Contact this Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer for help after an accident. Uber and Lyft are types of “ridesharing” services similar to a taxicab. The difference between an Uber/Lyft and a taxi is that Uber or Lyft drivers are typically not employees of Uber or Lyft, whereas cab drivers are usually employees of the taxicab company (e.g., “Yellowcab”). In recent years, Uber and Lyft have taken over much of the ridesharing market – to the point that taxicab company’s business has been severely diminished. Disputes between Uber/Lyft and taxicab companies have been extensively litigated.

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle, there are several different ways that you may be compensated. For one, you may be able to recover from an insurance policy associated with the Uber or Lyft. In the State of Florida, because they are not employees of Uber or Lyft, Uber or Lyft driver’s must use their own vehicles and carry their own insurance. Therefore, if you’re injured due to the fault of an Uber or Lyft driver, you may be able to receive compensation from the driver of the Uber or Lyft.

In fact, this may be your only option if the accident occurs while the Uber or Lyft is empty (i.e., isn’t carrying any passengers) and its “driver mode” is off. Driver mode indicates the status of the Uber or Lyft. In an Uber, if the driver is “on the app,” then the driver is looking to accept a ridesharing job (i.e., pick somebody up). In a Lyft, if the driver is in “driver mode,” then the driver is looking to accept a ridesharing job. In either case, if the driver/vehicle’s driver mode indicates that he or she is looking to accept a ridesharing job, then Uber or Lyft will provide insurance coverage. On the other hand, if the driver mode of the driver that caused your crash and injuries is off, then you may have no other option but to pursue the insurance policy of the driver who caused the accident.

If the driver mode of the driver who caused your wreck is on (i.e., the driver/vehicle is looking to accept ridesharing jobs), then you may still be able to pursue the insurance policy of the driver. However, you may now have a secondary option (in case the driver wasn’t insured or didn’t have enough insurance) – the insurance policy provided by Uber or Lyft. In that case, Uber is required to carry $50,000 in bodily injury (BI) coverage per person, $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

Bodily injury coverage is designed to protect the person/driver who carries it. For example, if you are driving and cause an accident which results in injuries, then your bodily injury coverage will cover the injured person and protect you (i.e., the injured person will be able to receive coverage from your bodily injury policy – rather than from your personal assets).

So, in the situation wherein you are injured by an Uber or Lyft driver who is in driver mode, you will be able to recover up to $50,000 from the Uber or Lyft driver’s bodily injury insurance policy in addition to whatever insurance coverage the driver carried. If other people were injured in the same accident, then all of the injured people (including you) will be able to recover up to $100,000 from the Uber or Lyft driver’s bodily injury insurance policy. So, for example, if you and one other person were injured by the Uber or Lyft driver in your accident, then you will each be able to recover up to $50,000 (for a total of $100,000). If more than two people were injured in the accident, then you will each be able to recover up to $50,000 – but the total cannot exceed $100,000 (so all of the injured people will have to divide up the $100,000).

Additionally, if the Uber or Lyft driver causes damage to your vehicle in the wreck, then the Uber or Lyft insurance policy will cover you for your property damage up to $25,000.

The laws regulating Uber and Lyft insurance are clearly complex. If you have any questions about the above, contact this Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft Accident Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation. You can reach him at 954-560-3063. He will gladly talk to you about your case. If he winds up representing you, he will do so on a contingency basis. This means that there will be no charge to you until you’ve made a recovery in your case.