UBER/LIFT ACCIDENTS
UBER/LIFT/RIDESHARE ACCIDENTS
Rideshare passengers should understand their rights and the liability in Florida in an Uber or Lyft accident. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft allow passengers to easily hire private drivers directly from their smartphone to pick them up and drive them to their destinations. However, passengers of ridesharing services should be aware of the special considerations that exist concerning liability in Florida in an Uber or Lyft accident. Depending on the situation, passengers may require the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney to help them better understand the liability issues that exist in their case.
Rideshare drivers must have at least $1 million in liability coverage for property damage, physical injury, and death. They must also carry the PIP insurance minimums that apply to all drivers. Even when an Uber or Lyft driver isn’t actively driving a passenger, they still must have $50,000 in physical injury or death liability coverage that applies anytime a driver has the app on to look for a customer.
Passengers involved in an Uber or Lyft accident can look directly to the rideshare insurance policy to receive compensation for any injuries. In the event of a catastrophic injury, the at-fault driver is the party responsible for covering any losses. In the event that the at-fault driver is the Uber or Lyft driver, passengers should look directly to the rideshare company’s insurance policy. Uber or Lyft insurance policies should also cover situations where another driver is at fault but does not have adequate coverage to compensate for losses. In most situations, Uber and Lyft passengers can rely on the $1 million policy required of all major rideshare drivers to cover losses in the event of an accident.In cases where the other driver is at fault, you might find that they don’t have sufficient insurance to cover your losses. In that case, the Uber or Lyft policy should kick in to cover what the other driver can’t cover. If you’re the passenger in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you can rest assured that the $1 million insurance policy should cover losses in almost any situation when you’re riding in a rideshare vehicle.
Florida law requires that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft carefully vet their drivers by conducting background checks on all new applicants. In the event that a rideshare company does not follow safeguards, passengers may have an additional claim against the rideshare company for their failure to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their drivers. Moreover, all rideshare drivers are required to have a valid driver’s license. Where a working driver is suspected of a disqualifying traffic offense, they are suspended from their ridesharing driving privileges until the allegations are resolved. This is true even if the allegations arose from an incident unrelated to their driving for the rideshare company. Passengers who believe that a rideshare driver was not properly vetted should consult with an experienced car accident attorney to investigate what liability may exist in their case.
If you are the Driver of a ride share vehicle the insurance policy may not cover your personal losses if you’re at fault for an accident. You should carefully read your personal insurance policy and your rideshare company’s insurance guarantees to make sure that you have the coverage that you want and need for your rideshare business.
At Nardi and Nardi I understand An accident with an Uber or Lyft can be confusing. Whether you’re the driver, the passenger or in another vehicle, you may not know what to do to get the compensation that you deserve. Remember we have free consultations and WE GET nothing if you don't recover. Find out how we can help you. Call +1 407 4780074, email us, or complete our contact form, in Orlando for a free case evaluation.