 Million in Recoveries

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients across all practice areas. Total recoveries exceed $200 million. Rideshare accident cases, when properly investigated and documented, can involve $1.25 million in available policy limits on Long Island. We pursue every dollar that’s available.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Contingency. That’s how we work. No retainer. No invoice. No bill if we don’t recover compensation for you. Your consultation is free, and so is our representation unless we get a result.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“Jeremy Shiowitz is a superb lawyer with tremendous experience and knows how to get the job done. Jeremy is very helpful and responsive as well. Great man of character and easy to get along with. I made the right choice by choosing Jeremy to represent my son in his case.” — Victor Cortes

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Uber and Rideshare Accident Cases We Handle in Long Island

Rideshare crashes play out differently depending on whether you were in the Uber, in another car, or on foot. Here’s what we see most often on Long Island:

• Passenger injuries. You requested a ride. The driver ran a red light, rear-ended someone, or lost control. Now you’re hurt. As a passenger, you weren’t driving. You bear no fault. The insurance recovery path is typically straightforward, but the dollar amount depends on which coverage period the crash fell into. We sort that out fast.
• Crashes with other vehicles. An Uber or Lyft driver hit your car. Or maybe the rideshare vehicle caused a chain reaction. Either way, you’re dealing with the driver’s insurer, Uber’s corporate coverage, and your own no-fault carrier simultaneously. Three sets of adjusters. Three different agendas. That’s why people call us.
• Pedestrians and cyclists hit by rideshare drivers. Uber and Lyft drivers on Long Island are often unfamiliar with the neighborhoods they’re driving through. They’re following GPS, checking the app, looking for the next turn. That distraction kills people. When a rideshare driver strikes a pedestrian or cyclist, the $1.25 million policy typically applies.
• Accidents during pickup and dropoff. Drivers who double-park, stop suddenly in travel lanes, or let passengers out into traffic create hazards for everyone nearby. If you were rear-ended because a rideshare driver stopped abruptly, or if you were a passenger injured while exiting into traffic, we can help.
• App-on, no passenger crashes. The driver is logged into Uber’s app, scrolling for a ride request, but hasn’t accepted one yet. Coverage during this phase is lower: $75,000/$150,000/$25,000. That’s a fraction of what’s available during an active trip. Knowing which period applies, and proving it, makes a substantial difference in the value of your claim.
• Multi-app driver collisions. Some drivers run Uber and Lyft apps at the same time, toggling between platforms. When they crash, a coverage dispute often follows. Which platform was active? Which insurer is primary? We’ve handled these disputes and know how to resolve them.
• Rideshare-related wrongful death. When a rideshare crash kills a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver, the stakes are as high as they get. These cases involve the full $1.25 million policy during an active trip, and potentially additional excess coverage. The two-year wrongful death filing deadline makes early legal action critical.

New York Legal Requirements for Uber Accident Cases

On Long Island, Uber and Lyft operate under New York’s Transportation Network Company framework. That’s VTL Article 44-B, enacted in 2017. It creates a tiered insurance structure that changes based on the driver’s status at the moment of the crash. This matters enormously.

Period 1: App on, waiting for a request. The driver has the Uber app running but hasn’t accepted a trip. Coverage minimums during this phase are $75,000 per person for bodily injury, $150,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. The policy must also include uninsured motorist and no-fault coverage. These limits are far below what’s available during an active ride.

Period 2: En route to pickup or carrying a passenger. Once the driver accepts a ride request, coverage jumps to $1.25 million in combined liability and $1.25 million in supplemental uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, plus no-fault PIP benefits. This is the policy that covers most serious rideshare accident claims on Long Island. According to the NY DFS, these minimums apply to all TNC operations outside New York City.

One critical detail: the driver’s personal auto insurance almost certainly won’t cover a crash that happens while the app is on. Most personal auto policies contain a livery exclusion that voids coverage during commercial use. If the rideshare company’s insurer disputes the claim or denies coverage based on the driver’s app status, you could be left navigating a gap that only an experienced attorney can close.

New York’s no-fault system applies to rideshare accidents just like other motor vehicle crashes. PIP benefits cover initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault. To step outside no-fault and pursue full damages including pain and suffering, your injuries must meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).

The statute of limitations is three years under CPLR § 214. Comparative negligence under CPLR § 1411 applies. You can recover damages even if you were partly at fault.

What Damages Are Recoverable in Long Island Uber Accident Cases?

The $1.25 million policy limit during an active trip gives Uber accident victims on Long Island access to significantly more coverage than a typical car crash claim. But available coverage is only half the equation. You still have to prove your damages.

