Who Pays When You’re Hurt in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Florida?

When an individual injured in a car accident involving a Florida rideshare driver seeks justice, it is critical to understand how to protect themselves and their rights. Ultimately, this subject revolves around the question: Who pays for the injured party’s medical bills and any other damages suffered in the accident?

Check the App Status of the Rideshare Driver to Determine Liability

A rideshare driver may bear all, some, or no fault (liability) for the injuries suffered by another person in a car accident. 

For example, if an Uber or Lyft driver was not involved in picking up, driving, or dropping off a passenger, then responsibility rests entirely with the driver and their auto insurance. Essentially, there are four “statuses” for a rideshare driver when it comes to use of the various applications:

1. Rideshare Driver Not Logged Into an App: In this situation, an Uber or Lyft driver is simply out for a ride on their own time- a private citizen, more or less. If another driver is injured in an accident with an “off-duty” rideshare driver, then the off-duty driver’s personal auto insurance policy is the one that matters most. 
2. Rideshare Driver Is Logged Into an App and Waiting for a Ride: Here, Florida law requires a driver to carry auto insurance with at least $50,000 of coverage per person for death and bodily injury. In total, $100,000 must be carried if more than one person has been injured due to the rideshare driver’s negligence. $25,000 must also be available for property damage purposes.
3. When a rideshare driver has accepted a rider and is on the way to pick him up: at least $1 million of liability coverage plus personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist provisions (UM).
4. Lastly, when the rideshare driver has a rider in their vehicle, $1 million in liability coverage still applies. From the moment the Uber or Lyft driver accepts a ride until that person is dropped off, Florida law treats the situation as a single period of time.

How Does an Injury Victim Prove the App-Status of the Rideshare Driver?

The “app-status” of the rideshare driver is of primary importance in determining which insurance policy is potentially on the hook for paying damages. 

However, many rideshare accident cases involve insurance companies who attempt to withhold an acceptance of fault. Fortunately, Uber and Lyft are required to provide an injury victim with the number of times he has logged in to and out of the app. 

If a person was injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft ride, the individual must refer to their ride receipt to establish a firm timeline of events. Anything that came across your phone’s screen should be saved for possible future use.

Contact Difilippo & Pica, PLLC for a free Case Review.

Difilippo & Pica, PLLC, Southwest Florida Uber and Lyft accident lawyer, serves injury victims. Contact our office today for a free case review.