Uber and Lyft Accidents In Tampa
Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies have been operating legally in Tampa since 2017, and very often provide a handy and reliable way to get from point A to point B. However, due to the increased traffic in the area, accidents can and do happen with rideshare cars. If you are involved in an accident with a rideshare car – whether you are a passenger, a driver, or a pedestrian – you may have some confusion about responsibility and who might be liable for any injuries you might sustain.
Insurance Coverage
After prolonged arguing over how best to classify rideshare companies, Florida passed a law that establishes Uber, Lyft and its competitors as ‘transportation network companies.’ Under the relevant law, drivers must be insured when the app is on, whether a passenger is in the vehicle or not (though additional coverage must be available for when a passenger is being transported). That coverage may come either from the company or from the driver themselves, though both Uber and Lyft provide high dollar insurance coverage for their drivers while they are working.
This insurance is in addition to the mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance that Florida law requires for every driver. However, a driver’s PIP and PDL coverage attaches to them, rather than to their vehicle – thus, Florida law enforced the extra insurance requirement for rideshares, because so many people use them on a day-to-day basis and each person’s PIP coverage may not be sufficient to cover any injuries if the company declines to do it themselves.
Remember Details
It is important that in the event of an Uber or Lyft crash, you try to retain all the details that you possibly can. If you are involved in an accident while the vehicle is in motion, the company’s insurance policy will cover the injuries you sustain – but if you are struck when an Uber driver is not actively engaged in work, or if there is a technicality which allows the driver or company to escape liability, your own PIP coverage can fill in the gaps – but the insurer will want all the relevant details to help adjudicate your claim.
Like any other automobile accident, car crashes involving rideshare cars can lead to serious injuries, from fractured bones to whiplash to traumatic brain injuries. It can be overwhelming to try and rebound from this type of traumatic event, but establishing liability on the part of the driver and/or the rideshare company can help you get closure on the crash. An attorney experienced in this unusual area of the law can help get you the compensation you deserve.
Can A Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer Help You?
While most Uber and Lyft trips end with a passenger reaching their destination, the ones that do not may require some experienced legal help. The Tampa car accident lawyers at the Rinaldo Law Group are happy to try and assist you with your personal injury case. Telephone our offices today for a free consultation.
Resource:
bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/07/21/tia-travelers-soon-can-grab-an-uber-or-lyft.html
uber.com/us/en/drive/insurance/
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.748.html
