Pompano Beach Rideshare Accident Lawyers

Have you been injured in a rideshare accident in Florida? In recent years, ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber have become all the rage for those looking for convenient transportation without using their own vehicles or to safely get home after an evening out for drinks with friends. As a tourist area, rideshare options have become popular for Florida residents and visitors alike.

Lyft and Uber rides are typically very safe options for transportation, but rideshare drivers are just like every other driver, and crashes can still occur no matter how you travel. As rideshare vehicles flood the nation’s roadways, there has been an increase in car accidents.

Whether you are a rideshare driver who suffered injuries or property damage or a passenger in a Lyft or Uber ride who suffered injuries from a car accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation. The car accident attorneys at Englander Peebles can help you file a personal injury claim, pursue compensation for the resulting losses, and understand how Florida law regulates rideshare car accidents.

What Are Lyft and Uber?

Uber began in 2009 and has since skyrocketed as the preferred method of private transportation. The Uber platform was created as an alternative to using a taxi in which passengers had to wave down a ride by hand or call a local company. Uber developed a mobile application enabling the rider to input their pick-up and drop-off location to be matched with the closest available driver. After the rider confirms their request, they can see in real-time through the app, who the driver is and the vehicle’s make, model, and rating of the driver. Conveniently, all payment is done through Uber’s mobile app, including tipping.

After seeing the success of Uber, Lyft created its company mirroring Uber’s model and came on the scene in 2012. The companies were then coined as “ridesharing programs” because drivers were able to share transportation using their own personal vehicles as a way to get third-party passengers to their desired destination. Both Lyft and Uber are expected to provide their drivers and passengers with a safe environment.

Since their humble beginnings, Lyft and Uber have grown quickly, bringing in millions of dollars each. These funds allow large ridesharing companies to hire only the best big-name defense attorneys for an accident involving one of their drivers.

This is why it is crucial to have an experienced Uber accident attorney working for you to file a personal injury lawsuit. Rideshare accident attorneys understand the intricacies of the Florida legal system and how complicated rideshare service personal injury cases can be. Lyft accidents can be frightening, but the outcome should result in a fair settlement.

Who Is Covered for Florida Rideshare Accidents?

In an Uber or Lyft accident, passengers are covered in the event of an accident.

Lyft and Uber, transportation network companies (TNC), must provide liability coverage for their drivers in case of an accident. Generally, this liability coverage begins the moment a rideshare driver is paired with you for a ride and begins their route to pick you up. As the passenger, you are covered for the duration of the ride, so if an accident occurred and you were injured while you were in the rideshare vehicle, you may be entitled to file a claim.

If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft rideshare driver while they were on their way to pick up a passenger or already giving someone a ride, you may also be entitled to file a legal claim against the rideshare company. You should speak with an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer right away to protect your legal rights.

What If I Am in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Being involved in a car crash of any type can be incredibly frightening for anyone involved. And Uber or Lyft accidents are just as stressful and frightening. If you have found yourself in an Uber or Lyft accident, the following are some tips that can help explain the steps you should take:

Immediately seek medical attention. First and foremost, you must take care of your health and receive proper medical care. If you experience injuries or believe you could be hurt, visit the emergency room or call 911. This step is crucial in order to cover any medical expenses related to the crash through a personal injury claim. Documentation of medical records is critical for when the time comes to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Call the Police. Florida requires any accident that caused property damage or physical injury over $500 to be reported to the police. The police report will be an important piece of evidence for your rideshare accident attorney.
Document details. Gather information, including insurance information, from anyone involved in the crash, including your own insurance. Collect names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, each driver’s personal insurance information, and license plate numbers. Accidents are hectic, and things happen quickly. It is very common for injury victims to forget important details regarding the accident. Document the details regarding the crash, such as the time of day, road conditions, the intersection, etc.
Take photographs or videos. If you are able to get photographic evidence, you should document any damage to the vehicles (including your own personal vehicle if involved), any injuries sustained, as well as visible roadway evidence, such as traffic lights, stoplights, or skid marks.
Do not sign anything. After being involved in an accident, it is critical that you do not speak with or agree with any insurance company representative prior to speaking with a personal injury attorney. You should never accept fault or make or sign an official statement regarding the crash.
Contact a rideshare accident attorney. You should immediately contact an experienced Uber or Lyft accident attorney after getting in a Rideshare accident. If you are comfortable speaking with the police, you can contact them first, if not, get an Uber accident attorney on the line right away.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for an Accident Involving an Uber or Lyft?

