Online food delivery services such as Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, and UberEats have been increasing in popularity, as these services allow many restaurants which never employed delivery drivers to offer food delivery to customers. However, with more and more customers taking advantage of food delivery services to order food from a wider variety of restaurants, that means more vehicles on the road driving for these services.  When a food delivery service driver is involved in a car accident, who bears liability for the injuries and property damage caused by the crash? New Jersey Driver Insurance Requirements Under New Jersey law, all drivers of personal vehicles need to purchase auto insurance coverage that, at a minimum, meets the requirements of a “basic…

One of the most common causes of car accidents during the winter months is the presence of snow or black ice on the pavement. While snow and black ice may only cause a minor accident where a single vehicle spins out, they can also lead to devastating crashes that leave vehicle occupants with life-altering injuries. When a car accident is caused by black ice or snow, who can be held liable for the injuries and losses suffered by those in the accident?  Where Do Snow and Black Ice Accidents Commonly Occur? While snow obviously comes from wintertime precipitation, black ice can form on roadways under a wider variety of conditions. Black ice refers to a condition where water or moisture…

Many people are using the ride-share services provided by transportation network companies (TNCs) instead of traditional taxis.  You know these TNCs as Uber and Lyft. New York City has so much to offer but driving there and finding parking is a hassle (and expensive!)  Ever think about using Uber or Lyft? Think twice. Liability Coverage and Rideshare Vehicles If you get a ride from New Jersey with a New Jersey Uber or Lyft driver, that driver is required to have a minimum amount of $1,500,000 in insurance coverage for your benefit while you are a passenger. What happens when it’s time to come home and you get a ride back to New Jersey from a New York City Lyft or Uber…

Unfortunately, the holiday season represents the most dangerous time of the year out on the road. When driving during the holidays, here are some tips to help keep yourself, your passengers, and others on the road safe. General Safety Tips General tips for all drivers to keep in mind include: Never drive after consuming alcohol or drugs, and do not allow others to drive while intoxicated or get into a vehicle with an intoxicated driver. If you do plan to drink at a holiday party or dinner, remember to have a designated driver, take public transit, or call a taxi or a rideshare vehicle. Avoid distractions when driving, especially using your cell phone. In the time that it takes to read…

The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s tends to see some of the highest rates of motor vehicle accidents out of any other time of the year. Crash rates particularly spike over the Thanksgiving weekend, over Christmas Eve and Day, and over New Year’s Eve and Day. However, the other days during the holiday see elevated risks of auto accidents. If you plan to be out on the road this holiday season, you should expect to face a higher risk of getting into an accident.  Car Accident Rates Increase During the Holiday Season Over a thousand auto accident fatalities occur over just Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas Eve/Day, and New Year’s Eve/Day. Many more accidents and fatalities occur during the other…