Uber and Lyft Accidents

Uber and Lyft Accidents

Rideshare apps have transformed how South Floridians move through Miami-Dade’s congested streets, yet the convenience of an on-demand ride comes with legal wrinkles that traditional auto-collision claims rarely present. When an Uber or Lyft trip ends in a crash—whether you were a passenger, another motorist, a bicyclist, or even the rideshare driver—let Perez Gurri Law Firm handle insurance policies and corporate defenses standing between you and your full compensation.

Florida’s Rideshare Law

The TNC Act creates a tiered insurance system that hinges on the driver’s app status. When the driver’s phone is off, the vehicle is treated like any other private car, and only the personal auto policy applies. The moment the driver toggles on and begins waiting for a ride request, the law compels a minimum of $50,000 in bodily-injury coverage per incident and $25,000 in property damage.

Once a trip is **accepted—or a passenger is on board—**the platform must furnish a combined single limit of at least $1 million, together with uninsured and underinsured-motorist benefits. That sounds simple in theory, yet in practice the rideshare corporation often claims the driver was between periods or logged out seconds before impact.

Timestamped app records, GPS pings, and driver-partner emails therefore become the battleground evidence. Because compensation depends on proving precisely which period applied at the instant of collision, a successful claim begins with freezing Uber and Lyft’s digital files before routine data purges erase them. Early personal injury attorney intervention is the surest path to that preservation.

Establishing Negligence in Uber and Lyft Collisions

Proving fault is the linchpin of any rideshare claim; without it, even the most generous insurance policy is worthless. In Florida, liability for an Uber or Lyft crash often traces back to one of four primary sources:

• Driver error. Distracted navigation, fatigue from marathon shifts, speeding to capitalize on surge pricing, and texting behind the wheel all violate a driver’s duty of care and can make the rideshare operator personally liable.
• Corporate negligence. Uber and Lyft can share responsibility when they overlook warning signs—such as prior crash histories, criminal records, or substance-abuse complaints—yet allow a dangerous driver to remain on the platform.
• Vehicle defects. Bald tires, worn brakes, and malfunctioning airbags can shift liability to the vehicle owner, a negligent repair shop, or even an automaker if a design flaw caused or worsened the crash.
• Third-party misconduct. Sometimes another reckless motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian triggers the collision, creating a multi-defendant case that requires careful apportionment of fault.

Under Florida’s modified comparative-negligence rule, an injured party can still recover damages so long as they are 50 percent or less at fault; any award is reduced only by their own percentage of responsibility. Pinpointing negligence in a rideshare crash demands a layered investigation that reaches drivers, corporations, mechanics, and sometimes unrelated motorists. A skilled Uber accident lawyer in Florida who understands every potential angle maximizes your odds of a full recovery even if fault is shared.

Recoverable Damages After a Rideshare Accident in Florida

Even a short rideshare trip can cause injuries that last a lifetime. Florida law allows victims to demand compensation that goes far beyond immediate medical bills.

• Economic damages encompass ambulance transport, emergency surgery, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, mobility aids, home health aides, and lost income—both past wages and future earning potential.
• Non-economic damages compensate for pain, mental anguish, scarring, and diminished quality of life.
• Property losses cover damage to your personal car, bicycle, smartphone, or luggage in the vehicle.
• Wrongful-death damages include funeral costs, lost financial support, and the emotional vacuum left in surviving family relationships.
• Punitive damages may become available if Uber or Lyft knowingly allowed an unfit driver to remain active or if the motorist was grossly reckless—such as driving while intoxicated.

By cataloging every way the crash rearranged your finances and your future, our experienced accident lawyer can transform an insurance adjuster’s limited offer into a demand that reflects the true, lasting cost of the collision.

Ready to Talk?

Florida’s two-year deadline for negligence actions starts the moment your rideshare accident occurs. If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft collision anywhere in Florida, call 305-661-1200 or message us today. The sooner you act, the faster we can freeze critical digital evidence and build the strongest possible claim—so you can focus on healing while we focus on winning.