When you’re injured while driving for Uber or Lyft in New Jersey, you’re not just another statistic. You’re a driver whose livelihood depends on being on the road. At Grossman Law Rideshare Accident Attorneys, we understand that rideshare driver injuries go beyond medical bills—they threaten your ability to earn income and support your family.
New Jersey’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act provides specific protections for rideshare drivers, including up to $1.5 million in coverage during active rides. However, insurance companies don’t always honor these protections without a fight. That’s where our expertise makes the difference.
Understanding Your Coverage Under New Jersey Rideshare Laws
According to New Jersey State law N.J.S.A. §§ 39:5H-1 through 39:5H-27, rideshare companies must provide specific insurance coverage based on your driving status when the accident occurs.
Three Phases of Rideshare Driver Coverage
Phase 1: App On, Waiting for Rides When you’re logged into the Uber or Lyft app but haven’t accepted a ride request, New Jersey law requires minimum coverage of:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 for property damage
- $10,000 in medical payment benefits for drivers
Phase 2: En Route to Passenger Pickup Once you accept a ride request and drive to pick up the passenger, coverage increases dramatically to $1.5 million for death, bodily injury, and property damage, plus $1.5 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Phase 3: Passenger in Vehicle From pickup through drop-off, you maintain the same $1.5 million protection level. This is when you have the strongest coverage under New Jersey law.
The Reality: Why Personal Injury Claims Often Beat Workers’ Compensation
Unlike traditional employees, rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors. While this means you can’t file workers’ compensation claims, it actually opens the door to potentially larger recoveries through personal injury lawsuits.
Because you’re classified as an independent contractor, you have the right to seek complete compensation that includes:
- All medical costs (both immediate and ongoing)
- Income losses and diminished future earning potential
- Compensation for physical pain and emotional suffering
- Benefits for lasting disability
- Costs to repair or replace your vehicle
Under New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence law, you can obtain compensation provided you bear less than 51% responsibility for the crash.
Critical Coverage Gaps That Leave Drivers Vulnerable
The Phase 1 Insurance Gap
The most dangerous time for rideshare drivers is during Phase 1. Though rideshare companies offer certain coverage, it frequently falls short for severe injuries. Most personal auto insurance policies also exclude commercial driving, creating potential gaps where you might have no coverage at all.
Personal Insurance Exclusions
According to industry data, over 85% of personal auto policies contain rideshare exclusions. If you’re in an accident during Phase 1 and your personal insurance denies coverage, you could face thousands in out-of-pocket expenses.
How We Help Bridge These Gaps
Scott Grossman and our legal team have secured millions in settlements for rideshare drivers by:
- Identifying all available insurance policies
- Challenging improper coverage denials
- Pursuing claims against at-fault third parties
- Fighting for the full $1.5 million when applicable
Real-World Scenarios: How Coverage Actually Works
Based on New Jersey case law and our experience handling rideshare driver claims, here’s what happens in common accident scenarios:
Scenario 1: Driver Injured During Active Ride You’re driving a passenger when another car runs a red light and hits you. You sustain injuries requiring surgery and miss two months of work. You can open a “Med Pay” claim through the rideshare company’s insurance for up to $10,000 in immediate medical bills, then pursue a bodily injury claim against the at-fault driver and an underinsured motorist claim against the rideshare company for the full $1.5 million.
Scenario 2: Logged In, Waiting for Rides You’re parked with your app on when another vehicle sideswipes you, causing back injuries. You can file a Med Pay claim with the rideshare company for up to $10,000, plus pursue a bodily injury claim. The coverage is limited to $50,000/$100,000/$25,000, but this applies in addition to any recovery from the at-fault driver.
Scenario 3: Not Logged Into App If you’re not logged into the rideshare app when the accident occurs, you’re not covered by any rideshare insurance. Your claim proceeds like a regular car accident through your personal insurance and against the at-fault driver.
Protecting Yourself Against Unfair Deactivation
Getting injured can make you vulnerable to account deactivation. The Independent Drivers Guild has negotiated deactivation protection for New Jersey drivers, ensuring due process when your account is threatened.
When Deactivation May Be Wrongful
You may have legal remedies if you were deactivated for:
- Filing an accident claim
- Reporting safety violations
- Suffering injuries in an accident that wasn’t your fault
- Discrimination based on protected characteristics
Steps to Protect Your Account
Document Everything Immediately
- Screenshot your app status before and after the accident
- Save all communications with rideshare support
- Keep records of medical treatment and doctor’s orders
- Maintain evidence that you followed all safety protocols
Know Your Appeal Rights Both Uber and Lyft have formal appeal processes that typically resolve within 3-5 business days. However, if they deny your appeal unfairly, you may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim.
