Being struck by a taxi or rideshare vehicle in Manhattan triggers a different set of insurance rules than a standard car accident. Knowing which insurer to pursue, how much coverage applies, and what deadlines you are working against can be the difference between a full recovery and a significantly reduced one. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Manhattan can help you understand your rights.
Key Takeaways
- Taxis and rideshare vehicles in NYC carry commercial insurance policies with higher coverage limits than standard personal auto policies.
- Uber and Lyft insurance coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash, app on, waiting for a ride, or actively transporting a passenger.
- NYC yellow taxis are required to carry a minimum of $100,000 per person in liability coverage.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney.
- The statute of limitations for a pedestrian injury claim in New York is three years, but evidence preservation must begin immediately.
Why Taxi and Rideshare Accidents Are Different
When a private vehicle hits a pedestrian, there is typically one insurer and one policy to deal with. Taxi and rideshare accidents involve multiple layers of coverage, corporate defendants, and regulatory frameworks that make the claims process significantly more complex.
NYC yellow cabs operate under TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission) licensing requirements and must carry commercial liability insurance. Uber and Lyft drivers operate under a hybrid model, their personal auto insurance applies when the app is off, but Uber or Lyft's commercial policy applies once the app is on. The coverage amount within that commercial policy shifts depending on the driver's status at the moment of the crash.
Getting the coverage analysis right early in a case matters. Pursuing the wrong insurer, or accepting a settlement from one layer without accounting for another, can leave significant compensation on the table.
NYC Taxi Insurance: What Pedestrians Need to Know
NYC yellow taxis and green boro taxis are required by the TLC to carry a minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage. Many taxi medallion operators carry higher limits. This is substantially more coverage than the $25,000 minimum required of private passenger vehicles in New York.
The insurer for a yellow cab is typically listed on the vehicle itself. After an accident, the responding police officer should document the cab number, medallion number, and the driver's TLC license information. If that information was not captured at the scene, it can be obtained through the NYPD accident report.
Black cars, car services, and for-hire vehicles operating outside the yellow and green cab system have their own TLC insurance requirements, which vary by vehicle class. If you are unsure what type of vehicle struck you, an attorney can identify the operator and applicable coverage through TLC records.
Uber and Lyft Insurance: How Coverage Works for Pedestrians
Uber and Lyft maintain tiered insurance coverage that applies differently depending on the driver's app status at the time of the crash.
App off: The driver's personal auto insurance applies. There is no Uber or Lyft coverage. Minimum coverage in New York is $25,000 per person for bodily injury.
App on, waiting for a ride request: Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per occurrence, and $25,000 for property damage. This applies only if the driver's personal insurance does not cover the claim.
App on, ride accepted or passenger in the vehicle: Uber and Lyft's full $1,000,000 commercial liability policy applies. This is the scenario most pedestrians struck by an active rideshare vehicle fall under.
Establishing which tier applies requires documentation of the driver's app status at the exact time of the accident. Uber and Lyft maintain records of this data, but obtaining it requires a formal legal request. Acting quickly preserves your ability to access that information before it becomes difficult to retrieve.
For more on how rideshare insurance works in pedestrian injury claims, the firm's Uber accident attorney page and Lyft accident page cover the specifics of each platform.
What to Do Immediately After Being Hit by a Taxi or Uber in Manhattan
Call 911
Get police and EMS to the scene. A police report creates an official record of the accident, the vehicle involved, and the driver's information. For taxi accidents, the officer should document the medallion number and TLC license. For rideshare vehicles, the Uber or Lyft trip ID and driver information should be captured.
Document the Vehicle and Driver
Photograph the taxi or rideshare vehicle, its license plate, the medallion number or TLC sticker, and any damage. If the vehicle is an Uber or Lyft, take a screenshot of the trip in the app immediately, this captures the driver's name, vehicle details, and trip status before it disappears from your ride history.
Get Medical Attention
Go to the emergency room or urgent care even if you feel fine. Injuries from pedestrian accidents, including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal trauma, frequently do not produce immediate symptoms. Delayed treatment creates gaps that insurers use to argue your injuries were not caused by the accident.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
After any taxi or rideshare accident, you will likely receive calls from one or more insurance companies quickly. You are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer, and doing so before you have legal representation is a significant risk. Adjusters ask questions designed to elicit answers that limit your claim.
