In Florida, Uber and Lyft rideshare services have become increasingly popular transportation options. Whether you are a tourist or a local who wants to enjoy the nightlife without worrying about finding a designated driver, you can utilize these rideshares.
Uber and Lyft rides are often cheaper than taxis and more reliable than public transportation. They can also help you avoid having to look for and pay for parking, especially at some of the most popular attractions.
However, rideshare services come with their own set of risks. You could be the victim of an assault, kidnapping, rape, or robbery. Your Uber or Lyft driver may be intoxicated or drive recklessly, causing you painful injuries in an accident. Thankfully, Florida rideshare driver requirements are strict.
You may also need to rely on the help of a personal injury attorney if a rideshare driver has caused you harm. Englander Peebles is a law firm that focuses on personal injury cases in Florida, including those involving Uber or Lyft accidents. This informative blog covers the Florida Uber/Lyft driver requirements and what to do if you’ve been in an accident in this situation.
What Is Required to Be a Rideshare Driver? Understanding Florida Uber/Lyft Driver Requirements
Florida rideshare driver requirements are addressed by both Uber and Lyft. Each of these rideshare companies has rules and regulations to reduce the risk of criminal behavior and accidents.
Florida Uber/Lyft driver requirements specify that these rideshare companies must conduct criminal background checks on all potential drivers. They must thoroughly check the national registers for criminal activity and sexual offenders. Both Uber and Lyft need to reject any applicants who have a felony conviction within the last five years. Additionally, anyone who has been convicted of any violent offense, indecent exposure, sexual battery, or lewdness in the past five years is ineligible to become a rideshare driver.
Driving history is also an important consideration, and neither rideshare company is permitted to approve applications for anyone who has been convicted of a DUI, reckless driving, hit and run, or fleeing an officer in the last five years. Driving on a suspended or revoked license in the last three years will also make a driver ineligible.
Rideshare Insurance Requirements
Accidents are bound to happen on busy roads throughout the state of Florida. As an extra measure of protection for those utilizing rideshares like Uber and Lyft, Florida has a law that requires all rideshare drivers to have extra coverage in the event of an accident.
Florida Uber/Lyft driver requirements mandate that each driver has a minimum of $50,000 in insurance coverage per person for death and bodily injury along with $100,000 per incident for death and bodily injury when the app is activated. It also requires a minimum of $1 million for death and bodily injury while carrying passengers.
Anyone who is involved in an accident while in an Uber or Lyft vehicle can file a claim if the rideshare driver is at fault for the accident. The law also has a provision that any applicant with more than three moving violations in the past three years will be rejected so both locals and tourists in Florida are protected when using these services.
What Happens When Florida Rideshare Driver Requirements Are Not Met?
The rideshare vehicles do not need to meet requirements but Uber and Lyft have a few specifics in addition to what the laws regulate. Uber/Lyft driver eligibility in Florida must also meet the national standard. For Uber, this means that a vehicle must be no more than 16 years old. It must also be in good condition without cosmetic damage and have at least four doors. Uber also forbids commercial branding on any vehicle used for its rideshare services.
Lyft has similar requirements, issuing that the vehicle used needs to be a model year 2011 or newer with four doors and at least five seats, including the driver’s seat. Lyft does not permit using a rental vehicle, stretch limo, or taxicab as a rideshare vehicle.
In cases involving Uber/Lyft drivers, a lawyer is critical because they can help discover if the rideshare companies did not follow Florida law. If you were injured because of a ride you took in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you may be able to hold the rideshare company liable and seek compensation.
It can be frustrating when you do the responsible thing by calling a rideshare service for a safe ride home only to be harmed due to driver negligence. You should not delay seeking legal representation to help you recover your financial losses from this event.
Englander Peebles represents victims of accidents caused by Uber or Lyft drivers and offers free initial consultations to help you learn more about your legal rights.