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Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have dramatically changed the transportation industry over the past several years. In many respects, these services have taken the place of traditional taxis. Like anyone else who operates a motor vehicle on public roads, rideshare drivers have a “duty” under state law to act lawfully and responsibly behind the wheel. Any violation of that duty can—and unfortunately often does—lead to traffic collisions with serious repercussions.
Pursuing financial recovery after Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents in Wellington works somewhat differently than the recovery process for most other types of auto accidents. Unique legal factors often make it more challenging for injured people to achieve a favorable outcome. Fortunately, you have help available from a knowledgeable car accident lawyer with the experience you may need to enforce your rights and secure the best possible case resolution.
Unlike drivers for traditional taxi companies, rideshare drivers are classified as “independent contractors” rather than employees. This status means—among many other things—that it is typically impossible to sue a rideshare company directly over a wreck caused by one of their drivers. However, that does not mean that it is impossible to get any compensation from these companies. Uber and Lyft both have extensive insurance policies that cover their drivers and often play a significant role in Wellington rideshare accident claims.
If a rideshare driver who is logged into their respective app is transporting a paying customer or has accepted a ride request and is driving to pick that rider up, both Uber and Lyft provide several options and what is available may depend on what the Uber/Lyft driver selected for insurance coverage. There may be up to $1,000,000 of third-party liability insurance coverage for property damage and personal injury caused by any ensuing wreck involving that driver. If a rideshare driver is logged into their app but has not yet accepted a ride request, both Uber and Lyft still provide some amount of insurance coverage, but the coverage limits may be reduced to $50,000 for individual bodily injury, $100,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for total property damage per accident. Rideshare drivers do not have any insurance coverage through Uber or Lyft if they get into a wreck while they are logged out of their app.
Between the insurance policies held by rideshare drivers and the no-fault car insurance rules in Wellington, recovering financially after a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver typically centers around insurance claims. In general, an injured person’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage through their auto insurance policy should cover most of their medical bills and a substantial portion of lost work wages.
Recovery for other damages, such as lost future working capacity, physical pain, and psychological suffering, can be more complicated. As a skilled legal professional could further explain, an injured person’s ability to seek compensation for these losses may depend on their injuries and the specific insurance coverage they are eligible for. Third-party litigation may be an option in cases involving catastrophic or fatal injuries.
Rideshare drivers are supposed to be thoroughly vetted before they are allowed to carry passengers. Unfortunately, that does not stop Uber and Lyft workers from being involved in a surprising number of crashes around Florida each year, many of which have life-altering repercussions.
When you are involved in an Uber/Lyft/rideshare accident in Wellington, you may face challenges pursuing compensation if you try to take legal action by yourself. Call Aronberg & Aronberg, Injury Law Firm, to learn how a seasoned accident attorney could help you.
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