Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular in the greater Tampa Bay area over the last several years. These ridesharing services offer consumers a more convenient and affordable way to travel around the city. But just like every other vehicle on the road, Uber and Lyft vehicles could be involved in traffic accidents.
If you are involved in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries with the help of a Tampa personal injury attorney. But who will be held liable for your injuries?
The laws regarding liability in rideshare accidents are complicated. Several factors, including your role in the accident, the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the accident, and the cause of the accident, will determine how you should file your claim and how much compensation you may be able to recover. Keep reading to learn the basics about insurance coverage and liability issues in Uber and Lyft accident cases.
Who is Liable If You Are Injured As An Uber or Lyft Passenger?
If you catch a ride with an Uber or Lyft driver, it’s possible that you will be involved in an accident before reaching your final destination.
If you are injured while riding as a paying customer in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, the ridesharing company’s insurance policy will cover your damages if the accident was caused by their driver’s negligence. Ridesharing companies carry $1 million in third-party liability insurance, which will cover your injuries and property damage caused by the accident.
If you are injured while riding as a paying customer in a ridesharing vehicle, the rules are different if the rideshare driver was not at fault. If the other driver was at fault for the accident, the ridesharing company’s insurance policy will not cover your damages. However, if the other driver who caused the accident is uninsured or underinsured, the rideshare company’s uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance policy will cover your damages.
Who is Liable If You Are Hit By An Uber or Lyft Driver?
There are thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers on the roads in Florida at any given moment. Even if you don’t use these ridesharing services, you will have to share the roads with their drivers. This means there is a chance that you could get into an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver at some point.
If you are hit by an Uber or Lyft vehicle while driving your car, walking, or riding a bike or motorcycle, liability and insurance coverage will vary depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. For example, say you are involved in an accident caused by an off-duty Uber driver. If the rideshare driver was not active on the Uber app at the time of the accident, which means he was not accepting new rides, the rideshare company’s insurance will not cover this accident.
The only insurance companies that would be involved in this claim are yours and the rideshare driver’s personal coverage. The rideshare driver should carry insurance that meets Florida’s minimum auto insurance requirements.
But accidents can also occur when a rideshare driver is active on the app, which means he is waiting for a new ride request to come in. If you are involved in an accident with a rideshare driver who is active and waiting for a new ride request, the rideshare company’s insurance will cover your accident. For accidents like these, rideshare companies carry $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident. Rideshare companies also carry $25,000 in property damage coverage for these accidents.
The final type of ridesharing accident occurs when a rideshare driver is either traveling with a paying customer in their vehicle or on their way to pick up a paying customer. If you are hit by a rideshare driver who either has a customer or is on their way to pick up a customer, the rideshare company’s insurance policy will cover your damages. For these accidents, rideshare companies carry $1 million in third party liability coverage.
How Can An Attorney Help After A Ridesharing Accident in Tampa?
Every personal injury claim involving a car accident is complex, but claims involving ridesharing accidents are even more complicated than others. This is mainly because the status of the driver, the presence of a passenger in the vehicle, and the role that the driver played in causing the accident must all be taken into consideration when determining who is liable and which insurance policy should cover your damages.
Investigating the accident in order to gather the evidence that you need to prove liability may be overwhelming, especially if you were seriously injured in the crash. Your main priority should be recovering from your injuries, not fighting with an insurance company to obtain compensation.
Let an attorney handle every aspect of your legal claim so you can focus solely on your health and wellbeing. Your attorney will go head-to-head with the at-fault party’s insurance company to ensure you are compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Discuss Your Legal Options With A Personal Injury Attorney
Have you been injured in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle? If so, it’s in your best interest to seek legal representation from an experienced car accident attorney at Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett. Our attorneys have over 125 years of combined legal experience, so they have the resources and skills that are needed to win these complex ridesharing accident cases. Let us work tirelessly to ensure you are fully compensated for your injuries.
Take the first step toward seeking justice by contacting our law office to schedule a free consultation regarding your case today.
