Tampa Rideshare Lawyer

Being involved in a rideshare accident can be confusing, especially when it comes to understanding who is responsible and how to get the compensation you deserve. If you've been hurt in an accident involving a rideshare driver like an Uber or Lyft driver, it’s important to understand your legal rights and how to handle your insurance claims.

Fiol & Morros Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers is here to help you with all aspects of your rideshare accident case. We assist injury victims in getting the compensation they deserve for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other damages.

Our experienced personal injury lawyers are ready to help you with Florida law, insurance issues, and the legal process involved in your accident claims.

What Is a Rideshare Accident?

A rideshare accident happens when a rideshare driver causes a crash while driving for a service like Uber or Lyft. This can involve passengers in the rideshare vehicle, another driver, or pedestrians.

Determining liability coverage in these cases can be tricky, but our lawyers are here to guide you through it.

Common Rideshare Accidents

• Rear-End Accidents: These occur when a rideshare driver hits the car in front, often due to distracted driving or reckless driving.
• Head-On Crashes: A rideshare driver may collide head-on with another vehicle due to driving negligence or a moment of inattention.
• T-bone Accidents: These occur when a rideshare driver runs a red light or stop sign, causing a collision with the side of another car.
• Pedestrian Accidents: Rideshare drivers may fail to yield to pedestrians, leading to catastrophic injuries for those walking.
• Single Vehicle Accidents: Sometimes, the rideshare driver loses control of the vehicle, often due to driver fatigue or drunk driving.

Who Is Liable in a Rideshare Accident?

Determining who is liable in a rideshare accident can be difficult. The responsibility for the accident might fall on the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, or even a third party like another driver.

Rideshare Driver Liability

The rideshare driver can be held responsible for the accident if they were driving recklessly or made a mistake, like texting while driving or running a red light. If the driver was at fault, their insurance coverage may help pay for your medical bills, property damage, and other losses.

However, the driver's personal auto insurance may not cover everything, especially if they were not following traffic laws.

Rideshare Company Liability

The rideshare company, like Lyft or Uber, can also be responsible in certain cases. If the driver was working for the company when the accident happened, the company’s insurance might help cover your damages.

If the company did not properly screen the driver or failed to take action when they knew the driver was unsafe, the company might also be at fault for the accident.

Third-Party Liability

Sometimes, the person who caused the accident is not the rideshare driver or the rideshare company, but someone else entirely. This is called third-party liability. If another driver caused the crash, their auto insurance should cover your damages.

A Tampa rideshare lawyer can help you determine who is at fault and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Rideshare Insurance Coverage in Tampa

Understanding how rideshare insurance coverage works is important after an accident. The coverage depends on whether the rideshare driver is logged into the app and whether they’re on a ride.

Here's how insurance works in different situations and what type of coverage you may be entitled to in a rideshare accident.

Insurance Coverage While the App Is Off

When the rideshare driver is not using the app and not actively working, their personal auto insurance applies. This means the driver’s regular car insurance will cover the accident, but it may not cover everything, especially if the driver has limited coverage. The rideshare company’s insurance will not apply until the driver is logged into the app.

Insurance Coverage While the App Is On

When the rideshare driver is logged into the app but has not yet picked up a passenger, Lyft or Uber’s insurance will cover the accident. This insurance provides some liability coverage for injuries or damage caused while waiting for a ride request. However, the coverage is not as extensive as when the driver is actively giving a ride.

Insurance Coverage During a Ride

When the rideshare driver is actively transporting a passenger, Lyft’s or Uber’s full insurance coverage applies. This includes bodily injury liability, property damage coverage, and personal injury protection (PIP). It helps pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages if the driver is at fault during the ride.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If the driver who caused the accident does not have enough insurance or no insurance at all, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can help cover your medical expenses and damages. This coverage may come from the rideshare company or your own insurance policy, depending on the situation.

Types of Compensation You May Recover in a Rideshare Accident Case

If you’ve been involved in a rideshare accident, there are several types of compensation you may be entitled to. These damages can include economic and non-economic damages, as well as in rare cases, punitive damages.

Economic Damages

• Medical bills: Compensation for hospital visits, surgeries, and therapy
• Lost wages: If you missed work because of your injuries.
• Property damage: Compensation for car repairs or replacement.

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional pain.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: If the accident prevents you from doing things you used to enjoy.
• Emotional distress: For the mental impact of the accident.

Punitive Damages

In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the driver or the rideshare company’s actions were particularly reckless or intentional. These damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar actions in the future.

How Our Tampa Rideshare Lawyer Can Help You

Dealing with a rideshare accident claim can be difficult, especially when it involves multiple insurance companies and legal complexities. Here’s how we can help you.

Investigating the Accident Thoroughly

We will gather all the evidence needed to support your case, including police reports, witness testimony, and accident reports. Our team will review the accident scene, the driver’s background check, and any other key details to build a strong case.

Navigating Complex Insurance Claims

We handle all communications with the insurance carrier to make sure your claim is filed properly and promptly. Our team is experienced in dealing with both personal injury protection (PIP) and liability insurance claims.

Fighting for Maximum Compensation

We will fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. We know how to deal with Lyft or Uber’s insurance policies and are ready to take your case to court if necessary.

FAQs

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Tampa Rideshare Lawyer

If you've been involved in a rideshare accident, Fiol & Morros Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers are here to help. Our experienced personal injury lawyers offer a case review to evaluate your personal injury claims and explain your options for seeking compensation. Whether you were injured in a Lyft accident, Uber accident, or any other auto accident, we will guide you through the legal representation process.

We understand how confusing the claims process can be, and we are committed to making it as simple as possible for you. From handling insurance claims to filing a personal injury lawsuit, we will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward recovering the damages you are entitled to.