Recovering Lost Income: More Than Just Medical Bills
For rideshare drivers, lost income is often the most devastating consequence of an accident. Unlike salaried employees with steady paychecks, your earning capacity depends entirely on your ability to drive.
Immediate Income Protection
PIP Coverage Benefits New Jersey’s Personal Injury Protection typically covers up to 85% of your lost wages, with monthly limits around $5,200. This applies regardless of who caused the accident and provides immediate financial relief.
Documenting Your Income Loss As a rideshare driver, proving lost income requires careful documentation:
- Tax returns showing rideshare earnings for the past 2-3 years
- Bank statements with direct deposits from Uber/Lyft
- Screenshots of your earnings history from driver apps
- Medical records linking your inability to drive to accident injuries
Long-Term Earning Capacity
According to recent NHTSA data, traffic fatalities dropped 3.8% to 39,345 in 2024, but rideshare-related accidents continue to occur. From 2017 to 2018, Uber cars were involved in approximately 110 fatalities across 97 deadly crashes.
In New Jersey specifically, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office reported a 9.4% decrease in fatal crashes in 2023, dropping from 646 to 585 fatalities. While encouraging, these numbers underscore that serious accidents still occur regularly.
If your injuries prevent you from driving long-term, we can help you recover compensation for:
- Reduced earning capacity over your working lifetime
- Retraining costs for new employment
- Ongoing medical treatment affecting your ability to work
- Emotional distress from losing your livelihood
Why Scott Grossman and Grossman Law Are Your Best Choice
With over 20 years of experience representing injured clients, Scott Grossman has built a reputation as one of New Jersey’s premier personal injury attorneys. As a member of the New Jersey Association for Justice Board of Governors, Scott stays current on evolving rideshare laws and insurance company tactics.
Our Track Record Speaks for Itself
- Deca-millions recovered in verdicts and settlements across all personal injury cases
- $992,470 verdict in Quackenbush v. Orepeza-Parra
- $900,000 settlement in Serano v. Portnov before trial
- Millions in settlements specifically for motor vehicle accident cases
What Sets Us Apart
Deep Understanding of Rideshare Law We stay current on New Jersey’s Transportation Network Company Safety and Regulatory Act and know how to navigate the complex insurance structures that rideshare companies use to minimize payouts.
Personal Attention to Every Case Scott Grossman personally gets to know each client and their family to understand how the accident has impacted their life, enabling him to maximize recoveries.
We Fight Insurance Company Tactics Insurance companies use “Delay, Deny, and Defend” strategies to minimize payouts. With Board-certified civil trial experience, we’re prepared to take your case to court when necessary.
Taking Action: Time Is Critical
New Jersey’s statute of limitations gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but waiting can hurt your case. Insurance companies begin working against you immediately after an accident.
What We Do for You
Immediate Case Investigation
- Obtain the official police report
- Gather witness statements while memories are fresh
- Preserve evidence from the accident scene
- Review your rideshare app data and earnings history
Navigate Complex Insurance Issues
- Identify all applicable insurance policies
- Handle communications with multiple insurance companies
- Fight coverage denials and bad faith practices
- Maximize your recovery from all available sources
Build Your Strongest Case
- Work with accident reconstruction experts when needed
- Coordinate with medical professionals to document your injuries
- Calculate your total damages including future losses
- Negotiate aggressively for fair compensation
Contact Grossman Law Today: Top-Rated Rideshare Driver Accident Attorneys in NJ
Don’t let an accident end your ability to earn a living. As top-rated rideshare driver accident attorneys in New Jersey, we have the experience and track record to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
Free Case Evaluation We’ll review your case at no cost and explain your options for recovery. You have no obligation to pay us unless we successfully win your case.
No Upfront Costs We handle all rideshare driver injury cases on a contingency fee basis. Our fees are contingent on securing a recovery for you.
Proven Results With deca-millions recovered for our clients and specific expertise in rideshare accidents, we know how to fight for maximum compensation.
Call (732) 625-9494 Now
If you sustained injuries while driving for Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare service, contact us today at (732) 625-9494 for your complimentary consultation. Acting quickly is essential—insurance companies begin working against you immediately. Let us level the playing field and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait. Your financial future depends on taking action now. Contact Grossman Law Rideshare Accident Attorneys and let us put our proven track record to work for you.