It’s always a risk, but never one that we think will actually happen: your Uber or Lyft driver has just gotten in an accident, and you don’t even know whether you’ve been injured.
Fortunately, Florida law requires Uber and Lyft drivers to be covered by no less than $1 million in liability coverage when there is a passenger in the vehicle. However, the coverage of $1 million only applies if the Uber or Lyft drivers are at fault by causing the accident and cited for the accident. This coverage is designed to provide compensation for bodily injury (including death) as well as property damage suffered by the passenger. Unfortunately, ensuring that you receive fair compensation after an Uber or Lyft accident can be tricky.
The following steps should always be taken:
- Seek medical attention, even if you aren’t sure whether you’ve sustained an injury. The shock of being in an accident will result in a flood of adrenaline, which can mask pain from any injuries you’ve sustained. Just because you don’t see physical wounds, doesn’t mean that you have not suffered some type of internal injury, whether whiplash, a bone fracture, or soft tissue strain.
By going to a nearby hospital or urgent care, the accident and any hidden injuries can be documented by a medical professional. This documentation could prove invaluable to obtaining the compensation you deserve.
- If possible, collect evidence at the scene of the accident. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is by taking photographs of the scene with your cell phone. You should snap a photo of all vehicles involved, as well as the surrounding area (e.g., stop signs, traffic lights, intersecting streets, road conditions, street names, etc.).
You should also ask for the name and contact information of any witnesses to the accident, as well as all drivers involved (including your Uber or Lyft driver!).
In addition, collect the insurance information and vehicle information from your Uber or Lyft driver.
- Contact a Florida Uber and Lyft accident attorney as soon as possible. It’s very important that you do this BEFORE speaking to representatives of Uber, Lyft, or even your own insurance company.
It’s easy to assume that your own insurance company will be on your side, but unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. The truth is that even your own insurance company will do everything they can to limit the value of your case, and avoid paying out the money you’re owed.
For instance, if you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage in Florida, and if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, then your insurance company might have to cover some of your damages.
Insurance adjusters know what questions to ask, and how to ask them in order to pay as little as possible.
To combat this, your best defense is an experienced rideshare attorney by your side—one who has handled countless situations similar to yours, and who will fight for your compensation every step of the way.
**Please note that if you choose NOT to contact an attorney after an Uber or Lyft accident, you will be required to report the accident to your own insurance company.
Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A.: Uber & Lyft Accident Attorneys Ready To Fight For You
The rideshare accident attorneys at Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A. in Hallandale Beach, Florida have helped many clients navigate the stressful aftermath of an Uber or Lyft accident.
When you need to rest and recover from your injuries, the last thing you need is to deal with the red tape and technicalities of filing a personal injury claim and seeing it through to success.
While the rideshare accident attorneys at Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A. are hard at work on your case, you can relax knowing you’re in good hands.
We serve many cities throughout Florida, including Miramar, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
Don’t sit around with questions about your Uber or Lyft accident: call us for answers at 800-TELL-ROBERT.