Contact an Attorney Before Accepting Any Settlement
Initial settlement offers from taxi and rideshare insurers are almost always below the full value of a serious pedestrian injury claim. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, your claim is closed. An attorney can evaluate whether the offer reflects your actual damages, including future medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering, before you make that decision.
Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has handled Manhattan pedestrian accident cases involving taxis, rideshare vehicles, and commercial for-hire cars for decades, with results that reflect the full value of serious injuries.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
As a pedestrian struck by a taxi or rideshare vehicle, you are entitled to no-fault Personal Injury Protection benefits through the at-fault vehicle's commercial insurer, covering medical expenses and a portion of lost wages up to $50,000. You must file a no-fault application within 30 days of the accident.
Beyond no-fault, a liability claim allows you to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, permanent injury, full lost wages and earning capacity, future medical care, and other economic losses. To pursue these damages, your injuries must meet New York's serious injury threshold under Insurance Law Section 5102(d).
Attorney Michael Gunzburg holds dual credentials as a New York personal injury lawyer and a licensed CPA, a combination that directly benefits clients in cases involving significant economic damages. His accounting background allows for precise, well-documented calculations of lost income and future financial losses that hold up under scrutiny from commercial insurers and their legal teams.
The firm's verdicts and settlements page reflects results across a range of serious pedestrian and motor vehicle injury cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if I'm hit by a taxi in Manhattan?
Call 911 immediately, stay at the scene, and get medical attention. Document the cab's medallion number, license plate, and the driver's TLC license information. Photograph your injuries and the accident scene. Do not say you are fine, and do not agree to handle things without a police report.
Does Uber's insurance cover pedestrians hit by Uber drivers?
Yes, when the driver was actively on a trip or had accepted a ride request at the time of the accident. In that scenario, Uber's $1,000,000 commercial liability policy applies. If the driver had the app on but was waiting for a request, a lower coverage tier applies. If the app was off, only the driver's personal insurance covers the claim.
Can I sue both the driver and Uber or Lyft?
In some cases, yes. Depending on the facts, you may have claims against both the individual driver and the rideshare company. Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, which limits direct employer liability, but there are circumstances where platform liability can be argued. An attorney can evaluate whether pursuing the company directly makes sense in your specific case.
How is a taxi accident claim different from a regular car accident claim?
The main differences are the insurance structure and the available coverage limits. NYC taxis carry higher mandatory minimums than private passenger vehicles, and the claim runs through a commercial insurer rather than a personal auto policy. Multiple parties may be involved, the driver, the medallion owner, and the fleet operator, each of which may carry separate coverage.
What if the taxi or Uber driver fled the scene?
If the driver left without stopping, treat it as a hit-and-run. Call 911 immediately and try to get as much identifying information as possible, the license plate, vehicle color, medallion number, and any details about the driver. For Uber and Lyft vehicles, your app may retain trip data even if the driver cancels. Uninsured motorist coverage and MVAIC may provide compensation options when the driver cannot be identified.
How long do I have to file a claim after being hit by a taxi or Uber in New York?
Three years from the date of the accident for a claim against the driver or the rideshare company as a private defendant. No-fault benefits must be applied for within 30 days. If the City of New York bears any responsibility, for example, due to a signal malfunction, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days.
Do I need a lawyer for a taxi or rideshare pedestrian accident claim?
For any serious injury, yes. Commercial insurers defending taxi and rideshare claims have experienced legal teams and adjusters whose job is to minimize payouts. Having an attorney who understands the insurance structure, the applicable coverage tiers, and how to build a complete damages case significantly affects the outcome.
Talk to a Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Taxi and rideshare pedestrian accidents involve insurance complexity that most injury victims are not equipped to navigate alone. Michael Gunzburg, P.C. has spent over 39 years representing seriously injured pedestrians across Manhattan, recovering significant results against commercial insurers and corporate defendants.
If you were struck by a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or any for-hire vehicle in Manhattan, contact Michael Gunzburg, P.C. at (212) 725-8500 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless you recover. You can also start with a case evaluation online.
Related Pages:
- Manhattan Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Uber Accident Attorney NYC
- Lyft Accident Attorney NYC
- NYC Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney
- NYC Pedestrian Accident Attorney
- Verdicts and Settlements
The information in this article reflects New York law as of June 2025. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Michael Gunzburg, P.C. directly for guidance specific to your situation.
