Last month, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation finally allowing ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft after a several year long battle with the state. Though New York City has access to Uber, the rest of the state has been left in the dark for years. This summer, that’s finally about to change. Uber stated that in January 2016 alone, over 60,000 New Yorkers outside of NYC tried to find rides in their area, to no avail.
Beginning June 29, New Yorkers can have access to rides through Uber just like the rest of the country. Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that in the 2018 NYS budget, Uber will be available to all New Yorkers. In addition, all New York Uber drivers will be required to carry a minimum of $1.25 million in insurance coverage. In addition, to ensure the safety of all passengers, New York State will require that Uber and Lyft drivers undergo background checks, are monitored for driving safety, don’t discriminate against passengers, and are subject to a zero-tolerance policy in regards to the use of drugs and alcohol. In addition, all ridesharing drivers will be covered under the state’s workers’ compensation laws and the Black Car Fund will be enhanced to ensure this. New York will also create a regulatory board that will assess the impact that the introduction of the ridesharing industry has on the state. Not only will this allow New Yorkers to safely get from point A to B when they make the choice to drink alcohol, but it will also create roughly 13,000 jobs.
If you are injured in an Uber accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today.