Did you recently get hurt in a Miami car accident involving a rideshare driver for a company like Uber or Lyft? If so, you might be dealing with serious injuries and mounting medical expenses. Whether a rideshare accident injured you as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle or a driver in your own car, you could have a right to seek compensation for your losses.
You might feel overwhelmed after an accident involving an Uber or Lyft, but luckily, you are not alone. An experienced Miami ridesharing accident lawyer can evaluate your situation and pursue the money you need for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses from a crash. Depending on the circumstances, you could file a third-party insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries and other accident-related expenses.
But without help from a Miami ridesharing accident lawyer, navigating the legal system and getting the outcome you deserve is likely to present insurmountable challenges.
That’s where Redemption Law comes in. Our Miami legal team has experience with all types of accident cases, including ridesharing accident cases. We have the skills and resources to pursue maximum compensation for crash victims like you, and we will work tirelessly to get you the money you need. We offer free initial case reviews without any obligation, so don’t hesitate to contact us and get started.
Miami Ridesharing Accident Guide
Why Choose Redemption Law?
Ridesharing accidents are all too common, and many are preventable. Despite the increase in ridesharing accidents, the laws around liability can be confusing. Getting help from a lawyer who understands this complex legal area is crucial to getting the best possible outcome.
At Redemption Law, our team has years of experience helping injury victims in Miami. We have recovered millions of dollars in fair compensation for clients like you, injured by rideshare drivers.
When you hire our firm, you can rest assured that you will receive personalized attention and guidance from our down-to-earth legal team throughout your case. We will discuss your needs and goals to determine the best legal strategy for your case. That way, we can advocate for your rights and pursue the money you deserve. Let us take care of the legal details so you can focus on healing from your injuries.
With a convenient office location in Miami Lakes, our firm is easily accessible to clients in the surrounding area. Redemption Law offers free initial consultation sessions to discuss your case with a ridesharing accident attorney and get the legal answers you need with no obligation to move forward. Our team is ready to help when you need us, so contact our firm today to get started with your free consultation.
Compensation for Ridesharing Accident Injuries
Florida has a no-fault auto insurance law, meaning motorists must file a claim with their own insurance provider to seek compensation for their injuries after an accident, no matter who is at fault.
Your mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will cover up to 80 percent of your medical bills and up to 60 percent of wage losses after a crash, up to the limits of your policy. But PIP insurance may not cover all your losses after a ridesharing accident, so it’s essential to speak to a lawyer who can determine how much compensation you could recover.
If the rideshare driver caused the accident, you could file an injury claim with their auto insurance policy or that of the ridesharing company, provided you suffered serious injuries. A third-party liability claim allows you to recover more compensation than your PIP benefits, such as full coverage for your medical bills and money for pain and suffering.
Miami Ridesharing Accident Facts and Statistics
Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft have experienced massive surges in popularity since their launch in 2010, facilitating billions of ride requests worldwide in little more than a decade. These services have been particularly popular in Miami for several reasons, including Miami’s constant stream of tourist traffic, numerous popular attractions, and vibrant nightlife.
Ridesharing companies market their services as a safer, cheaper, and more convenient alternative to private and public transportation, but studies suggest the opposite might be true. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently examined the correlation between ridesharing trips and injury accident rates in cities throughout the United States.
The CDC’s findings indicate that injury crash rates go up when ridesharing services debut in new cities. Furthermore, research suggests that injuries from ridesharing accidents outweigh the benefits of ridesharing services, such as fewer drunk drivers.
State legislators enacted laws to address the growing presence and dangers of ridesharing services in Florida. Specifically, recent legislation requires ridesharing companies to conduct driver background checks and comply with strict insurance coverage requirements.
Types of Ridesharing Accidents and Ridesharing Accident Injuries
Rideshare drivers do not have formal training or licensing, so they are just as likely to cause accidents as other drivers.
Common ridesharing accidents in Miami, Florida, include:
- Distracted driving accidents
- Drowsy driving accidents
- Speeding accidents
- Tailgating accidents
- Blind spot accidents
- Failure to yield accidents
- Loss of control accidents
- Head on collisions
- Sideswipe crashes
- T bone accidents
- Read end collisions
- Rollover accidents
An accident with a rideshare driver can leave crash victims with severe and possibly life-threatening injuries, such as:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Seatbelt and airbag injuries
- Abdominal and internal injuries
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Soft tissue strains and sprains
- Emotional and psychological injuries
Filing an Insurance Claim After a Ridesharing Accident
If a ridesharing accident injures you, you should file a claim with your PIP insurance provider to cover your medical bills and lost wages from the crash. However, your PIP coverage might be insufficient for all your crash-related losses.