Medical bills. Ambulance. ER. Surgery if you needed it. Imaging. Physical therapy. Prescription costs. Future treatment your doctors say is necessary. All of it counts as economic loss. Lost wages count too, both past and future. If the crash kept you from working for three months, that’s quantifiable. If it permanently changed what you’re able to do for a living, the calculation becomes much larger. Other costs pile up: rides to medical appointments, childcare while you’re recovering, equipment you need at home.

Then there’s the part that doesn’t come with a receipt. The pain. The anxiety about getting in a car again. Sleepless nights. The activities you can’t do anymore. Months of frustration while your body heals at its own pace. New York law calls these non-economic damages, and in serious Uber accident cases, they often represent the bulk of the total recovery. Fractured ribs, herniated discs, traumatic brain injuries, and torn ligaments produce non-economic damages that can reach into the hundreds of thousands or more.

Punitive damages are rare but possible. A rideshare driver who was intoxicated, on drugs, or engaged in willfully reckless behavior at the time of the crash could face punitive exposure beyond the standard policy limits.

What Steps Should I Take After an Uber Accident on Long Island?

Rideshare accidents create evidence problems that don’t exist in regular car crashes. App data can be overwritten. Trip records can become harder to access. And the coverage period, which determines how much insurance is available, has to be established quickly. Act fast.

1. Get medical help right away. Not tomorrow. Today. Some injuries, especially concussions and internal bleeding, don’t announce themselves immediately. The medical record tying your injuries to this specific crash starts at the ER or urgent care.
2. Call 911 and get a police report. That report documents who was involved, what happened, and the conditions at the scene. It becomes a central piece of evidence.
3. Screenshot the Uber or Lyft app. This is unique to rideshare cases. If you were the passenger, screenshot your trip details: driver name, vehicle information, trip timeline, pickup and dropoff locations. If you were in another car or on foot, try to photograph the rideshare vehicle’s trade dress sticker or license plate.
4. Photograph everything. The vehicles. The damage. Traffic signals. Road conditions. Your injuries. Skid marks. Get wide shots and close-ups.
5. Collect witness information. Names. Phone numbers. Even a brief description of what they saw. This matters when liability is disputed between the rideshare driver and another motorist.
6. Don’t give recorded statements. Not to Uber’s claims team. Not to the other driver’s insurer. Not to your own carrier. Speak with a lawyer first. Recorded statements are used to reduce claims, not to help you.
7. Report the accident in the app. Uber and Lyft both have in-app reporting features. Use them, but keep your description brief and factual. Don’t speculate about fault.
8. Preserve your medical records and bills. Every receipt. Every appointment. Every prescription. Keep it organized from day one.
9. File your no-fault claim promptly. New York’s no-fault system requires timely notification. PIP benefits cover your initial medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash.
10. Call an Uber accident lawyer. The insurance layers in these cases are not intuitive. A Long Island rideshare accident attorney can send preservation demands to Uber for trip data and driver records, identify every available insurance policy, and file claims against the correct carriers before any deadlines pass.

Uber Accident Statistics on Long Island

Rideshare use on Long Island has grown dramatically since Uber and Lyft expanded outside New York City in 2017. Nassau and Suffolk Counties now account for a significant share of rideshare trips statewide, and the crash numbers have followed. The NHTSA does not break out rideshare-specific crash data at the national level, but distracted driving, which is closely associated with app-based driving, was a factor in over 3,300 traffic deaths and 289,000 injuries nationwide in 2022 alone.

The broader traffic picture on Long Island provides context. A 2024 report from the NYS Comptroller’s office documented a 25.8% increase in motor vehicle fatalities statewide from 2019 to 2022. Suffolk County recorded 164 traffic deaths in 2022 and Nassau County had 81. Long Island’s roads, many of which were designed decades ago for far less traffic, are now shared by rideshare vehicles, commercial trucks, buses, and the millions of passenger cars that use them daily.

According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury-related death across all age groups. The NHTSA crash data portal confirms that distracted driving is now the most frequently cited contributing factor in urban area crashes nationally. Rideshare drivers who split their attention between the road, a GPS app, and incoming ride requests represent a particular version of this problem.

Long Island Uber Accident Lawyer FAQs

How much insurance does Uber carry on Long Island?

It depends on the driver’s status. Waiting for a ride request: $75,000/$150,000/$25,000. Actively on a trip or headed to pick someone up: $1.25 million in liability and $1.25 million in supplemental uninsured/underinsured coverage. These are the minimums required under New York’s TNC law for rides outside New York City.

