NEW YORK CITY TAXI DRIVER ATTORNEY
WITTENSTEIN & WITTENSTEIN – WE LOVE RIDESHARE DRIVERS!
For over 60 years Wittenstein & Wittenstein has dedicated itself to representing New York’s Rideshare Drivers. We have always taken a special interest in our City’s hard working drivers, making sure that they have the best representation possible when they have an accident. We know that drivers are industrious New Yorkers, tirelessly work long hours helping people get where they need to go. They have more accidents than other drivers, not because they don’t drive well, but because they spend so many more hours on the road. When a driver has an accident, they need the services of an attorney that understands their needs and is committed to serving the rise driver community. So, if you are a rideshare Uber, Lyft or livery driver that’s been injured in an accident, you’ve come to the right place. We have great pride in the work we do to help the rideshare driver community.
WITTENSTEIN & WITTENSTEIN – RIDESHARE DRIVER ATTORNEY
PROFESSIONAL DRIVER’S COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL BILLS, LOST EARNINGS AND OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES
It is important for a professional driver to know that the “no-fault” car insurance will often NOT cover them for medical bills, lost earnings and out of pocket expenses if they are working for a fleet, but the fleet’s Worker’s Compensation policy will cover them. Here are some guidelines:
- If you are a medallion owner or livery owner, no-fault will generally cover you.
- A driver, operator or lessee is considered an employee unless they are leasing a car from the owner of the taxi and the owner of the taxi personally, regularly drives the taxi an average of 40 or more hours a week.
- To avoid having a Worker’s Compensation policy for a lessee, the lessee must meet the criteria as an independent contractor. This means that the owner-operator may not in any way “control, direct, supervise, or have the power to hire or fire such lessee.”
- There is also the issue of whether or not a driver was “in the course of their employment.” There are “gray areas” such a driver’s on their way back to the base or on a lunch break.
In this case, an experienced Professional Driver Attorney will file for both no-fault and Worker’s Compensation and let the insurance companies battle it out, ensuring that you have coverage either way. This is complicated stuff, and the facts of your particular situation will ultimately dictate where coverage is obtained. This is not something you want to risk doing on your own. You need Professional Driver Attorney – Wittenstein & Wittenstein to help you navigate this territory!
Medical benefits under no-fault and worker’s compensation differ. No-fault allows you to treat immediately, getting the testing and procedures you need from doctors that accept no-fault insurance. You are required to attend examinations with doctors hired by the insurance company and sometimes the benefits will be cut off quickly. Some doctors, knowing that no-fault cuts off benefits quickly, are willing to treat patients after their cut-off and hire lawyers to arbitrate their bills with the insurance company. If a person truly was in need of care, they are usually successful in collecting payments for their bills, and will not charge the patients if they don’t collect money. For more information on “no-fault” benefits, see our blog post “Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About No-Fault.”
Worker’s Compensation has a different structure. Most medical testing and procedures will require approval from Worker’s Compensation, so there can be delays in care, but it is much more generous with the length of treatment. There are other benefits available from Worker’s Compensation.
SPECIAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS FOR UBER AND LYFT
New York City has taken action to hold Uber drivers to high standards and passed some of the toughest rideshare regulations in the country. Uber drivers in NYC must hold a special license issued by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission, and carry insurance designed for cabbies and other commercial drivers. Just like taxi drivers, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission requires rideshare drivers transporting up to eight passengers to have a minimum of $200,000 in no-fault insurance, and liability policies that cover at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. These minimum rates were mandated to protect drivers after several high profile accidents where Uber drivers were seriously injured while driving their own car while on their way to pick up a passenger, and Uber refused to provide coverage. That said, accidents while driving an Uber are complicated, and you need the an attorney that is a specialist in the field, dedicated to helping drivers. You need Rideshare Driver Attorney – WITTENSTEIN & WITTENSTEIN!
We dedicate ourselves to helping drivers, always up on the latest changes in laws and regulations, and the best part is, you don’t have to pay us a dime until we collect money for you. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to win. Call us for a FREE CONSULTATION at 718-261-8114.
Asserting Your Rights In New York State
With Donald Trump and his oligarchs back in power, we are sure to see a reduction in federal rights, including the right to collect compensation from negligent parties for injuries caused by negligence, recklessness, and intentional conduct. It’s no secret that safety measures are expensive and profit-hungry billionaires would rather bank that money than spend it on preventing injuries to people they don’t [...]
Attorneys Fighting for Justice
When our country was founded only white, propertied, Protestant men had the right to vote. Much progress has been made to include a much wider range of voters, but many inequities remain. One of those inequities is access to the legal system for middle-class people who cannot afford to pay hundreds of dollars an hour for legal representation. That’s why the best Queens, [...]
Justice for Hit and Run Victims
One of the most infuriating things life can throw at us is a hit-and-run driver! You’re lying on the ground, or you’re sitting in your damaged car, or you’re trapped under your broken bike, watching the car that hit you drive away! It’s unimaginable, but it happens every day. The good news is that there are plenty of ways for victims of hit-and-run [...]
Why Drunk Driving Accident Injuries Are Often Catastrophic
Of the thousands of motor vehicle accidents that happen each year in New York City, the ones that cause the most serious injuries are usually caused by drunk driving. This is because sober drivers that make a mistake are usually able to mitigate the damage, they cause by slamming on the brakes, turning out of the way, or other corrective actions, whereas drunk drivers [...]
Who Is Liable in a Car Accident Involving a Rideshare Service?
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have become a popular and convenient transportation option for many. Whether you're commuting or traveling, catching a ride using your smartphone is convenient and economical. However, with the rise in rideshare usage, car accidents have been increasing in New York City. If you’re involved in an accident while using a rideshare service, determining who is liable can be [...]
The Importance of Documentation for Personal Injury Claims
A personal injury claim is a civil action that claims that a plaintiff has been “damaged” due to the negligent, reckless or intentional acts of another. In order to successfully prosecute the claim, sufficient evidence must be presented to support this allegation. There are many different types of claims that are handled by a Queens personal injury law firm, each with their own [...]