Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare Accident Lawyer Serving St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa Bay
A rideshare accident lawyer identifies which insurance policy applies to your Uber or Lyft crash, documents which coverage period the driver was in, and pursues every available source of compensation. Phillips, Hayden & Labbee, LLP handles rideshare injury claims throughout Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area, and consultations are always free.
How Rideshare Insurance Works in Florida
Driver status at time of crash | Coverage that applies |
|---|---|
App off | The driver’s personal auto policy only. The claim proceeds like an ordinary Florida car accident. |
App on, waiting for a ride request | Primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for death and bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. |
En route to a pickup or transporting a rider | Primary liability coverage of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury, and property damage. |
Who Can Bring a Rideshare Injury Claim
- Rideshare passengers injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft
- Drivers and passengers of other vehicles struck by a rideshare driver
- Pedestrians and cyclists hit by a rideshare vehicle
- Rideshare drivers injured by another motorist’s negligence
- Families pursuing wrongful death claims after a fatal rideshare crash
Why Rideshare Claims Are Harder Than They Look
Three layers of complexity separate these cases from ordinary crashes. First, coverage disputes: insurers on both sides have an incentive to argue the driver was in a lower-coverage period, and the evidence that settles the question lives on company servers. Second, rideshare drivers are generally classified as independent contractors under Florida law, so claims typically proceed through the insurance policies required by section 627.748 rather than directly against the company. Third, Florida’s no-fault rules still apply: your own personal injury protection coverage under section 627.736 is generally the first source for your medical bills, and you must seek initial treatment within 14 days to preserve those benefits.
To recover pain and suffering damages, your injury generally must meet the serious injury threshold in section 627.737, such as a permanent injury or significant scarring. Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule under section 768.81 also reduces your recovery by any share of fault assigned to you and bars recovery entirely above 50 percent, and most claims must be filed within two years under section 95.11.
What Compensation Can Cover
- Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and future medical treatment
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life where the injury threshold is met
- Property damage to your vehicle and belongings
- Funeral expenses and survivor damages in wrongful death cases
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Call 911 and get a police report. Screenshot the trip screen, driver profile, and receipt in the app before anything changes. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries. Seek medical care within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits. Report the crash through the app, but do not give recorded statements to any insurer before speaking with an attorney. Then contact us; the consultation is free.