What if the Uber driver’s app was off?

Then Uber’s insurance doesn’t apply at all. The driver’s personal auto policy would govern, just like any other car accident. But proving the app was off, or on, requires data that only the rideshare company has. An attorney can subpoena it.

I was a passenger. Who do I file against?

Start with the no-fault PIP claim through the vehicle’s insurance. Beyond that, you file against whoever caused the crash. If the Uber driver was at fault, you pursue Uber’s corporate policy. If another driver caused the collision, you go after that driver’s insurer. Sometimes both share fault, and you file against both. We figure out the right targets and handle the claims.

Can I sue Uber directly?

Uber maintains that its drivers are independent contractors, not employees. That corporate structure is designed to limit Uber’s direct liability. But Uber’s $1.25 million insurance policy still covers the claim during an active trip. And in some circumstances, theories of negligent hiring or supervision can create direct liability against the company.

What’s the difference between NYC and Long Island rideshare rules?

Big difference. Inside New York City, rideshare vehicles are regulated by the Taxi & Limousine Commission, and the required liability limits are lower: $100,000/$300,000. On Long Island, the statewide TNC rules under VTL Article 44-B apply, requiring the much higher $1.25 million during active trips. That additional coverage is a significant advantage for accident victims on Long Island.

What if the driver was using multiple apps?

Coverage disputes happen frequently with multi-app drivers. If the driver was logged into both Uber and Lyft simultaneously, the question becomes which platform was “active” at the time of the crash. App data, timestamps, and ride acceptance records become the key evidence.

Does no-fault insurance apply to Uber accidents?

Yes. New York’s no-fault PIP system covers your initial medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. To pursue a full lawsuit for pain and suffering, your injuries have to meet the serious injury threshold.

What if the Uber driver hit me while I was walking?

You’re entitled to PIP benefits through the rideshare vehicle’s insurance. If your injuries are serious, you can pursue the full $1.25 million policy during an active trip. Pedestrian victims of rideshare drivers often have strong claims because the driver’s app-related distraction is provable.

How long do I have to file?

Three years from the accident date for a personal injury lawsuit. But the no-fault PIP claim must be filed much sooner, and evidence from the rideshare app degrades quickly. Don’t wait.

What if the other driver caused the crash, not the Uber driver?

You pursue the at-fault driver’s insurer. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, Uber’s $1.25 million SUM coverage may kick in during an active trip. Your own auto insurance may provide additional UM/SUM coverage. Multiple layers. All of them matter.

Are Lyft accidents handled the same way?

Mostly, yes. Lyft operates under the same New York TNC regulations as Uber and provides similar insurance tiers. The specific policy terms differ, but the coverage structure and legal process are essentially the same.

What injuries are common in rideshare accidents?

Whiplash. Herniated discs. Concussions. Broken bones. Shoulder and knee injuries. Passengers in the backseat, often unbelted, are particularly vulnerable to being thrown forward during a sudden stop or rear-end collision. Spinal injuries are disturbingly common.

Can I recover if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt?

New York’s comparative negligence rule reduces your recovery by your share of fault. Not wearing a seatbelt may reduce your damages, but it doesn’t eliminate your claim. And many backseat passengers in Ubers don’t buckle up. That’s a practical reality courts understand.

Do I need a lawyer for a rideshare accident?

The layered insurance, the app-status disputes, the corporate contractor defense, the coverage gaps between periods. This isn’t a case you handle with a phone call to an adjuster. A rideshare accident attorney in Long Island, NY who understands the TNC insurance structure can make the difference between a lowball offer and the full value of your claim.

How much does an Uber accident lawyer charge?

We charge nothing unless we recover money for you. Zero upfront. Zero during the case. Our fee is contingency-based, which means it comes from the result.

What Are Important Local Resources for Long Island Uber Accidents?

If you’ve been in a rideshare accident on Long Island, the following may help. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP.

• Nassau County Police Department — (516) 573-7000
• Suffolk County Police Department — (631) 852-6000
• NY Financial Services — Oversees TNC insurance compliance in New York
• NYU Langone Hospital–Long Island (Level 1 Trauma Center, Mineola) — (516) 663-0333
• Stony Brook University Hospital (Level 1 Trauma Center, Stony Brook) — (631) 444-4000
• New York State Courts — Nassau and Suffolk County Supreme Courts

Contact Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson

Rideshare accident claims have a way of getting complicated fast. Evidence disappears. Insurers point fingers at each other. And every day you wait is a day closer to a deadline you might not know about. We offer free consultations. We work on contingency. And we respond quickly because these cases don’t wait. Reach out today.