Uber & Lyft Rideshare Accident Attorneys in Florida
The southern Florida Uber & Lyft accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., can help you recover after a crash involving an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle. Our dedicated rideshare accident legal team has decades of experience recovering damages from negligent drivers and their employers. We stand toe-to-toe with insurance providers, defense attorneys, and anyone else who stands in the way of you receiving full compensation for the harm that you and your family have suffered as a result of a Florida rideshare car crash.
Who is Liable After an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Proving liability after an Uber or Lyft crash can be tricky. Rideshare companies provide insurance coverage and take responsibility for accidents caused by their drivers under certain circumstances. Ideally, after a collision, you would be able to hold the rideshare company responsible, as they are more likely to have a more robust insurance policy that will fully cover your injuries and other damages. If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft and another driver causes a crash, you would likely pursue claims against the other driver and their insurer. If you were a passenger in an Uber and the Uber driver caused a crash, you are probably not at fault and should be able to recover damages. If you were hit by an off-duty Uber or Lyft driver, however, fault is more complicated.
Whether Uber or Lyft will voluntarily take responsibility for an accident caused by one of their drivers depends on when and how the accident occurred. It is helpful to look at the insurance policy the companies offer their drivers. Uber, for example, splits its policy coverage into three time periods:
- The Uber app is on, and the driver is on a trip. Uber maintains a commercial insurance policy for drivers who get into accidents in the middle of a trip. The policy includes up to $1 million in third-party liability and another $1 million in uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
- The Uber app is on, but the driver is between trips. The driver’s insurance coverage, as well as Uber’s, may come into play. Uber maintains smaller coverage, up to $50,000 to $100,000 for injuries and $25,000 for property damage caused by accidents in this “gray area” period.
- The Uber app is off, and the driver is off-duty. Uber’s insurance policy will not cover a driver who is in an accident while off-duty, even if they were on-duty earlier that day. You would likely pursue claims against the driver in their individual capacity.
Rideshare accident liability is a complex issue, and Florida’s personal injury, traffic accident, and insurance laws will further complicate matters. Discuss your Uber or Lyft accident with a knowledgeable and experienced Florida Uber & Lyft accident attorney to evaluate the best course of action for seeking the maximum recovery for your injuries and other damages.
Your Uber or Lyft Driver May Be Ignoring an Auto Safety Recall
Auto manufacturers issue safety recalls when they discover that cars they have sold possess a serious defect that can impact the safety of drivers and passengers operating their vehicles. Recalls may be voluntary from the manufacturer or may be ordered by state or federal governments. Recalls, however, are not mandatory for drivers: Drivers must choose to comply with a recall to get a car repaired or replaced. A recent study of over 90,000 rideshare vehicles in certain targeted cities discovered shocking news: Nearly one in six Uber and Lyft drivers were operating vehicles subject to open safety recalls.
The study found that around 16 percent of rideshare drivers were operating vehicles that were subject to safety recalls for defects ranging from potential seat-belt detachment to possible engine failure which, if triggered while actively driving at high speeds, could easily lead to a catastrophic accident. Many of the vehicles were subject to multiple recalls.
Uber and Lyft have stated that they encourage drivers to fix any open recalls and that they will block vehicles with an outstanding “DO NOT DRIVE” notice from either the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That hardly accounts for all identified safety issues, however. If you were hurt in a rideshare accident that involved a car subject to an ignored safety recall, you might be entitled to significant compensation from the driver and the rideshare company. Ignoring known safety issues may even be grounds for an award of punitive damages. A knowledgeable Florida rideshare accident lawyer can help you investigate the circumstances of your Uber or Lyft crash and determine if a known manufacturing defect played a role.
Get Help After a Florida Rideshare Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Naples, Orlando, or throughout Collier and Orange Counties, the dedicated and talented Florida Uber & Lyft accident legal team at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., is ready to handle your claims. Contact our Naples law office today at 239-649-8050 for a free consultation, and find out whether you may be entitled to damages after your Florida rideshare accident.