If so, an attorney can help you file an insurance claim with the rideshare driver’s insurance policy. Florida law requires drivers and ridesharing companies to maintain minimum liability insurance coverage. The minimum amounts will vary depending on which “phase” of work the driver is in during an accident.
Let’s review the different types and amounts of liability insurance coverage available in these common ridesharing accident scenarios:
- You get hurt in a ridesharing accident as a ridesharing passenger. If you get injured in an accident while riding in a ridesharing vehicle as a passenger, the ridesharing company’s insurance should cover your injuries. Under Florida law, ridesharing companies must maintain at least $1 million per accident in liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. This coverage kicks in as soon as the ridesharing driver accepts your ride request and remains in place for as long as the trip is active on the ridesharing app.
- You get hurt in an accident with a driver carrying a passenger. If you get injured in an accident caused by a ridesharing driver carrying a passenger, but you are not a passenger, the ridesharing company’s full liability insurance policy should still apply. Because the ridesharing driver has an active fare in this scenario, the same $1 million per accident liability coverage should apply.
- You get hurt in a ridesharing accident with a driver en route to a fare. If you get injured in an accident caused by a ridesharing driver on their way to pick up a fare from the ridesharing app, the ridesharing company’s full liability insurance policy should still cover you. Ridesharing drivers who are on their way to passengers are active for the purposes of insurance coverage, so the $1 million per accident liability coverage still applies.
- You get hurt in a ridesharing accident with a driver logged into the app. If you get injured in a ridesharing accident caused by a ridesharing driver logged into the app, but without a fare or passenger, a more limited ridesharing insurance policy would kick in. In this situation, Florida law requires ridesharing companies to provide at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and at least $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage. This coverage goes into effect when a ridesharing driver logs into the app and is available for ride requests.
- You get hurt in an accident with a ridesharing driver logged out of the app. If you get injured in an accident with a rideshare driver not logged into the ridesharing app at the time of the crash, the only liability coverage available would be the ridesharing driver’s auto insurance. According to Florida law, if the driver’s insurance has lapsed or does not provide the required coverage, the ridesharing company’s insurance provider might be on the hook.
As you can see, it’s tricky to determine which types of insurance coverage are available after a ridesharing accident. The primary concern for ridesharing companies and insurance providers is to protect their bottom lines by minimizing the amount they pay for injury claims. That’s why working with an experienced ridesharing accident attorney who can explain your rights and negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement is essential.
What to Do If You Get Hurt in a Ridesharing Accident
After a ridesharing accident, your priority should be your health. If you didn’t receive emergency care or go to the doctor right after the wreck, you should seek medical attention immediately. Not only is this important for your health, but it will also protect your right to claim compensation for your injuries. Florida law requires you to seek medical care within 14 days of an accident if you wish to claim PIP benefits, so don’t delay.
Once your condition is stable, protect your legal rights and get started on your injury claim by:
- Following your doctor’s care plan
- Attending follow-up medical appointments as necessary
- Documenting the details of your recovery in a pain diary
- Gathering photos and physical evidence from the crash scene
- Asking the ridesharing driver for contact and insurance details
- Politely requesting statements and contact details from witnesses
- Keeping copies of medical records and other vital documents
- Watching what you say to the insurance company about the crash
- Refraining from posting anything online while your case is pending
- Contacting an injury lawyer before you speak to anyone else
Ridesharing Accident FAQs
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit after a Florida ridesharing accident.
Can I Still File a Claim If I Was Partially at Fault for the Rideshare Accident?
Yes. If you have PIP insurance, you can file a PIP claim no matter who was at fault for the accident. If you have grounds for a third-party claim against an at-fault driver, you can still file even if you are partially at fault. A lawyer can review your case and determine which claims you can file.
Can I Sue the Rideshare Company Directly After an Accident?
It depends on the circumstances, so you should contact an attorney to review all the evidence after a rideshare accident. You might have grounds to sue a rideshare company for negligence if the company failed to comply with laws around hiring and employing drivers and an unsafe driver causes an accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Ridesharing Accident?
You have four years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against a liable party. If you miss the four-year deadline, you could lose your right to pursue compensation in civil court, so it’s always a good idea to talk to a knowledgeable lawyer who can keep your case on track.
Contact a Ridesharing Accident Lawyer in Miami
Don’t navigate the aftermath of a rideshare accident alone. Let the trusted team at Redemption Law evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and pursue the compensation you deserve. For more information, reach out to a Miami personal injury lawyer. We can handle all the details so that you can focus on healing from your injuries and moving forward. Contact a ridesharing accident lawyer with Redemption Law at (305) 465-3425 to get started with your free initial case review.