Quincy Uber Accident Lawyer

Marasco & Nesselbush Represents People Injured in Quincy Uber Accidents

An Uber car accident can leave passengers facing serious injuries while several insurance companies dispute which policy should pay their claim.

Massachusetts requires different insurance coverage depending on whether the Uber driver was waiting for a request, traveling to pick up a rider, or transporting a passenger.

After a rideshare collision, establishing what the driver was doing at the time of the crash can be just as important as determining who caused it.

At Marasco & Nesselbush, our Quincy Uber accident attorneys represent passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and families affected by serious motor vehicle accidents.

Our experienced Quincy Uber accident lawyers investigate disputed liability, determine which insurance policies may apply, and pursue the financial compensation supported by each client’s injuries and losses.

Founded in 1999, our law firm has recovered more than $500 million across its practice areas, including substantial recoveries in passenger injury and disputed insurance coverage cases.

Our Quincy office at 234 Copeland Street, Suite 210 serves clients throughout Norfolk County and the South Shore, supported by Massachusetts-admitted personal injury attorneys and an established litigation team.

Contact Marasco & Nesselbush for a free consultation about your Uber accident, or use the chat feature on this page to request assistance.

We handle qualifying Uber accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so there is no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.

Why Choose Marasco & Nesselbush After a Quincy Uber Accident?

An Uber passenger may bear no fault for the crash yet still face disputes about which driver was negligent, how the injuries occurred, and which insurer is responsible for paying the claim.

Our attorneys prepare claims for litigation when insurers refuse to accept responsibility or offer settlements that do not reflect the evidence.

Our firm’s relevant experience includes:

• A $1.25 million recovery for an injured passenger: Founding partner Joseph Marasco and attorney Thomas Moran obtained a $1.25 million policy-limit settlement for a 19-year-old passenger who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a speeding driver lost control and struck a guardrail. Investigators and medical specialists helped document the lasting effects of her injuries.
• A seven-figure result after an insurer offered $25,000: In a serious pedestrian injury case, our attorneys challenged an insurance company’s interpretation of its policy. Attorney Timothy Lynch argued the coverage issue in Rhode Island Superior Court, and the court’s ruling preceded a seven-figure settlement.
• A $4.5 million settlement in a disputed-liability crash: Joseph Marasco, Mark Grimm, and Thomas Moran recovered $4.5 million in a traumatic brain injury case after discovery, witness depositions, and expert preparation, despite defendants disputing responsibility.
• Massachusetts-admitted attorneys: Mark Grimm has more than 40 years of legal experience and is admitted in Massachusetts. Ian Connors is also Massachusetts-admitted and brings experience representing both sides of personal injury disputes.
• An established Quincy presence: Our local office gives South Shore clients access to an attorney-led litigation practice with experience developing medical, liability, and insurance evidence in serious injury claims.

What to Do After an Uber Accident in Quincy

Your health and safety should come first after an Uber collision, particularly if you have head, neck, back, or chest pain or other symptoms that require emergency treatment.

When it is safe to do so, preserving the accident scene and digital trip details can help establish what happened and which insurer should handle the claim.

If you can do so safely, take the following steps:

1. Seek immediate medical attention: Call 911 when anyone is injured or the crash creates an immediate danger. Follow emergency responders’ instructions, and seek medical attention promptly if pain, dizziness, or other symptoms develop.
2. Identify the vehicles involved: Save the Uber driver’s name, vehicle make and model, license plate, and available insurance details. Record information for other drivers and independent witnesses without arguing about fault.
3. Save the Uber ride information: Take screenshots of the trip confirmation, driver profile, pickup and destination, time, route, receipt, and any messages before they become harder to locate.
4. Document the accident scene: Photograph the vehicles involved, road markings, visible injuries, traffic controls, debris, and nearby businesses that may have surveillance video, provided you can do so safely.
5. Submit an Uber accident report: Use Uber’s crash-reporting service to report the collision through the platform. Reporting to Uber does not replace a police report or any required notice to your insurance company.
6. Keep medical and financial records: Preserve discharge instructions, medical bills, work restrictions, proof of lost wages, and communication from insurance representatives.
7. Review settlement documents: Be cautious about signing a release before the full extent of your injuries and reasonably expected treatment needs are understood.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 26, a motor vehicle operator generally must file a written crash report within five days when the collision causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in damage to any one vehicle or other property, subject to the statutory incapacity provisions.

