On May 9th, Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, signed a new law that amended certain requirements for rideshare companies and their drivers. The new law is named the “Uber/Lyft bill,” and says that drivers must now carry insurance that is above Florida State’s current standard minimum coverage requirements. The bill also states that rideshare companies must perform thorough background checks on all drivers working in the state. Additionally, the law commands that rideshare companies practice a “zero-tolerance” policy on drug and alcohol abuse. Any driver suspected of driving under the influence and undergoing any sort of investigation related to these allegations must be suspended from driving for the rideshare company immediately.
New Uber/Lyft Bill Gives Way To Increased Protection For Rideshare Passengers
All drivers in Florida must carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage under Florida’s general auto insurance law. The CS/HB 221 bill, which is the technical name for the Uber / Lyft Bill, imposes additional minimum coverage requirements for rideshare drivers when they are both (i) “logged on to the digital network but . . . not engaged in a prearranged ride,” and (ii) “engaged in a prearranged ride.”
- When Logged onto Network but Not Yet Providing a Ride
Rideshare drivers must carry the following insurance coverage when logged into the rideshare company’s app, but not actually carrying a passenger:
- Primary auto liability coverage of at least $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person;
- Primary auto liability coverage of at least $100,000 for death and bodily injury per incident;
- PDL coverage of at least $25,000 per incident; and,
- PIP and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage as required by existing Florida state law.
- When Giving a Ride
Rideshare drivers must carry the following insurance coverage when transporting a rideshare passenger in their vehicle:
- Primary auto liability coverage of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury and property damage; and,
- PIP and UIM coverage as required by existing Florida state law.
Per the bill, these requirements may be met by either the driver’s private insurance policy, or the coverage can be provided by the rideshare company directly. The law also states that rideshare companies are now required to maintain coverage to protect accident victims if the driver’s coverage is either inadequate or lapses. However, the Uber / Lyft Bill’s new insurance regulations are not applicable to rideshare drivers when they are using their automobiles for purely personal use.
Florida’s Background Check Requirements for Uber and Lyft Drivers
Under the new Uber / Lyft Bill in Florida, rideshare companies must now run background checks before allowing new drivers to operate under their company names. They must also re-certify the driver by performing an additional background check every three years. The law states that these rideshare companies “may not authorize an individual to act as a [ridesharing] driver,” if they:
- Have been convicted of any one of the following in the last five years: reckless driving, DUI, hit-and-run, or various other driving-related offenses;
- Have been found guilty of driving with a revoked or suspended license in the last three years;
- Were required to register on the federal sex offender registry;
- Do not maintain a valid driver’s license; or,
- Do not carry proof of registration for the automobile to be used during rideshare rides.
Were You Injured In An Accident While Riding As A Passenger Of A Rideshare Company?
If you have been injured in an accident that occurred while driving with a rideshare driver, either as a customer of the rideshare company’s or as a passenger or driver of another involved vehicle, our office may be able to help you recover the compensation that you deserve for damages incurred. For a free consultation, call Fenstersheib Law Group, P.A. at 800-TELL-ROBERT or contact us at https://ridesharecrashlawyers.com/ today!
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