What to Do When Another Driver Causes Your Rideshare Accident in New Jersey
Posted November 3rd, 2025 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Attorney Anthony Carbone, Auto Accidents, Lyft Accident, Personal Injury.
Not all rideshare accidents are the same. Sometimes the Uber or Lyft driver is at fault, but other times another driver causes the crash. When a third party is responsible for your rideshare accident in New Jersey, the insurance claims process changes in important ways. At The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone P.C., we help clients navigate these complex situations to get the compensation they deserve.
Understanding Third-Party Rideshare Accidents
Picture this: You’re riding in an Uber heading home from work. Another driver runs a red light and slams into your vehicle. Or maybe a distracted driver swerves into your lane while you’re in a Lyft. In these cases, someone other than your rideshare driver caused the accident.
When a third party is at fault, your case involves different insurance companies and legal strategies than a typical rideshare accident.
Why These Cases Are Different
The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Comes First
When another driver causes the crash, you typically file your first claim against their liability insurance. This is similar to a regular car accident. The negligent driver’s insurance company should pay for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
However, you still need to prove that the other driver was at fault. This means gathering evidence about how the crash happened and showing that the other driver’s actions directly caused your injuries.
Rideshare Insurance Can Be a Backup
If the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough to cover all your damages, or if they don’t have insurance at all, the rideshare company’s policy might step in to help.
If the rideshare driver was actively transporting you as a passenger when the crash happened, the rideshare company’s insurance policy could provide up to $1.5 million in coverage. This backup coverage can be crucial if your injuries are serious and the at-fault driver only has minimum insurance limits.
Multiple Parties Might Share Fault
Sometimes both the third-party driver and the rideshare driver contributed to the accident. Maybe the other driver ran a stop sign, but your rideshare driver was also speeding or distracted. In these situations, fault may be split between multiple drivers.
New Jersey uses comparative negligence rules. This means if someone is found partially at fault, their compensation gets reduced by their percentage of fault. Understanding who shares responsibility is critical to maximizing your recovery.
The Rideshare Driver’s Status Still Matters
Even when another driver causes the crash, the rideshare driver’s app status at the time of the accident affects which insurance policies apply.
If the driver wasn’t logged into the app, only standard auto insurance policies apply. If the driver was waiting for a ride request, limited rideshare coverage might be available. If you were an active passenger, the rideshare company’s full commercial policy should be in effect, giving you access to higher coverage limits.
Steps to Take After a Third-Party Rideshare Accident
Gather Complete Information
Collect details about everyone involved. Get the at-fault driver’s name, contact information, insurance company, and policy number if possible. Also get the rideshare driver’s name and the rideshare company they work for.
Document Everything at the Scene
Take photos of all vehicles involved, visible damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and the position of the cars. If you’re able, screenshot your rideshare app showing you were a passenger. Get contact information from any witnesses who saw what happened.
Get Medical Care Immediately
See a doctor right away, even if you think your injuries are minor. Some injuries don’t show symptoms until hours or days after an accident. Prompt medical treatment creates important records that document your injuries.
Report the Accident
Notify the rideshare company about the accident through their app or customer service. File a police report if one wasn’t created at the scene. Keep copies of all reports and documentation.
Be Careful with Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters from multiple companies might contact you. Be polite but cautious. Don’t give recorded statements or sign any documents without speaking to an attorney first. What you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Contact an Experienced Attorney Quickly
Third-party rideshare accidents involve multiple insurance policies and complex liability questions. You need an attorney who understands rideshare insurance rules and knows how to handle cases with multiple parties.
How We Help You Recover
At The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, we’ve been fighting for injured people in New Jersey for over 35 years. When another driver causes your rideshare accident, we take a comprehensive approach:
We investigate who’s responsible. We gather evidence including dashcam footage, traffic camera video, witness statements, and police reports to prove who caused the crash.
We identify all available insurance. We examine the at-fault driver’s liability policy, the rideshare driver’s personal insurance, and the rideshare company’s commercial policy to find every source of compensation.
We maximize your recovery. We fight to get you compensation for all your damages including medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
We handle multiple insurers. When several insurance companies are involved, we coordinate all the claims to avoid confusion and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Act Quickly to Protect Your Rights
Time matters in third-party rideshare accidents. Important evidence can disappear quickly. Rideshare app data, timestamps, witness memories, and traffic camera footage may be lost if you wait too long. Plus, New Jersey law sets strict deadlines for filing injury claims.
The sooner you act, the better chance you have of building a strong case and recovering full compensation.
Get the Legal Help You Need
When another driver causes your rideshare accident, you shouldn’t have to navigate multiple insurance companies alone. Contact The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone P.C. today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.
