What You Need To Know About Rideshare Accidents

Texting while driving, road rage, DUIs, crowded roads and lengthier rush hours are but a few factors making driving more dangerous and stressful than ever. Being a defensive driver no longer offers the same security against auto accidents it used to.

Add to those stressors the complexities of fault and liability with never-before-seen insurance scenarios, such as accidents involving rideshare drivers. When a rideshare company is at fault for injuries you suffered in an auto accident, they should be held liable. However, the truth is more complex.

Rideshare Crashes In Florida

If you’re injured because a rideshare driver collided with your vehicle, the process of filing a claim is the same as with any other car crash. The good news is: There’s a much better chance the at-fault driver will have insurance coverage.

Sadly, if you’re injured as a passenger in a rideshare, there is no guarantee of insurance coverage. There used to be, but Uber and Lyft trimmed away that coverage years ago. They offer nothing to protect their passengers or drivers if someone else’s negligent driving injures them.

Rideshare Drivers And Florida Traffic Laws

Are rideshare drivers subject to the same traffic laws as the rest of us? Yes, they are, but unlike commercial truck drivers, there are no regulations regarding maximum hours for rideshare drivers. They often work excessive hours just to make enough money but to the detriment of safety. So, if you see a rideshare car near you, especially late at night, be ready for anything.

Rideshare Liability

Liability for an auto accident involving a rideshare company is the same as for any other automobile accident in Florida. Unfortunately, rideshare drivers are not held to any different or higher standard for driving.

If a rideshare driver collides with your car and injures you, Uber and Lyft maintain liability insurance coverage intended to compensate you for injuries and medical bills.

However, if you’re a rideshare passenger and a driver collides with the car you’re riding in, Uber and Lyft do not carry insurance coverage for your injuries and will not take responsibility.

Proving Fault In A Rideshare Accident

As with many other accidents where fault is not clear-cut, rideshare accident claims will often devolve into conflicting accounts with no specific proof or evidence of what actually happened. In these cases, the rideshare companies will, of course, claim that anyone but their driver was responsible for the collision to dodge paying the insurance claims.

For more information on rideshare accidents, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (954) 278-7439 today.