Your Shield Against Big Tech and Insurance Giants
The convenience of tapping an app for a ride through the Crescent City has changed how we move — from the French Quarter to Mid-City and everywhere in between. That convenience vanishes the moment a collision occurs.
If you were injured while riding in an Uber, driving for Lyft, or were hit by a rideshare vehicle on I-10, you are now facing a legal maze designed to protect corporate profits — not your recovery.
At Justin Reese Law Group, a rideshare accident isn't just a car wreck. It is a multi-layered legal battle involving high-limit commercial insurance policies, independent contractor loopholes, and complex Louisiana statutes. You need a lawyer who knows how to pierce the corporate veil and secure the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Your actions in the first 30 minutes can dictate the success of your case. Rideshare companies and their insurance adjusters begin protecting themselves immediately — you need to protect yourself just as fast.
Call 911
Ensure the NOPD or Louisiana State Police creates an official accident report. This document is foundational evidence for determining which insurance phase applies and who bears liability.
Screenshot the App Immediately
Capture your trip status, the driver's profile, and the vehicle details before the ride is canceled or cleared from the app. This digital evidence establishes which coverage phase was active at the time of the crash.
Identify Witnesses
Collect phone numbers from bystanders who saw the light change or the driver's erratic behavior. Witness testimony is especially powerful in disputes over which driver caused the collision.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
Insurance adjusters from the Transportation Network Company will call you quickly. They are looking for reasons to deny your claim. Simply tell them you are seeking legal counsel — then call us.
Why Rideshare Accidents Are Different in New Orleans
Unlike a typical two-car collision where you deal with one personal insurance company, a rideshare crash involves a Transportation Network Company (TNC). Under Louisiana law, the amount of insurance coverage available changes based on the phase the driver was in at the time of impact. Navigating these phases requires aggressive discovery and digital evidence gathering — data that rideshare companies guard closely.
App Is Off
$0The driver's personal insurance is the only source of recovery. Uber and Lyft provide zero coverage when the driver's app is not active — making it critical to establish app status at the time of impact.
App On, No Ride Yet
$50K / $100KDriver is logged in but waiting for a request. Liability coverage is typically limited to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident — often insufficient for serious injuries. We look for stacking opportunities with your own UM/UIM policy.
Ride Accepted or Passenger On Board
$1 MillionThe full $1 million liability policy and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverage trigger. This is the phase that provides the most protection — and the one rideshare companies fight hardest to avoid.
High-Risk Zones for Rideshare Accidents in New Orleans
Rideshare drivers are often navigating unfamiliar territory or watching their phones for the next pickup request — leading to devastating crashes in New Orleans' highest-traffic corridors. We frequently handle cases from these specific locations.
Canal St & St. Charles Ave
A hotspot for U-turn accidents and pedestrian strikes as drivers struggle with streetcar tracks, tourist foot traffic, and the constant pressure of pickup and dropoff demands.
Claiborne Ave at I-10 Overpass
High speeds and frequent merging make this a common site for rear-end collisions involving rideshare vehicles — particularly during peak hours when driver demand is highest.
French Quarter (Bourbon & Decatur)
Tight streets and distracted drivers navigating tourist traffic lead to frequent sideswipe accidents and injuries to passengers exiting rideshare vehicles — especially late at night.
Elysian Fields Avenue
Known for high-speed T-bone collisions at major cross-streets — particularly dangerous for rideshare passengers who have no warning before a side-impact collision occurs.
I-10 High Rise Bridge
Bottlenecks here often result in multi-vehicle pileups where determining liability between multiple rideshare drivers and commercial trucks requires aggressive investigation and digital evidence.
Airline Hwy (US-61)
A primary route for airport transfers where driver fatigue and high speed frequently play a role in rideshare crashes — especially during early morning and late-night airport runs.
Injuries We Fight For
A high-speed collision on Chef Menteur Highway or a sudden stop on Poydras Street can cause life-altering injuries. As a passenger, you had no control over the situation — and you deserve full compensation for every consequence.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Common in T-bone accidents where the head strikes a side window. TBI can result in long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes that impact every area of life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Often resulting from rear-end collisions on I-10 — herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and spinal cord damage that can cause chronic pain or permanent paralysis.
