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Home » Bay Harbor Islands Uber + Lyft Car Accident Lawyer

Uber and Lyft drivers throughout Florida use rideshare driving as a full-time or part-time job, but you may be surprised to learn that these drivers are not employees of Uber or Lyft.  In fact, these drivers have little vetting beyond background checks and proof of a valid driver’s license to qualify them to drive.  If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver, there may be a complicated process to seek compensation for the injuries you face.

Call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today if you were involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in South Florida.  Our Bay Harbor Islands Uber and Lyft car accident lawyer, Prosper Shaked, may be able to take your case and fight to get you the compensation you need for injuries and medical expenses.  For your free legal consultation, call our office today at (305) 694-2676.

Whom to Sue for an Uber or Lyft Accident

Suing for an accident involving an Uber or Lyft can be complex.  In cases of taxi accidents or accidents involving other commercial vehicles, you can often sue the driver’s employer alongside the driver for the injuries they caused.  However, Uber and Lyft drivers are not employees of these companies, which means you need to sue them directly.

Uber and Lyft’s drivers are not employed by the rideshare companies.  Instead, they use the app to connect with riders, and Uber and Lyft manage matching the drivers and transmitting their pay.  Uber and Lyft require background checks and driver licensing to put drivers on their apps, and they have certain terms of service for both riders and drivers, but they do not personally employ the drivers.

This means that when a driver causes an accident, you sue the driver instead of Uber or Lyft.  Passengers can sue their driver if the driver causes an accident while they are in the car.  Additionally, drivers and passengers in other cars, as well as pedestrians hit by Uber or Lyft cars, can also sue the driver that hit them directly.  If you were an Uber or Lyft passenger that was injured by another driver on the road, you can sue that driver directly as you would in any other car accident.  In most of these situations, however, Uber or Lyft has an insurance policy that may cover you.

Uber and Lyft’s Insurance Coverage for Injury Victims

Uber and Lyft drivers, their passengers, and other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians injured in an accident may be covered by Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies in the event of an accident involving an Uber or Lyft.  There are 3 situations where the insurance policy may cover the case differently, which our attorney will explain.

When an Uber or Lyft driver is off-duty and does not have the app open, they are treated like any other driver.  This means that they should be held accountable for any accidents they cause, or their no-fault auto insurance can cover them for their injuries.  If you were injured as the victim of one of these crashes, you may be entitled to compensation from the driver or their personal insurance policy.

When an Uber or Lyft driver is on-duty and driving with their app activated, additional insurance coverage may apply.  While the driver is on-duty but has not accepted a ride, any accident they are involved in may get additional coverage of up to $50,000.  These drivers must have their own commercial driver’s insurance or rideshare insurance to cover these accidents, but if the insurance is too low, Uber or Lyft’s additional policy should step in.

Lastly, any time between when a driver accepts a ride and drops off the passenger should be covered by Uber or Lyft’s additional $1 million insurance policy.  This policy covers any accidents that occur while the driver is on the way to pick up a rider or while a rider is in the car.  The insurance policy can typically cover up to $1 million in damages to anyone injured in the accident: the Uber or Lyft driver, the passengers, drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, etc.

Suing for an Uber or Lyft Crash in Florida

Just because Uber and Lyft carry insurance to cover accidents involving their drivers and passengers does not mean that the coverage offered through these insurance policies is always going to cover your needs.  Victims of car accidents may face serious injuries that an insurance policy cannot cover.  Instead, you may need to take your case to court for full coverage.

Insurance policies often cover only limited damages.  Typically, medical expenses and lost wages may be paid at some percentage rather than being reimbursed in full.  In addition, insurance policies rarely cover pain and suffering damages, which can be one of the most substantial parts of a lawsuit.

By filing through insurance or accepting a settlement from the driver, Uber, Lyft, or their insurance policies, you may be limiting your damages.  Talk to an Uber and Lyft accident lawyer for help maximizing the financial compensation in your injury case.

Call Our Bay Harbor Islands Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation

Uber and Lyft accidents can cause substantial injuries and financial damages that you need compensated.  Call Bay Harbor Islands Uber and Lyft accident lawyer Prosper Shaked for help understanding whom to sue in your case and how to get the maximum compensation you are entitled to under the law and available insurance policies.  For help with your case, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today at (305) 694-2676.