Uber and Lyft Accident Claims in New York

While a rideshare (TNC) driver is logged on but not engaged in a prearranged trip, coverage of at least $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property damage is required. While engaged in a prearranged trip, liability coverage of at least $1,250,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, death and property damage is required, plus $1,250,000 of supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The TNC's group policy must cover from the first dollar if the driver's insurance lapses. This state TNC law does not apply to for-hire vehicles in cities of one million or more people (New York City).

New York is a no-fault state. Minimum liability coverage is $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death of two or more persons, and $10,000 for property damage. No-fault (first-party) benefits cover basic economic loss up to $50,000 per person, with an optional additional $25,000. A person may sue another covered person for non-economic loss only in the case of a "serious injury": death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, a fracture, loss of a fetus, permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system, permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, or significant limitation of use of a body function or system.

Pure comparative fault in most cases. In actions for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death, the injured person's own culpable conduct (including contributory negligence or assumption of risk) does not bar recovery, but damages are reduced in proportion to that person's share of the fault. Exception: in personal injury cases covered by New York's no-fault auto insurance law (Insurance Law article 51), the injured person cannot recover at all if his or her share of fault is greater than that of the defendant (or of all defendants combined).

Three years for an action to recover damages for a personal injury (with exceptions in CPLR 214-b, 214-c, 214-i and 215, such as certain toxic exposure and intentional tort claims).