Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Orlando? Know Your Rights
Uber and Lyft have become part of everyday life in Orlando.
Tourists use rideshare services to get from the airport to their hotels, visit the theme parks, travel between resorts, and avoid renting a car. Local residents rely on them to get to work, attend events, or get home safely after a night out.
Most people never expect the ride to end in a serious car accident.
When it does, passengers are often left with a lot of questions. Whose insurance applies? Is Uber or Lyft responsible? What happens if another driver caused the crash? Is there really a million-dollar insurance policy?
These are important questions because a rideshare accident is not always handled the same way as an ordinary Florida car accident.
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Orlando, you need to understand that the available insurance coverage can depend on several factors, including who caused the crash and what the rideshare driver was doing at the time.
Rideshare Passengers Rarely Expect to Be Injured
When you get into an Uber or Lyft, you are trusting the driver to get you to your destination safely.
You are not controlling the vehicle. You are not deciding when to change lanes, how fast to drive, or whether it is safe to enter an intersection. You are relying on someone else to make those decisions.
That is why injured passengers are often confused after a rideshare crash. They know they did not cause the accident, but they may not know which insurance company is responsible for paying their claim.
The answer depends heavily on fault.
What Happens if the Uber or Lyft Driver Caused the Accident?
If you were riding as a passenger and the Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash, coverage through the rideshare company may be available.
This is one of the biggest differences between a rideshare accident and a typical Orlando car accident.
In an ordinary Florida crash, the at-fault driver may have limited bodily injury coverage or no bodily injury coverage at all. That can create a serious problem when someone has major injuries, and there is not enough insurance available to compensate them.
Rideshare companies may provide substantially higher liability coverage when a driver is actively transporting a passenger. Depending on the circumstances, there may be up to $1 million in coverage available.
But the existence of a large insurance policy does not mean the insurance company will voluntarily pay the full amount.
Your case must still be proven.
A Million-Dollar Policy Does Not Mean a Million-Dollar Settlement
This is where people sometimes get the wrong idea.
They hear that Uber or Lyft has a million-dollar policy and assume their case is automatically worth $1 million.
That is not how personal injury cases work.
Insurance coverage represents the amount that may be available. It does not determine the value of your injuries.
The value of a rideshare accident claim may depend on factors such as:
- The seriousness of your injuries
- The medical treatment you require
- Whether you need surgery
- Whether your injuries are permanent
- The effect of the accident on your ability to work
- How the injuries affect your daily life
- The strength of the evidence showing who caused the crash
- Whether multiple people are making claims against the same policy
A minor collision with no significant injury will not become a million-dollar claim simply because a large policy exists.
At the same time, when a passenger suffers serious or permanent injuries, identifying the available rideshare coverage can be extremely important.
What if Another Driver Caused the Rideshare Accident?
Not every Uber or Lyft crash is caused by the rideshare driver.
Sometimes another motorist runs a red light, changes lanes carelessly, follows too closely, or causes the collision in some other way.
If another driver was completely at fault, the primary claim may be against that driver and their insurance company, rather than Uber or Lyft.
That can become a problem if the at-fault motorist has little or no bodily injury coverage.
This is one reason every rideshare accident must be investigated carefully. We need to determine whether the Uber or Lyft driver shares any responsibility, whether another driver caused the crash, and what insurance policies may apply.
In some accidents, more than one driver may be at fault. If the rideshare driver and another motorist both contributed to the collision, there may be more than one potential source of insurance coverage.
You should not assume that the first insurance company identified is the only one that may be responsible.
Your Own Insurance Coverage May Also Matter
Even though you were a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, your own automobile insurance policy may still become relevant.
For example, if the driver who caused the accident has no bodily injury insurance or does not have enough coverage for your injuries, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional source of compensation.
Many injured passengers do not realize this.
They think their personal policy has nothing to do with the accident because they were not driving their own car. That is not always true.