A passenger’s Uber incident report is separate from that operator-report requirement.

How to Report an Uber Accident Through the App

Uber provides different reporting options depending on whether you requested the ride, traveled as another person’s guest, drove for Uber, or were involved in the crash outside the Uber vehicle.

According to Uber’s official crash-reporting instructions, riders can report a collision through their trip details and safety or help options, while people who were not using an Uber account can submit a third-party report.

The information worth preserving before submitting a report includes:

• The date and approximate time of the accident, along with the pickup location and destination.
• The Uber driver’s name, vehicle details, license plate, and trip receipt or ride confirmation.
• Photographs, a police report number if available, witness contact information, and relevant medical information.
• A copy or screenshot of your report to Uber and subsequent messages from Uber or an insurance representative.

Uber may direct the report to a claims support team or insurance provider, but submitting a report does not itself determine who caused the crash or guarantee payment.

If an insurance representative requests a recorded statement, broad medical authorization, or final release, consider obtaining legal guidance before agreeing.

Uber may direct the report to a claims support team or insurance provider, but submitting a report does not itself determine who caused the crash or guarantee payment.

Who Can Seek Compensation After a Quincy Uber Accident?

Passengers Injured During an Uber Ride

An Uber passenger may be injured because the Uber driver followed too closely, made an unsafe turn, or failed to yield.

The collision could also be caused by an entirely different driver who struck the Uber vehicle.

In either situation, the passenger may have a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver or another liable party.

The rideshare company’s insurance and other available coverage must be examined separately to determine which policy may respond.

The Uber trip receipt is especially important because it may help establish that the driver had accepted a ride when the accident occurred.

People Hit by an Uber Driver

Drivers and passengers in other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists may pursue compensation when the Uber driver’s negligence causes or contributes to a collision.

A person does not have to be an Uber customer to pursue legal recourse against a negligent rideshare driver.

These accidents may involve a driver looking at the app, entering traffic from a pickup location, stopping in an unsafe place, opening a door into a cyclist’s path, or failing to check for approaching vehicles.

The fact that you were not riding in the Uber does not, by itself, eliminate the possibility of coverage under the insurance required for covered app activity.

Uber Drivers Injured on the Job

A driver working through Uber may have a claim against another negligent motorist and may also have access to work-related injury benefits.

Since October 1, 2024, Uber has provided occupational accident insurance for qualifying Massachusetts rideshare-driver injuries, including certain medical and disability benefits, subject to the policy’s terms.

This occupational coverage is separate from automobile liability insurance for passengers and other accident victims.

An injured rideshare driver may also need to assess uninsured motorist protection or a claim against another negligent motorist, depending on the crash and applicable policies.

Which Insurance Pays After an Uber Accident in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is a no-fault auto insurance state, but the coverage available after an Uber accident also depends on the rideshare driver’s app status and the nature of the trip.

Uber operates as a transportation network company under Massachusetts law, and accident claims may involve the driver’s personal insurance, Uber-maintained coverage, or another motorist’s liability policy.

Under Chapter 175, Section 228, the minimum insurance requirements depend on whether the driver is offline, waiting for a request, or engaged in an accepted ride.

