Boca Raton Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
What Should You do After Being Hurt in an Uber Accident
Uber, an app-based taxi service that connects Boca Raton residents with local drivers, has been an increasingly popular transportation option in Florida over the past few years. Passengers have utilized Uber for rides to the Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach airports, work, school, and even home from the bars. Uber was started as a way of conveniently hailing a taxi, sharing your pickup and destination locations, and seamlessly paying with a credit card. You need a ride to a concert, restaurant, across town or home from your local bar. You grab your smart phone and hit the Uber icon. Within a few minutes, a driver arrives and you take off to your destination. How much will the ride cost? That will depend on how many miles the trip is, how long it takes, and how many ride requests Uber is receiving when you call. However, what happens if your driver is in an accident at some point along the way? The cost of your ride may grow significantly. It is possible you may even be forced to take legal action to recoup the damages you suffered.
If you have recently been involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you will most likely have a number of questions concerning your rights and what your options may be, such as:
- Are Uber or Lyft driver’s insured?
- Will I be covered under either companies insurance?
- How much will I be able to collect?
- Should I contact an attorney?
For answers to these and many other questions concerning legal issues with ride-sharing services, contact the Boca Raton rideshare injury lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez. Since laws concerning Uber and Lyft and other Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) vary by city and state, it would be wise to contact our Boca Raton passenger injury lawyers at if you are ever involved in an accident while riding in or with an Uber vehicle. Call to find out the particular laws for the Boca Raton area and your rights and options,
What Are the Insurance Requirements for Uber Drivers?
Unlike traditional taxi companies Uber drivers do not work on a set schedule and do not lease their vehicles from Uber. Rather, they drive their own personal vehicles, can log into the app whenever they want to work, and must carry their own car insurance, and Uber defines them as independent contractors.
Recently, many states and cities have pushed back against Uber regarding liability for auto accidents. Uber drivers, as drivers of a ridesharing service, are required to maintain minimum commercial vehicle insurance. The commercial coverage covers the vehicle the second they log into the app, even if they haven’t even accepted a fare yet. The coverage does not cover Uber drivers who are off-the-clock. It sounds simple, but the trick is to understand the details. In order for the rideshare company to extend coverage to the injured party or driver, the driver must have had his or her app on, and they had to be “active.” However, if the driver has the app on, but is “awaiting a fare,” or waiting for a passenger, the policy will only offer a limited amount of coverage. If the app is off, only the driver’s personal insurance coverage is effective.
Before a driver accepts a fare, the commercial coverage must be at least $50,000/person and $100,000/accident for liability, $30,000 for property damage, uninsured motorist coverage that matches liability, and $10,000 for personal injury protection.
Once the driver accepts a fare and until the passenger is dropped off, the coverage must increase to $1,000,000 for liability, $1,000,000 for uninsured motorists, and personal injury protection.
Uber provides coverage of up to $1,000,000 on behalf of all drivers and passengers when a ride is ongoing. However, the drivers themselves are responsible for the commercial coverage prior to accepting a fare.
Uber is required to cooperate with all parties with regard to accidents that occur when an Uber driver is logged into the app, including providing data from the app to authorities.
Despite the above guidelines, many Uber drivers do not carry the required commercial insurance resulting in coverage denial by their personal insurance company when they cause accidents while not driving a passenger.
What Happens if my Uber Driver is in an Accident?
Uber drivers are independent contractors driving their own vehicles. When a driver has the Uber app turned on, but does not have a ride request, he or she is insured underneath his or her own personal automobile insurance. Once he or she gets a ride request and accepts it, he or she is covered by Uber’s $1 million liability plan. Uber’s insurance coverage extends through to when the rider is dropped off and the driver ends the ride. The potential conflict is that while the driver has the app turned on, but doesn’t yet have a ride request they are essentially working for Uber. If the driver’s personal insurance company found out they were in an accident while using the app, both they and Uber could deny coverage. You need to consult with a knowledgeable Boca Raton Uber accident Lawyer today.
Contact an Attorney for your Uber Car Accident
While Uber is a popular and convenient service, accidents involving the vehicles are complicated. Call the Boca Raton car accident lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez for help. If you were a passenger in an Uber related accident or if you were injured by an Uber driver, call our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. Common injuries include:
- Neck and back injuries
- Head injuries
- Knee or leg damage
- Sprains or broken bones
Again, since laws concerning Uber and Lyft and other Transportation Network Companies vary by city and state, you should contact the Boca Raton passenger injury lawyers at Leifer & Ramirez if you are ever involved in an accident while riding in or with an Uber vehicle. Call to find out the particular laws for the Boca Raton area and your rights and options.