Fractures & Soft Tissue Damage
Wrist, arm, shoulder, and hip fractures from bracing against impact — combined with ligament and tendon tears requiring extensive physical therapy and surgical intervention.
Seek Care Immediately — Then Call Us
Documenting your injuries immediately after a rideshare accident is the most vital step in building a winning claim. Seek evaluation at a local trauma center right away — the longer you wait, the easier it is for the insurance company to argue your injuries weren't caused by the crash.
University Medical Center (UMC)
2000 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112 — the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center, equipped to handle the full spectrum of rideshare collision injuries including TBI and spinal cord damage.
Tulane Medical Center
1415 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112 — providing advanced neurological and orthopedic care essential for accident injury recovery and long-term treatment planning.
Ochsner Medical Center — West Bank
A critical resource for those injured in Westbank or Gretna area rideshare crashes — offering emergency trauma care and specialist services close to our office.
Built for Trial. Ready for the Fight.
Our firm is built on the foundation of trial-ready advocacy. We don't just process claims — we prepare every case as if it is going before a jury. When rideshare companies and their insurers know we are prepared to go to trial, their settlement offers change significantly.
Direct Access
You work with a legal team that knows your name and your story. When you hire Justin Reese, you get Justin Reese — not a call center, not a paralegal, not a junior associate.
No Upfront Costs
We operate on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you. No retainers, no hourly billing, no financial risk on your end — ever.
Aggressive Digital Investigation
We work with accident reconstructionists and subpoena trip logs, GPS data, and driver phone records to prove speed, braking patterns, and distracted driving — the digital evidence rideshare companies try to hide.
Directions to Justin Reese Law Group
Office Address: 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200, Gretna, LA 70053 — conveniently located just across the river from downtown New Orleans, easily accessible from the Westbank, the East, and the CBD.
From Downtown New Orleans (CBD)
- Take the Crescent City Connection (US-90 Business West) across the Mississippi River.
- Take the exit toward Huey P Long Ave / Gretna.
- Continue onto the Westbank Expressway frontage road.
- Turn right onto Huey P Long Ave. Our office is at 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200 on your right.
From Metairie / Kenner
- Take I-10 East toward New Orleans.
- Follow signs for the Westbank / US-90 W.
- Cross the Crescent City Connection.
- Exit toward Huey P Long Ave / Gretna and turn right onto Huey P Long Ave.
From the Lower Westbank
- Take the Westbank Expressway (US-90 Business East) toward Gretna.
- Exit at Huey P Long Ave.
- Turn left onto Huey P Long Ave under the expressway.
- Our office is at 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200 on your left.
New Orleans Rideshare Accident FAQ
In Louisiana, rideshare companies typically classify drivers as independent contractors to avoid direct liability. However, you can file a claim against their $1 million commercial insurance policy if the driver was on the clock with a ride accepted or passenger onboard. If the driver's actions were egregious, or if the company failed in its background check duties, additional legal avenues may also exist.
If the driver was logged into the app but had not yet accepted a ride, a lower contingent policy applies — typically covering up to $50,000 for bodily injury per person. If your damages exceed this, we look for stacking opportunities with your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to bridge the gap.
If the third-party driver was at fault, their insurance is primary. However, many drivers in New Orleans are uninsured. In that case, Lyft's Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage — mandated by law to be part of their $1 million policy — should cover your medical bills and pain and suffering as a passenger.
The value depends on the severity of your injuries, the amount of insurance coverage available, and the clarity of fault. Settlements can range from thousands to millions of dollars. We fight to ensure your settlement includes general damages like mental anguish and special damages like future medical expenses — not just today's bills.
For accidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana provides a two-year prescriptive period to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, digital evidence — trip logs, GPS data, driver phone records, and app status — can be deleted or overwritten quickly. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve this critical evidence before it disappears.
Contact a New Orleans Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
Don't let a tech giant's legal team dictate the value of your injuries. At Justin Reese Law Group, we know how to navigate the insurance maze, subpoena the digital evidence, and fight for the maximum recovery available under Louisiana law. Free consultation — no fees unless we win.
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