In a rideshare accident, it can be difficult to prove who is at fault. If a driver in a different vehicle causes the crash, they could be held liable for the accident, and a personal injury claim can be brought against their insurance company. If the at-fault driver was the Uber or Lyft driver, and you were the passenger, you are not held responsible and should be able to make a claim and recover damages from the rideshare company’s insurance policy. If the accident occurred with an off-duty Lyft or Uber driver, the rideshare company would not be held responsible, rather the driver’s personal insurance company would cover the damages.

Rideshare drivers are not employees but rather independent contractors who own, and therefore insure, their own personal vehicles when offering their rideshare services. Rideshare companies, such as Lyft and Uber, do provide drivers with liability coverages, as well as underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage.

For example, Uber offers a breakdown of their insurance policy:

Uber app is turned OFF: In these circumstances, the rideshare driver’s personal auto insurance must be used. The app being turned OFF means they are not on the job, and Uber is not to be held liable for any damage created in an accident.
The rideshare driver is available to work, and the Uber app is turned ON: Uber’s contingent liability coverage and the driver’s personal insurance are available in the case of an accident, Uber’s liability insurance coverage includes $25,000 for property damage and $50,000-$100,000 for injuries.
The rideshare driver is on a trip, and the Uber app is ON: The commercial insurance coverage from the rideshare company is provided, which includes third-party liability of up to $1 million and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage of up to $1 million.

An experienced rideshare accident attorney will help you file a rideshare accident claim to seek rightful compensation, no matter who the liable party is.

Filing an Insurance Claim in Florida for a Lyft or Uber Accident

Insurance coverage for rideshare accident cases can be very confusing. Things become more complicated if the at-fault party does not have car insurance or enough coverage to fully cover the damages.

Florida is a no-fault state, and drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) as part of their insurance policy. When an accident occurs, the insured driver’s PIP is there to cover medical expenses and specific non-medical-related costs. A person looking to qualify for the benefits of PIP through the driver’s insurance carrier must receive medical treatment no more than 14 days after the accident.

Compensation for an Uber or Lyft Rideshare Accident

Whether you recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit or through a settlement, the goal of our dedicated Uber accident attorney is to maximize the compensation amount you receive so you are able to make a full financial and medical recovery. Compensation for an Uber and Lyft auto accident can include the following:

Medical expenses related to the Lyft or Uber car accident which include medical costs such as ambulance rides, medical bills, durable medical equipment, etc.
Lost wages, earnings, and bonuses from missed work due to recovery time.
Pain and suffering
Property damage, where applicable

A Florida rideshare accident attorney will help you collect the documentation needed to prove the damages you suffered in a rideshare vehicle or at the hands of an Uber or Lyft driver.

Wrongful Death Claims

If a loved one faces an unfortunate and untimely death due to a rideshare car accident, the executor of their estate can seek compensation on behalf of the deceased person. An experienced rideshare accident attorney with Englander Peebles will help you prove the liable party owed you a duty of care and that that duty of care was breached.

Evidence in Lyft and Uber Rideshare Accident Cases

When proving liability in an auto accident, proper evidence is crucial to proving fault in the case. Uber and Lyft accidents are no different.

Fortunately, Lyft and Uber keep GPS and electronic records for each driver who is traveling while “on the clock”. This monitoring can help prove whether or not the driver was traveling in a safe manner and within the posted speed limits. Many Lyft and Uber drivers have installed dash cams on their vehicles or have cameras within their personal vehicle that can record outside traffic as well as when passengers have entered or exited their vehicle.

This evidence can be crucial in that both Lyft and Uber rideshare companies have a duty to preserve the information in order to protect both their drivers and passengers. From the moment an accident takes place, Lyft or Uber should immediately be saving that evidence voluntarily. An Uber accident lawyer with our law firm will ensure this critical information is preserved. Our legal team will fight diligently, guaranteeing that all necessary evidence is found and used to fight for your rideshare accident case. Our attorneys will not step down until you have received fair compensation for the injuries you sustained.

Hire an Experienced Florida Rideshare Attorney

If you or a loved one has been in a rideshare accident and sustained damages or permanent injury, the personal injury lawyers at Englander Peebles will help prove liability and explain the process of filing an insurance claim to ensure you receive fair compensation. A Lyft accident attorney is available to provide a free consultation to discuss the details of your case. Contact us today by using our secure online form.