Were you involved in a rideshare accident in Pensacola, FL? Car accidents involving Uber and Lyft tend to involve complex insurance issues. That can make it tough to recover fair compensation from the insurance companies. An experienced Pensacola Uber and Lyft accident lawyer at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can help you maximize your financial award.
Our lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases. Over the years, we’ve proven ourselves to be fierce and effective advocates for accident and injury victims in the panhandle.
We’ve been successfully advocating for injured clients like you for over four decades. To learn more about how we can help with your case, call our law offices in Pensacola, Florida to schedule your free consultation today at (850) 434-3333.
How Can Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Help You Get Compensation After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Pensacola, FL?
Rideshare accidents are similar to typical car accident cases. You may be struggling with the same types of injuries and losses. You’re still dealing with sky-high medical bills.
However, accidents involving rideshare drivers are also different. Multiple parties are often involved. Commercial insurance carriers will work even harder to downplay your losses.
Our experienced Pensacola personal injury attorneys at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers are up to the challenge. We face off against insurance companies every day. We’ve successfully helped countless clients like you recover the money they need and deserve.
Some ways our team can help with your case include:
- Gathering and analyzing all evidence
- Determining the best options for recovering full compensation
- Working with respected experts as we build your case
- Handling the insurance communications and paperwork
- Identifying the available insurance options
- Negotiating a full settlement with the other side
- Preparing a lawsuit to protect your interests at trial if necessary
Don’t wait too long to take legal action. Contact our Pensacola personal injury lawyers to explore your legal options today.
Statistics on Uber and Lyft Accidents
Florida doesn’t publish statistics on Uber and Lyft accidents. Rideshare drivers use ordinary passenger vehicles like anyone else. When they’re involved in accidents, police classify those crashes based on the types of vehicles involved.
That said, there are statistics indicating that rideshare services are making the roads more dangerous. One study found that Uber and Lyft are increasing traffic congestion. As a result, traffic fatalities have increased by between two and four percent since rideshare services became common.
How Do I Recover Compensation After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Pensacola?
Your first step in Florida will be to file a claim with your PIP insurance company. Under Florida law, if you’re seriously hurt in a car accident, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance company, or you can file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
When rideshare drivers only carry personal auto insurance, their insurer may not cover your damages if they were driving for profit.
Most likely, you won’t be able to file a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft. Rideshare drivers are independent contractors. That means the rideshare company can’t be held liable for their negligent driving.
Today, however, Uber and Lyft are both required to carry commercial insurance. Two separate policies may be available. To access those policies, you’ll have to identify the driver’s status at the time of the crash.
The Driver is Online and Available to Accept Passengers
Uber and Lyft insurance coverage applies anytime the driver’s rideshare app is active.
When the driver is logged in and available to accept ride requests, the following coverage limits apply:
- $50,000 per victim for bodily injury or death
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury or death when multiple people were injured
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
This coverage is available to the extent your and the rideshare driver’s own insurance doesn’t cover your losses.
The Driver is En Route or on a Trip
As soon as the driver accepts a passenger’s ride request, coverage increases to $1 million for injuries or death to passengers and third parties.
This coverage applies for the duration of a trip. So, if you were injured as a passenger, this more extensive coverage should be available. The same is true if you were in another vehicle or simply walking down the street when hit by a rideshare driver.
What Is My Pensacola Rideshare Accident Case Worth?
Identifying the available insurance policy is one of the first steps our lawyers will take. Still, you’ll have to establish your case value to get a fair settlement. The Uber and Lyft insurance companies won’t automatically hand over a check.
Considerations in assessing your case value include:
- The extent of your injuries
- How your injuries impact your life, including your earnings
- Your age at the time of the crash
- Whether you share blame
- Your financial expenses, including medical treatment and vehicle repair costs
- The evidence to support your case
Calculating the value of any personal injury case can take time. It’s important not to rush the process. Sometimes, your doctor can only offer an educated opinion about how your injury will change your life after some time has passed.
Without an experienced attorney in your corner, taking a fast insurance deal may be too tempting. Contact Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to speak with an attorney who can help.
What Types of Compensation Are Available To Uber and Lyft Accident Victims in Pensacola, Florida?
Your compensation award may include economic and non-economic damages.
Your economic damages award should cover all of your financial losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
Non-economic damages compensate victims for personal losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- PTSD
- Depression
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Inconvenience
- Loss of companionship
Often, expert testimony is used to establish the value of these subjective types of losses.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Pensacola?
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers accepts clients on a contingency fee basis. Your attorney’s fees are directly tied to the amount of compensation we recover for you. At the outset, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of the amount we receive on your behalf.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for an Uber or Lyft Accident in Florida?
You can recover partial compensation if your share of fault was not more than 50%. Once your percentage of fault exceeds 50%, you lose your right to damages under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law.
Our Attorneys in Pensacola Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Rideshare Accident Injuries
While the types of injuries victims suffer can vary dramatically, some common rideshare accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Accidents involving Uber and Lyft can also be fatal. If you lost a family member, our wrongful death attorneys are prepared to help you fight for justice.
What Are the Leading Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents in Pensacola?
Uber and Lyft drivers are just as likely to get into a car accident as any other driver–if not more likely. Rideshare drivers haven’t completed any special training. They’re also motivated to complete trips quickly to maximize their profits.
At the end of the day, rideshare drivers may be rushed, distracted, and tired.
Some common causes of rideshare accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Dangerous turns
- Lane departures
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drug or alcohol use
- Negligent vehicle maintenance
An experienced Pensacola Uber accident attorney can help you identify the cause–or causes–of your accident and injury.
How Do I Prove Negligence After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Florida?
As with any other personal injury case, you must prove liability to recover damages from another party. That means proving negligence in nearly every case.
The four elements of negligence are:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
In plain terms, you must prove that another party was careless, caused an accident, and you were injured as a result.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Rideshare Accident in Florida?
Florida has a two-year deadline for filing most car accident lawsuits. The two-year statute of limitations starts running on the date of your accident. If you submit your claim too late, you almost always lose your right to damages.
Exceptions do exist. For example, you may have additional time if the at-fault driver is also facing DUI charges or criminal charges for hit-and-run. Because the exceptions are so rare, we always recommend calling a lawyer as soon as you can.
Call a Trusted Pensacola Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Dealing with Uber or Lyft’s commercial insurance company can be overwhelming. A Pensacola Uber and Lyft accident attorney can handle the insurance and legal issues. Call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to set up a free case review today.