The required Massachusetts coverage depends on the following periods:

• Uber app off: When a driver is not providing rideshare services and is using the vehicle personally, the driver’s personal automobile policy is generally the first source of coverage to examine. The applicable policy terms and facts control.
• Period 1 – Uber app on, waiting for a ride request: Massachusetts requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, plus $30,000 for property damage, together with uninsured motorist coverage and Personal Injury Protection to the extent required by law.
• Periods 2 and 3 – ride accepted, en route to pickup, or passenger aboard: Once the driver accepts a ride, Massachusetts requires at least $1 million per occurrence, per vehicle for death, bodily injury, and property damage, together with uninsured motorist coverage and PIP to the extent required by law. This requirement continues until the passenger safely exits the vehicle.

An accepted ride begins when the driver accepts the trip request through Uber’s digital network and continues until the rider safely leaves the vehicle, as defined in Chapter 159A 1/2, Section 1.

The $1 million figure is the minimum liability coverage for the covered occurrence, not an automatic settlement or a separate $1 million award to each injured person.

The driver’s personal auto insurance may exclude rideshare activity, so determining the applicable coverage often requires examining multiple insurance policies.

Under Section 228, Uber-maintained insurance must provide the required coverage when the driver’s qualifying policy lapses, denies a covered claim, or otherwise fails to meet the statutory requirements.

The required company-maintained coverage cannot be conditioned on the driver’s personal insurer denying coverage first.

Actual coverage may also depend on whether the driver was operating a commercially insured livery vehicle rather than a standard personal vehicle used for Uber rides.

How Our Attorneys Investigate Uber Trip Records and Disputed Coverage

A passenger injured during an accepted Uber ride may have a trip receipt confirming the relevant insurance period.

For a rideshare accident involving a driver who had not yet accepted a request, additional app records may be needed to establish the coverage available when the crash occurred.

Our investigation may include:

1. Confirming the ride timeline: Comparing the requested trip, accepted ride, pickup, collision, and trip completion times with the driver’s statements and available app records.
2. Preserving digital evidence: Seeking ride receipts, trip activity, communications with Uber, video recordings, and relevant driver or platform records.
3. Reconstructing fault: Reviewing police findings, witness accounts, vehicle damage, road conditions, photographs, and expert analysis when appropriate.
4. Reviewing multiple insurers: Comparing the Uber driver’s personal policy, the rideshare company’s required coverage, the at-fault party’s liability insurance, and any applicable uninsured or underinsured motorist protection.
5. Documenting damages: Obtaining medical evidence, wage records, rehabilitation needs, and support for future treatment or long-term disability.

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 159A 1/2, Section 5 requires cooperation in rideshare coverage investigations, including exchange of relevant insurance information and precise driver log-on and log-off times during the 12 hours before and after the accident.

In Quincy, a crash near Quincy Center, Hancock Street, North Quincy or Wollaston MBTA stations, or the pickup areas around Marina Bay may also involve nearby business cameras or witnesses.

Collisions on I-93, Route 3, or roads near the Braintree Split may call for a closer review of lane changes, traffic conditions, and each vehicle’s position before impact.

The location may help investigators identify business surveillance footage, witnesses, and traffic-control records relevant to the collision.

Who Is Legally Responsible for an Uber Accident?

A distracted Uber driver may be responsible for a rear-end crash, while a motorist who runs a red light and strikes an Uber could be the negligent party instead.

Several drivers may share responsibility in a multi-vehicle collision.

Uber generally treats drivers using its platform as independent contractors and may dispute whether it is legally responsible for their negligence.

Massachusetts challenged that classification under state employment laws, leading to a 2024 Uber and Lyft settlement.

Regardless of those employment-law disputes, Massachusetts requires specified automobile insurance coverage during covered Uber driving activity.

Massachusetts Laws That Can Affect an Uber Injury Claim

No-Fault Personal Injury Protection

Massachusetts uses a no-fault insurance system for eligible motor vehicle accidents.

Passengers and other qualifying injured people may receive Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits without first proving which driver caused the collision.

Under Chapter 90, Section 34M, PIP generally provides up to $8,000 toward qualifying medical expenses, replacement services, and lost earnings, subject to deductibles, coordination with health insurance, and other statutory rules.

