What if I’m Injured in an Accident With a Rideshare Service in Miami?

What if I’m Injured in an Accident With a Rideshare Service in Miami?

Whether you are a passenger, a driver, or any other road user involved in an accident with a ridesharing company such as Uber or Lyft, you should familiarize yourself the legal options you have. Both Uber and Lyft are required by the law to have coverage policies of up to $1,000,000. This covers all a passenger’s injuries even when the crash resulted from a driver who did not have insurance (uninsured/underinsured motorists). However, both Uber and Lyft maintain that you cannot sue for damages exceeding 1 million dollars.

Since the ridesharing industry is relatively new and is still growing and maturing, a significant number of insurance companies take advantage of claim confusion to avoid liability. Read on to understand how ridesharing injury claims work and the roles of a lawyer in helping you seek compensation for Uber and Lyft injuries.

Uber’s Insurance Policies

Uber’s insurance policy is structured into three parts to cover for damages caused to drivers, passengers, and third parties.

When an Uber driver is not available to carry passengers, he or she is covered by his or her auto insurance. When a driver is available to pick customers but has not picked up a passenger yet, he or she will be covered by his or her insurance cover, plus an additional contingent liability coverage. Such coverage can go up to $50,000 per injury, and 100,000 for all injuries.

Uber also has a $25,000 policy for property damages if the personal insurance of a driver is not enough to cover for losses sustained in an accident.

Finally, Uber drivers who are carrying a passenger are usually covered by a $1,000,000 underinsured/uninsured coverage policy from Uber.

Lyft’s Insurance Policy

Like Uber, Lyft’s insurance policy has a $1,000,000 policy limit per accident. This applies when the Lyft application is in driver mode. Lyft’s contingent liability cover has been designed to step in when the driver’s personal insurance proves to be insufficient to cover accident damages. The policy also features a $50,000 limit per injured person and a $100,000 coverage limit per accident. Finally, Lyft offers a maximum property damage cover limit of up to $25,000 per accident.

Personal Injury Protection Might Protect Some Ridesharing Accident Victims

According to Florida law, all motorists should have PIP (Personal Injury Protection) cover. This cover is meant to protect the driver if he or she is injured in an accident and see to it that they do not have to worry about lost income or medical expenses. To file a PIP claim, you should first ensure you get medical attention within 14 days after an accident.

In case your car gets into an accident with an Uber of Lyft vehicle, your personal injury protection will give you coverage up to a maximum of $10,000.

How to Determine Fault in Uber and Lyft Injuries

Like any other auto injury situation, the approach to proving fault for ridesharing accidents follows the same process. You need to show that the party responsible for your accident breached the duty of care he/she owed you, and from the breach, an accident that led to injuries occurred. Liable parties in a ridesharing company could be:

  • The Uber or Lyft driver.
  • The ride-sharing company.
  • Other road users – motorists, motorcyclists, and so on.

Gathering Evidence for a Rideshare Injury Claim

The first step to succeeding in any legal suit is collecting enough evidence for your case. A lot of rideshare accident evidence may be gathered from:

  • Police reports
  • Accident reconstruction official’s statements
  • Witness testimonies
  • At-fault driver’s recordings in which they admit to fault
  • Accident scene photos
  • Surveillance camera footages
  • Driver phone activity
  • Dashboard camera recordings

What Can You Claim From Uber and Lyft Injuries?

If you have suffered injuries resulting from a rideshare accident, you can claim damages that include:

  • All medical bills incurred from the crash
  • Deprived enjoyment of life
  • Loss of income
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Loss of consortium
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • A potential loss of inheritance in the event of a wrongful death
  • Funeral and burial expenses

Talk to an Award-Winning Uber and Lyft injury Lawyer in Miami

Laws pertaining to ridesharing accidents are quite complex, and if you want to succeed in your claim, you need to have a skilled lawyer by your side.

Whether you are a ridesharing passenger, driver, or a third party who sustained injuries from an accident, our lawyers can help you get the right compensation. Tell us about the nature of your personal injury by calling 305-928-2909. From there, we will schedule a free no-obligation consultation to help you understand your legal options.