Uber and Lyft are the top two rideshare companies in the United States. With so many of these cars on the road, it is no surprise that these vehicles are involved in a large number of accidents every year. If you were involved in an accident with a driver for one of these companies, a Palm Beach Uber and Lyft accident lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation.
Unfortunately, these companies have learned how to minimize their liability in these cases, making it difficult for victims to recover damages. The car accident attorneys at the Schiller Kessler Group have extensive experience helping victims get the money they need. Contact us today by phone or through our site to get a free consultation with a Palm Beach rideshare accident attorney.
Determining Liability in Uber and Lyft Accident Cases
The first thing you must do in your pursuit of compensation after a Lyft or Uber accident is to determine who is at fault for your damages. Unfortunately, these companies are set up to minimize their liability in the event of a crash. One of the ways they do this is by classifying their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees of the companies.
This distinction makes it so that the driver is generally responsible for covering damages after a collision. However, you need to understand that in some cases, you can still recover compensation from Lyft and Uber, and their insurance providers. An Uber and Lyft accident attorney in Palm Beach can help you figure out your options.
You also need to realize that the rideshare driver, Uber, and Lyft are not the only potentially liable parties after an accident. Some of the parties most commonly at-fault for an accident involving Uber and Lyft vehicles include:
- The rideshare company
- The driver of the rideshare car
- The driver of another vehicle involved in the crash
- A third-party whose actions led to the wreck but who was not directly involved
If the Lyft or Uber driver is determined to have been at fault for the accident, your first option for recovering damages will depend on your status at the time of the accident. Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that if you were driving another involved vehicle, you must file a claim with your insurer to get money from your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
However, if you were a passenger or a pedestrian involved in the accident, your first place to turn will be to file a claim with the driver’s insurance provider. If your damages exceed these coverage limits, you may be able to get the rest of the money you need through the insurance coverage of Lyft or Uber or by filing a lawsuit against the driver or rideshare company.
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Take Action Before the Filing Deadline
When attempting to recover damages through a lawsuit after an Uber or Lyft accident, it is critical that you pay attention to the applicable statute of limitations.
In Florida, the personal injury statute of limitations was altered in 2023, cutting the time that accident victims have to file a lawsuit in half. In most cases, the statute of limitations is now two years from the date of the accident – down from four. A Palm Beach Lyft and Uber accident lawyer can help ensure all the required paperwork is filed on time.
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Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage
When attempting to recover compensation after a crash, it is critical that you know how the insurance policies of Lyft and Uber are structured. These companies function with the same basic setup for their insurance coverage. One of the components of this setup is requiring that their drivers carry their own insurance coverage.
The insurance policy carried by the drivers will serve as the initial place to turn for coverage after an accident. However, you may also be able to collect compensatory damages from the insurance policies of Lyft and Uber. The main determiner of whether or not this insurance coverage comes into effect is the working status of the rideshare driver at the time of the crash.
Insurance Coverage When Driver Is Not Logged in
If the Uber or Lyft driver who caused the crash was not logged into the rideshare app when the accident occurred, the company holds no level of liability for the crash, and their insurance policy is not activated.
In these cases, if your damages exceed the coverage limits of the driver, your only option for recovering further compensation will be through a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.
Insurance Coverage When Driver Is Logged in but Has Not Accepted a Ride
When the Uber or Lyft driver is logged into the rideshare app but has not yet accepted a ride at the time of the crash, the company’s insurance coverage will come into limited effect.
In this case, your first option for recovering compensation will still be to file a claim with the driver’s insurance provider. However, should your damages exceed their coverage limits, you can file an additional claim with the insurance provider of the rideshare company.
You need to understand, though, that the coverage from the rideshare company’s insurance will be minimal in this case, meaning that you may still need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover the full value of your claim.
Insurance Coverage When the Driver Is Logged in and Has Accepted a Ride
If the Lyft or Uber driver who caused the accident is logged into the rideshare app and has accepted a ride at the time of your accident, the company’s insurance policy will come into full effect. This is the case whether the driver has picked up the passenger already or not.
As in all these cases, your first option will still be filing with the driver’s insurance provider.
However, coverage of up to $1,000,000 will be available from the Uber or Lyft insurance policy should your injuries exceed the coverage limits of the driver.
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Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With an Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer in Palm Beach Today
At SKG, we have a long history of helping accident victims secure favorable results after an accident. Contact us today by completing our online contact form or giving us a call and schedule your free case review with a member of our legal team.
Call or text 800-350-3476 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form