Eligible wage-loss benefits are generally limited to 75% of lost earnings within the overall PIP limit.

A PIP claim must generally be presented as soon as practicable and within two years after the accident.

Eligibility and the responsible insurer depend on the person’s circumstances; motorcycle operators and passengers, for example, are subject to different PIP rules.

When Can You Recover Non-Economic Damages?

In covered Massachusetts motor vehicle injury claims, recovering pain-and-suffering damages generally requires meeting a medical-expense threshold or qualifying for a statutory exception.

Under Chapter 231, Section 6D, the claimant generally must incur more than $2,000 in qualifying medical expenses or meet a statutory injury exception.

Exceptions include death, fractures, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of a body member, or certain specified losses of sight or hearing.

An attorney can evaluate the threshold and any applicable exception alongside the documented injuries.

Comparative Negligence

Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule, commonly called the 51% comparative-fault bar.

Under Chapter 231, Section 85, an injured person assigned 50% or less of the combined fault may generally recover reduced damages, but a person found 51% or more responsible is barred from recovery under this rule.

For example, if a claimant is assigned 20% fault and has $100,000 in otherwise recoverable damages, the award is generally reduced to $80,000.

A passenger who did not contribute to the driver’s decisions may have no comparative fault for those driving errors, while competing accounts of two drivers’ conduct may require a more detailed investigation.

Filing Deadlines

The general Massachusetts deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is three years after the claim accrues under Chapter 260, Section 2A.

Different notice or filing requirements may apply in particular situations, including claims involving public entities or certain insurance benefits.

A pending Uber insurance report or settlement negotiation does not necessarily extend the deadline to file suit.

Injuries and Compensation After an Uber Crash

Uber and Lyft passengers can suffer concussions, traumatic brain injuries, rib fractures, neck and back injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and internal injuries in rear-end, intersection, or side-impact crashes.

A severely injured passenger may require surgery, prolonged medical care, rehabilitation, and assistance with daily activities.

Permanent disabilities can also prevent a return to work, creating substantial future medical expenses and lost earning capacity.

Depending on the evidence and Massachusetts law, a personal injury claim may include:

• Medical costs: Emergency care, diagnostic testing, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and reasonably supported future medical expenses.
• Lost income: Wages lost during recovery and diminished earning capacity when an injury affects the person’s ability to work.
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, lasting impairment, disfigurement, and reduced enjoyment of life when legally recoverable.
• Property damage: Damaged vehicles, personal belongings, and other legally compensable property losses.
• Additional economic losses: Qualifying out-of-pocket expenses and necessary assistance arising from the injuries.

An early settlement offer may not reflect future treatment, permanent work restrictions, or the full financial effects of the injuries.

Our attorneys examine those losses and negotiate for fair compensation supported by the evidence, while preparing litigation when insurance negotiations do not produce an acceptable resolution.

When an Uber collision results in death, the estate’s executor or administrator may have grounds to bring a Massachusetts wrongful death claim for the losses available to eligible surviving family members.

How Much Does a Quincy Uber Accident Lawyer Cost?

Marasco & Nesselbush offers free consultations and handles qualifying Uber accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis.

The attorney fee is tied to the compensation recovered rather than an hourly charge, so no attorney fee is owed unless the case results in a recovery.

Medical-record charges, court filing fees, expert expenses, and other case costs are separate from attorney fees and should be explained in the written representation agreement, including their treatment if no recovery is made.

Contact Our Quincy Uber Accident Lawyers

A serious Uber accident can involve disputed driving conduct, multiple insurers, and trip information that is difficult to obtain without a focused investigation.

Marasco & Nesselbush brings an established record in passenger injury litigation, disputed insurance coverage, and serious personal injury cases to clients throughout Quincy and the South Shore.

Our Uber accident attorneys can review the available policies, identify potentially responsible parties, and discuss the legal process during a free consultation.

Contact our Quincy office for a free consultation about your Uber accident claim, or use the chat feature on this page to request assistance.