These days, getting to where you need to be has become easier than ever. Apps like Uber and Lyft have become incredibly popular for ridesharing. Many individuals value the convenience and price tag of these ridesharing apps. Ordering an Uber or a Lyft is straightforward and thousands of people do it every day. These transportation giants have helped to put a large number of cars on the road, with the goal of safely transporting passengers from one place to another.
From San Francisco to Miami and even overseas, these automobiles and ridesharing services abound. Accidents, however, inevitably happen with Uber or Lyft cars, just like with every other automobile on the road. If an accident occurred involving a ridesharing car, you might be wondering if you should file a vehicle accident claim or personal injury case. The experienced lawyers at Kaire & Heffernan are here to help and will make sure you recover the compensation you deserve.
Understanding Accident Claims Involving Uber and Lyft
When someone is injured or property is damaged in a vehicle accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver, the first thing to consider is who is liable. The liability in these incidents is entirely dependent on the circumstances, which can make determining who’s to blame a difficult task. Furthermore, an Uber or Lyft accident victim must show that the negligent party is responsible for the incident and that his or her carelessness led to the accident.
A plaintiff must build a personal injury claim for compensation based on proving that the driver was irresponsible or negligent. This applies to passengers in Uber or Lyft vehicles and drivers and passengers of cars or pedestrians hit by an Uber or Lyft vehicle.
Hiring an experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can help you best pursue legal action following an Uber or Lyft accident. With the right law firm on your side, you can substantially increase the likelihood of your claim being successful and ensure you receive fair compensation.
If you or someone you know has been hurt in an Uber or Lyft automobile accident, Kaire & Heffernan, a personal injury law firm with seasoned Uber accident attorneys and Lyft vehicle accident lawyers, can help you out. Our attorneys will assist you in navigating the whole legal procedure, conduct a thorough inquiry into the accident, find pieces of evidence to show that the Uber or Lyft driver was negligent, and handle negotiations with the insurance company to make sure you get a fair settlement and recover compensation for medical bills and other damages.
Liability for Uber and Lyft Accidents: What You Need To Know
Uber and Lyft rides are not legally considered taxi services, and this bears a legal ramification for any accident victims. It simply means that they are not liable for accidents in the same way as taxis. What is the difference?
In the eye of the law, Uber and Lyft are not classified as a taxi or private transportation businesses. Contrary to what many people think, they are regarded as software firms. One reason they are classified in this way is because they provide software that allows individuals to request rides from independent drivers. A second reason is that Uber and Lyft do not directly employ their drivers. Instead, their drivers are considered independent contractors.
Uber and Lyft do provide some insurance to people who drive with their apps. If someone has an Uber accident or Lyft accident involving any of their drivers, they should be taken care of by insurance company coverage provided by Uber or Lyft. If the driver does not have insurance, Uber or Lyft will have to step in to take care of it. The accident victims, however, cannot sue Uber or Lyft like they would a taxi company.
What Are Florida’s Laws Regarding Rideshare Companies?
In 2015, Florida introduced a law that requires Uber and Lyft to have insurance. The insurance covers the time the driver is logged onto the app until they have delivered the passengers to the specified location and have logged off.
The House Bill 509 legislation, also known as HB 509, was passed by the Florida House of Representative Highway and Waterway Safety Subcommittee and mandates that this insurance coverage meets the minimum insurance requirement. The required commercial insurance coverage is $50,000 for each person’s death and bodily injury, $100,000 per death and bodily injury for each accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
In 2017, HB 221 was signed into law and the following additional rule was passed: A rideshare driver or their company needs to have insurance that recognizes the driver as a driver for a transportation network company and uses their car for work.
When an Uber driver or Lyft driver is transporting a client, they must have at least $1 million in death and primary automobile liability insurance, which satisfies the minimal standards of a limousine user. These requirements are based on the coverage rideshare companies have already started offering their drivers.
How HB 221 Can Affect Your Lyft or Uber Lawsuit in Florida
The distinction between rideshare companies’ previous policies and the new standards in the bill is that, under the contingency of coverage, a driver who is logged into the app’s system but isn’t driving a passenger is still covered. If the driver is logged into the app, this legislation makes Uber’s or Lyft’s insurance coverage the official policy in force.
If this ordinance was not passed, then anytime the driver says he was logged onto the app, but not using it, his personal policy may take effect, and the insurance company policy of the rideshare would only cover losses that the personal policy did not. However, in 2017, the governor of Florida, Rick Scott, signed HB 221. This bill overrides any other state or local laws that govern commuter service companies. The bill does still maintain the same insurance coverage rules from HB 509 as stated earlier.
Hire a Rideshare Car Accident Attorney Today!
Has an accident occurred involving an Uber or Lyft driver and you are not sure what to do? There are several reasons why you should consider hiring a rideshare accident attorney that specializes in liability insurance cases.
A seasoned Uber accident lawyer or Lyft accident lawyer will be able to guide and assist you through the entire process of filing a claim, gathering evidence, consulting with experts, negotiating with the car insurance company, and arguing in court if need be. Having a lawyer on your side can be an immense advantage and ensure you get everything you need to recover from a ridesharing accident.
For example, an attorney will be able to help with mounting medical bills. If you have been injured in a rideshare vehicle accident, an experienced rideshare car accident lawyer at Kaire & Heffernan will assist you with scheduling an examination with a physician of the appropriate specialty. The Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is included in every Florida auto insurance policy, which guarantees that the person harmed in an Uber accident can receive prompt medical care without having to wait for a court to determine liability.
Kaire & Heffernan Attorneys
At Kaire & Heffernan, we provide you with a free consultation to go over your personal auto insurance policy and explain the coverage it provides following an Uber or Lyft accident. Our firm is well-versed in the laws covering ridesharing services and is the best place to find an experienced personal injury attorney.
Our lawyers have handled numerous rideshare accident claims and they are not afraid to go after the large insurance companies in the toughest personal injury claim.
The insurance coverage in play for a rideshare accident is considerably more significant than that of a typical vehicle accident. It is critical for your law firm to have the best specialists to pursue a rideshare accident claim aggressively. The legal team at Kaire & Heffernan will go above and beyond to make sure you have access to the best experts and specialists. We will do everything in our power to advocate for your rights and make sure you get the best possible outcome.
You can call us on our toll-free line at 305-376-7860, or contact us online to get started on your case today.