Uber and Lyft Driver Accident Attorney
If you were hurt while driving for a rideshare company, we can help
Driving for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft is a great way for many people in the Tampa Bay area to earn a living or supplement their income. However, like any other job that involves driving, there is always the risk of being involved in a car crash. When that happens, you could be looking at an uncertain insurance situation and struggle to get your medical bills paid.
The rideshare driver injury attorneys at Armando Personal Injury Law can help. We understand the laws that apply to Uber and Lyft drivers hurt in car accidents, and we will stand up to the insurance company on your behalf. If you were injured in a car accident while driving for Uber or Lyft, we can help.
What insurance coverage applies to rideshare accidents?
Lyft and Uber drivers use their personal vehicles and are required to carry their own insurance on those vehicles. However, most personal insurance policies don’t cover you while you are “driving for profit,” and that includes driving for a rideshare service. (The same problem also applies to people who drive for food delivery services like DoorDash and Grubhub.)
If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you need to let your personal auto insurance carrier know, or they can void your policy for material misrepresentation. You may be able to add a rideshare endorsement to your existing policy or buy a separate rideshare policy.
The rideshare companies also carry insurance that applies in certain situations. Whether their insurance applies to your accident depends on your status at the time of the accident:
- If you were signed out of the rideshare app and driving for personal purposes, then your personal auto insurance applies.
- If you were using the rideshare app and awaiting a ride request, but had not yet accepted a ride request, then the rideshare company will provide third-party liability coverage – but note that this insurance covers people hurt in an accident you cause, not you.
- If you had accepted a ride request and were driving to pick up a passenger or driving with a passenger in your car, then the rideshare company’s full coverage applies. This includes third-party liability coverage, contingent collision and comprehensive coverage, and possibly uninsured/underinsured coverage (UM/UIM).
In addition, as with any other car accident, you can file a third-party liability claim against another driver that caused your accident (if your injuries meet the threshold to do so) or another liable third party such as a vehicle manufacturer.
Uninsured/underinsured motorists and rideshare accidents
Again, as with any other car accident, if you’re driving for Uber and Lyft and sustain severe injuries in an accident caused by another driver, you can pursue compensation from that driver’s insurance policy. But what happens if the other driver doesn’t have liability insurance? This is a common scenario in Florida because most motorists aren’t required to carry bodily injury liability coverage, only no-fault coverage and property damage liability.
In this situation, you need uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). This insurance stands in for the other driver’s insurance if they don’t have coverage or don’t have enough to cover your losses. It also applies to an accident caused by an unknown driver (i.e., a hit-and-run or phantom vehicle). The rideshare companies may carry UM/UIM insurance that applies in some situations, but the best way to make sure you are covered is to purchase your own UM/UIM, either through your personal policy or through the rideshare company, and confirm that it applies to accidents while driving for the rideshare service.
Because UM/UIM coverage stands in for the other driver’s insurance, you still have to prove that the other driver caused your accident and should be liable for the damages. These claims require in-depth investigation and negotiation with the insurance company, meaning you definitely want an experienced rideshare injury attorney on your side.
Who pays for damage to your car if you were driving for Uber or Lyft?
The rideshare companies carry contingent collision and comprehensive coverage for accidents that occur while driving to pick up a passenger or transporting a passenger. Collision insurance covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle if damaged in a crash, while comprehensive covers non-crash-related damages such as flooding, vandalism, or theft.
However, this only applies if you have collision and comprehensive insurance on your personal auto insurance policy. In Florida, you are not legally required to carry this insurance, although if your vehicle is financed, the lienholder most likely requires you to carry it.
In addition, Florida requires all motorists to carry at least $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Therefore, if your vehicle or other personal property was damaged in an accident caused by another driver, you can file a third-party insurance claim or lawsuit to get compensation through their PDL coverage.
What options are available to Uber accident victims if someone else made the reservation?
As explained, Florida has a no-fault car insurance system. This is important to understand if you were injured while riding in an Uber vehicle reserved by someone else. It doesn’t matter who made the Uber reservation or who was fault. As an injured Uber passenger, you have the right to be financially compensated for your accident-related expenses, regardless of who was at fault for causing the Uber accident.
In most cases, getting the compensation you deserve involves filing an injury claim with the Uber driver’s insurance company. However, depending on the circumstances of your accident, you might also be able to seek financial compensation directly from Uber or another source. Such circumstances can include whether the Uber driver:
- Had the Uber app on or off at the time of the accident.
- Was driving at the time of the collision.
- Caused a collision involving another vehicle.
Can Lyft accident victims receive compensation if someone else reserved the booking?
Injured Lyft passengers have the right to seek financial compensation for their injury-related expenses in Florida, regardless of who was at fault or who booked the Lyft ride. So if you got hurt while riding in a Lyft vehicle booked by someone else, you can still receive money for your accident-related expenses, including financial compensation for medical care.
Like other rideshare accidents, Lyft passengers injured in a crash often start by seeking financial compensation from the Lyft driver’s car insurance company. In addition, passengers may be able to obtain money from Lyft or another funding source depending on the circumstances of the car accident.
Can injured passengers file a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft if someone else booked the ride?
This is a question people often ask our lawyers if they were injured while riding in a Lyft or Uber vehicle reserved by someone else – can I sue Uber or Lyft? The short answer? Yes. However, such legal cases can be very complicated and combative. That’s because corporations like Uber and Lyft often have entire teams of attorneys defending their legal rights.
One situation in which you may be able to file a lawsuit seeking damages (financial compensation) from Uber or Lyft is if you were hurt while a passenger in the vehicle while the Uber or Lyft driver was working. In such situations, injured passengers may be able to file a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft. This is because both companies provide $1 million in third-party liability coverage per accident. Even so, such legal cases can be complicated. This is why injured Lyft or Uber passengers should always talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.
An experienced rideshare driver attorney can help
Getting compensation when you’re injured as an Uber or Lyft driver can be a complicated process. Even small changes in circumstances, such as a passenger canceling a ride request, can significantly affect the available coverage. You need an experienced attorney to sort out this situation and find your way forward. That’s why you need Armando Personal Injury Law.
Attorney Armando Edmiston and his legal team will thoroughly investigate your accident, find out who was responsible and hold them accountable. We understand the laws that apply to Uber and Lyft accidents, and we are here to help.
You need to act quickly before important evidence disappears and legal deadlines expire. If you were hurt in a car accident while driving for Uber or Lyft, give us a call or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced rideshare driver accident lawyer.