As rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have grown in popularity, so have the number of motor vehicle crashes involving rideshare drivers. Many rideshare drivers are driving distracted, navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods and streets while using smartphone apps for customer information and directions, greatly increasing the likelihood of serious accidents.
Rideshare accidents may include injuries to passengers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. If you have been injured in a rideshare accident you should seek medical treatment right away. Once your injuries have stabilized you should obtain the advice of a personal injury attorney who has experience handling rideshare accident claims.
Rideshare Liability Insurance Issues
Since rideshare drivers are often treated as independent contractors instead of employees, bodily injury claims involving rideshare companies often present challenging insurance and liability issues to claimants who are unfamiliar with the nuances of this evolving area of personal injury law.
Insurance policies that provide liability coverage for injuries resulting from these accidents may come from a variety of sources including:
- the rideshare driver’s insurance
- the rideshare company’s insurance
- the passengers’ or pedestrians’ own insurance policies
Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft are required to carry liability insurance to cover bodily injury and property damage. Some rideshare companies carry liability insurance policy limits of up to $1 million dollars to eligible passengers, pedestrians, and motorcycle and other vehicle drivers. Whether the rideshare company’s policy will apply will depend upon if the rideshare driver is logged into the app and carrying passengers.
If the rideshare driver is logged into the app but is not carrying any passengers at the time of the accident, then the rideshare driver’s insurance may provide coverage. If the rideshare driver is using their vehicle for personal use while not logged into the app and causes an accident, then only the rideshare driver’s insurance will apply.
Rideshare Accidents and Florida “No Fault” Personal Injury Protection
If you were injured in a rideshare accident in Florida, your own insurance coverage may provide coverage. Under Florida law, before a driver can register a vehicle, they must show proof of a minimum of $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage (PDL) insurance coverage. PIP may cover 80% of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to $10,000, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Under the Florida “no fault” system, the first $10,000 of your medical bills incurred in a rideshare accident may be paid by your own automobile insurance.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Rideshare accident claims and insurance law are complicated. If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of a rideshare accident you need an experienced attorney on your side. We offer free consultations, and we accept rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that if there is no recovery or settlement there is no fee to you. Call us today at (407) 636-8300 or contact us online.