VP Law
July 31, 2026
The legal battle over whether Uber drivers are employees or independent contractors continues to wage, although a recent New York appeals court ruling places more responsibility on the jury to decide.
In Bandele v. Rasier-NY, LLC, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, ruled that a trial court should not have dismissed claims against Uber before trial, as questions remained regarding the driver’s independent contractor status.
The decision marks the first appellate ruling in New York addressing whether a jury should decide if an Uber driver was acting as an employee. The court found that Uber had not presented enough evidence to establish that the driver was an independent contractor. Instead, it ruled that a jury must resolve the remaining factual questions.
The case stems from a rear-end collision in which a Queens man was struck by an Uber driver while stopped at a red light. The appellate court ruled the Uber driver liable for causing the crash and also reinstated the claims against the rideshare company, concluding it failed to prove the driver was an independent contractor. As a result, Uber remains a defendant, and a jury will determine the driver’s employment status.
The decision highlights the increasingly complex legal questions surrounding rideshare companies and their relationships with drivers. Whether a driver qualifies as an employee or an independent contractor can significantly affect who bears legal responsibility after a crash.
In January 2026, Founding Partner Jeffrey W. Varcadipane, Esq., secured a landmark $19 million verdict against Uber on behalf of a former NHL player who suffered career-ending injuries in a crash caused by an impaired Uber driver. A Bergen County jury found that the driver met New Jersey’s legal criteria for an employee, making Uber legally responsible for the player’s injuries.
As courts continue to address these issues, decisions such as Bandele make clear that a rideshare company cannot automatically avoid liability simply by classifying its drivers as independent contractors.
Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C., is a premier personal injury law firm. If you or a loved one has been injured, call 201-588-1500 or contact us online for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout New York, New Jersey, and Florida, and have offices conveniently located in Manhattan, Paramus, and Jacksonville.
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