Part of my job is to identify every potentially available insurance policy. That can include the at-fault driver’s coverage, the rideshare company’s policy, and potentially the injured passenger’s own uninsured motorist coverage.
Multiple Injured People May Be Competing for the Same Coverage
Another issue can arise when several people are injured in the same rideshare accident.
A serious collision may involve the Uber or Lyft passenger, the rideshare driver, people in another vehicle, pedestrians, or multiple vehicles. Although there may be significant insurance coverage, that coverage may need to be divided among several injured claimants.
The million-dollar policy is not necessarily one million dollars for every injured person.
If multiple people are pursuing compensation from the same policy, it becomes even more important to act quickly, identify the coverage, and properly document the value of your claim.
Waiting can place you at a disadvantage, especially when other injured people have already retained attorneys and begun pursuing the available insurance.
The Insurance Company Will Still Look for Ways to Pay Less
A rideshare accident may involve more insurance coverage than an ordinary crash, but you are still dealing with insurance companies.
They are still going to investigate the accident.
They may question who was responsible. They may argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim. They may examine your medical history, treatment records, prior accidents, and social media activity.
They may also ask you to provide a recorded statement before you understand how the accident occurred or how serious your injuries may become.
A polite insurance adjuster is not the same thing as an advocate for your interests.
The adjuster’s job is to protect the insurance company. My job is to protect you.
Before giving detailed statements, signing releases, or accepting a settlement, you should understand what coverage is available and what your claim may involve.
What Should You Do After an Orlando Rideshare Accident?
If you are injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft, there are several steps that can help protect your health and your legal claim.
- Call law enforcement and make sure the accident is reported. Get medical treatment as soon as possible, even if you initially believe the pain may go away.
- Take photographs of the vehicles, the scene, and any visible injuries. Save screenshots showing the rideshare trip, the driver’s information, the pickup and destination, and your electronic receipt.
- You should also obtain contact information from witnesses and everyone involved in the crash.
- Do not rely on the Uber or Lyft app to preserve every detail indefinitely. Save the information while you still have access to it.
- Continue following your doctors’ recommendations after the accident. Gaps in medical treatment can give an insurance company an opportunity to argue that you were not seriously injured.
Why You Should Speak With an Orlando Rideshare Accident Lawyer Early
Rideshare cases can become complicated quickly.
There may be multiple drivers, multiple insurance companies, corporate rideshare coverage, personal automobile policies, and questions about what the driver was doing within the app when the accident happened.
Evidence also has a way of disappearing.
Witnesses become harder to locate. Vehicles are repaired. Electronic records may become more difficult to obtain. Memories fade.
The sooner I become involved, the sooner I can begin identifying the responsible parties, preserving evidence, reviewing the insurance coverage, and communicating with the companies involved.
You should not have to sort through all of that while you are recovering from an injury.
How The Jaspon Firm Helps Injured Rideshare Passengers
When you contact me after an Uber or Lyft accident, I look at the entire picture.
I want to know how the crash happened, who may be responsible, what injuries you suffered, what treatment you need, and every insurance policy that may apply.
I deal with the insurance companies so you do not have to navigate their questions and tactics alone. I gather the evidence needed to build the case and pursue the compensation supported by your injuries and losses.
That may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the accident.
Every case is different, and no attorney should promise a specific result without first reviewing the facts and evidence. What I can promise is that I will give you an honest assessment and explain the options available to you.
Talk to Jeremiah Jaspon After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Orlando
If you were injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft in Orlando, do not assume the insurance process will be simple.
The rideshare driver may be responsible. Another driver may be responsible. Several parties may share fault. There may also be multiple insurance policies that need to be identified before you know what compensation may be available.
The sooner we look at those issues, the better positioned we may be to protect your claim.
Contact Jeremiah Jaspon at The Jaspon Firm today. I will personally discuss the accident with you, explain the insurance issues that may affect your claim, and help you understand what to do next.
Call today for help. It costs nothing to talk to me about your case: (407) 513-9515