Whether for visitors or locals, rideshare services like Uber are increasingly popular in Orlando. Between airports, entertainment venues, amusement parks, and restaurants, at any one time there are countless rideshare journeys occurring throughout the city.
More cars on the road inevitably means more accidents, and rideshare drivers are not immune to the perils of driving around a thriving city. But accidents in an Uber or other rideshare vehicle aren’t the same as accidents between two private individuals. Car insurance works differently in rideshare accidents, and your right to damages often depends on whether you were the rideshare driver, rideshare passenger, or other party involved in the accident.
To further complicate things, there are often multiple insurance providers and policies involved, which can lead to stalling and delays in any claims. If there were multiple passengers in the car at the time of the accident, that can also have an impact on how much compensation you receive.
Attempting to navigate Florida motor vehicle and insurance laws is tricky enough, and adding the complications of an accident involving a rideshare vehicle can feel overwhelming. Navigating the complexities of this type of car accident typically requires the experience of an Orlando rideshare attorney like those at FVF.
What FVF Offers Orlando Rideshare/Uber Accident Victims
At FVF, our team works to help you understand your rights, determine the parties involved in the accident, negotiate with insurance companies, and protect your interests. Our goal is to help you understand your legal options in a supportive, pressure-free environment.
We rely on our years of experience and our commitment to victims’ rights to manage all types of car accident and traffic collision cases, including:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Wrongful death claims
- Rideshare accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Other traffic accidents
If you’re not sure whether you should pursue a legal action or simply want to know how to proceed after an accident, we encourage you to reach out to our Orlando rideshare lawyers today for a no-cost consultation.
We’ll review the details of your accident with you, consider what compensation you may be entitled to, and offer advice for how to take care of yourself and your family after an accident.
What Causes Rideshare/Uber Accidents in Orlando?
When you ride in an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle, you put your trust in a driver whom you’ve never met. While some accidents are obviously not the fault of the driver, others may have been caused by their negligent behavior. If you’re the rideshare driver, the negligent actions of another driver on the road may have been the cause of your accident. As long as there’s proof that another party’s negligent actions caused the accident, the injured party — whether the passenger, driver, or a pedestrian — may be able to recover damages in a lawsuit.
At FVF, we have years of experience helping clients navigate car accident claims related to:
- Drunk driving
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Improper vehicle maintenance
- Inclement weather
- Speeding
Accidents caused by any of these can result in serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken and fractured bones, back and neck pain, herniated disc, and pinched nerves. No matter your injury, recovering after a car accident can be painful and stressful. A rideshare accident lawyer in Orlando can help make sure you get the medical treatment you need right away and help you evaluate your legal options so you can focus on healing.
Who Is Liable in Rideshare/Uber Accidents in Orlando?
Because there are often so many parties involved, it can be difficult to determine who is liable in a rideshare or Uber accident. You’ll need to take into account factors such as how many people were in the car, who was injured, and the driver’s behaviors at the time of the collision. Insurance coverage can also differ depending on if you were the driver, the passenger, or a pedestrian hit by an Uber or rideshare driver. An Orlando rideshare lawyer can help you evaluate your options for compensation, which may include the following types of insurance policies.
Liability Coverage from Rideshare Companies
Florida requires all vehicle owners to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Rideshare drivers are required to carry more than this PDL minimum, to the tune of at least $1 million in liability coverage for physical injury, property damage, and death.
However, rideshare drivers are not covered by the rideshare company’s insurance policy until they have the app turned on and are looking for a customer. Once they do, Uber and other rideshare companies are only obligated to have $50,000 in physical injury or death liability coverage and $25,000 for property damage. It’s only once the driver accepts a ride request that the coverage goes up to $1 million. If you’re hit by a rideshare driver in Orlando, you’ll need to first determine the driver’s status before filing a claim.
But just because rideshare companies have generous compensation policies, that doesn’t mean they’ll make it easy for you to receive a payout after an accident involving one of their drivers. They’ll do what they can to keep your claim amount low and may even try to deny your claim if they can show that the driver’s careless behavior led to the accident. Dealing with rideshare insurance companies is just one reason why we advise you to work with an Orlando Uber lawyer.
Driver Rideshare Insurance
Certain car insurance companies have specific policies for rideshare and Uber drivers that cover any gaps in rideshare company insurance. These policies may be more extensive than the minimum coverage provided by rideshare companies, which can be extremely useful in accidents that lead to severe injuries.
Rideshare Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
In addition to PIP and PDL coverage, rideshare insurance companies must provide uninsured and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage to drivers. You may even have UIM coverage as part of your personal insurance that protects you in case of a serious injury.
Individual Car Insurance Policies
Even with Florida rideshare laws, accident losses are still covered by the state’s accident liability laws. That means that if the rideshare driver caused the accident and the passenger has only minor injuries, each driver is responsible for covering their own personal injury losses. If the injuries are more severe, you can go outside of the state’s no-fault system to try and recover compensation for all of the damages.
Developing the best strategy for your case often entails knowing which insurance coverage applies and making the right type of claim. It also means making sure you file your claim within Florida’s statute of limitations, which is four years for car accidents. An Orlando rideshare attorney can help wade through the various insurance policies, help you make the decision that’s best in your specific case, and ensure that your claim gets filed on time.
Do You Need a Lawyer for Your Orlando Rideshare/Uber Accident?
While you never need to hire an attorney in a car accident case, the complexities of a rideshare accident can make it challenging to navigate on your own. By consulting with a rideshare accident lawyer, you can get a clear understanding of your rights and options so you can then figure out how to get the most compensation possible. An expert Orlando rideshare lawyer can offer you the following:
- Case experience. Rideshare accident attorneys have the confidence and experience to take on corporate insurance carriers and legal representatives. Your attorney will gather all evidence that’s relevant in your case, contact any helpful witnesses, and even go to trial if needed.
- Willingness to negotiate with insurance providers. It’s not uncommon for rideshare insurance companies to try to deny your claim, or try to get you to settle quickly for a lesser amount. A skilled Orlando rideshare lawyer will tirelessly advocate for your rights and make sure your interests are always represented.
- Ability to afford medical bills and other damages. Attempting to negotiate an insurance claim while healing from a serious injury can be difficult. A rideshare attorney can help manage your finances, medical care, and other damages so that you get the legal counsel you need while taking time to recover from your accident.
Why Hire FVF for Your Orlando Rideshare Accident Case?
At FVF, we work hard to treat accident victims with compassion, dignity, and the highest degree of integrity. Here’s what our team brings to every rideshare accident case:
- Outstanding case outcomes. At FVF, our first obligation is to our clients. We will fight — and fight hard — against denied claims and unsatisfactory settlement offers to ensure that you get the compensation you are fairly entitled to under the law.
- Pressure-free advice. We’re not here to pressure you into working with us. Our main priority is educating accident victims. We’ll help you understand your rights, options, and the best course of action, without any obligation to hire our firm.
- Superior reputation. FVF has a stellar reputation among our past clients and among other rideshare attorneys. See for yourself in our reviews on Google and Yelp, or by reviewing our client testimonials.
Finding a lawyer with experience is important, but so is finding one who is compassionate and cares about your well-being. At FVF, we understand the physical and financial hardships that come from a rideshare accident. We offer no-cost case consultations so you can learn about your options before deciding to hire an attorney.
To learn how to proceed with your rideshare accident case, contact us today for your free consultation.