West Palm Beach Rideshare Accident Lawyers Help Clients Recover Full and Fair Compensation

For many people, ridesharing services have become one of the most popular methods for their transportation needs. Most individuals utilize this service due to its low cost and convenience. However, even with its great popularity, ridesharing services are still relatively new and state law is still trying to meet the legal demands of deciding who is liable if an accident occurs.

This being the case, if you’ve been injured in a rideshare car accident, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. Often ridesharing accidents involve multiple liability issues that are complicated and can be challenging to try and navigate without qualified legal representation.

RTRLAW has rideshare accident lawyers who understand the legal complexities associated with these types of claims and will work to see that the liable parties are held accountable. Contact RTRLAW in West Palm Beach by calling (561) 331-6920 or our toll-free number, 1-833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787), for a free case review to evaluate your case and determine what legal options may be available.

What Should I Do if I Am Injured in a Rideshare Accident?

If you’ve been involved in an Uber or Lyft rideshare accident, there are certain steps that you must take to protect your safety and your ability to file a personal injury claim. These steps include:

• Seeking medical attention immediately: Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical responders. If you’ve been injured, it’s essential that you are evaluated by a medical professional. Many insurance companies will refuse to pay a claim if you don’t seek medical attention.
• Collect information: If you’re able to do so, collect the names, phone numbers and license plate numbers of the drivers involved in the accident.
• Gather evidence: Often, injury victims forget pertinent information due to the chaos that often occurs after an accident. If you have the ability to do so, document the scene of the accident by taking photos and videos detailing the damage, terrain, road conditions, and lighting that was present when the incident occurred.
• Retain copies of the police report and medical records: It’s vital that you retain copies of the police report and your medical records for your injury claim. The records will prove to be invaluable should you need to file a claim. All too frequently, evidence can be lost, which diminishes your chances of recovering compensation.
• Seek qualified legal representation immediately: Don’t agree to speak with the other party’s insurance company or anyone else without your legal representative there to advise you of your rights.

In many instances, an Uber or Lyft insurance adjuster may try to contact you and ask you to consent to give a recorded statement detailing the facts of the accident; however, once you make the statement, the insurance company has the legal right to use your words against you to deny or reduce their degree of liability in the claim.

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in West Palm Beach, contact RTRLAW without delay for a free, no-obligation case review with one of our knowledgeable ridesharing attorneys.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Rideshare Accident?

Proving liability in ridesharing accidents can be especially challenging, depending on the facts surrounding the case. For example, if you were involved in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver who was off duty at the time of the incident, the driver would be held liable, not the rideshare company.

Nevertheless, Uber does have rules in place that detail who may be held liable should their driver be involved in any type of motor vehicle accident. These rules are:

• The Uber app is turned off: If an accident occurs when the driver has their app turned off and is not available, an injury victim could file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance company. This is because the driver is not considered to be on the job if their app is turned off.
• The Uber app is turned on, and the driver is available: If the accident occurs when the driver is considered to be on duty, both the driver’s insurance company and Uber’s insurer could have a claim made against them.
• The Uber app is turned on, and the driver is engaged in transporting a passenger: The injury victim is permitted to make a claim against Uber’s commercial insurance coverage.

As stated previously, understanding the laws and complicated rules that surround rideshare accidents can be next to impossible without legal training. If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, contact RTRLAW and speak with a knowledgeable attorney who can provide you with more information.

What Type of Insurance Coverage are Uber and Lyft Drivers Required to Have in Florida?

One of the most difficult issues that surround rideshare accidents is trying to determine which insurance company is the one an injury victim can make a claim against. It’s complicated but there are certain periods that define liability issues.

For example, period 0 is the time when the driver is basically off work. If the driver were to be involved in an accident, then the rideshare company would not share any liability and the accident would fall under the driver’s own personal insurance policy.

Period 1 includes the time that the driver has their app on and is available. If the accident occurs during period 1, then Florida law obligates Uber or Lyft to provide a minimum of $50,000 of bodily coverage per person, $100,000 of bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident.

Period 2 describes the time that the driver has accepted a ride and is on the way to pick up a passenger and period 3 is when the driver is transporting the passenger to their destination. During periods 2 and 3, the insurance requirements increase to $1 million for each instance. However, when a driver drops off their fare, the driver then goes back to period 1 and the lower minimums are once again applicable.

It should be noted that no matter the time period the rideshare driver may be in during the time of the accident, Florida law requires that they have personal injury protection (PIP) as well as underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage.

Understanding the various liabilities involved in a rideshare accident can be tricky, especially if a third party is involved. For that reason, it’s in your best interests to consult with a knowledgeable rideshare accident attorney who can determine liability and who can be held financially responsible for your injuries.

Why Should I Have a Rideshare Accident Lawyer if I Have Been Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident?

If you’ve suffered injuries due to an accident involving Uber or Lyft, you need strong legal representation. In the past, rideshare companies have resisted paying out claims for fear of how it would affect their bottom lines. Accordingly, rideshare companies have teams of lawyers whose only job is to scrutinize claims looking for loopholes so they can avoid large payouts.

RTRLAW has been representing accident victims since 1988. RTRLAW’s lawyers have comprehensive knowledge of how rideshare accident law works and are not afraid to stand up to the insurance companies. Our main objective is to help you obtain the most compensation possible for your injuries.

Our law firm is firmly committed to assisting accident victims receive the justice they deserve. Our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys will fight for your legal rights. We realize that being involved in an accident is a traumatic and frightening time and we pledge to stand by you through every step of the legal process.

Contact our law offices by calling 561-331-6920 or our toll-free number, 833-HIRE-RTR (833-447-3787), and ask to schedule a free consultation with a qualified legal team member to learn more about how we may be able to help you.