Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are becoming increasingly popular in the US and across the world. These services have indeed revolutionized how we travel and have disrupted the cab/taxi industry. The number of accidents involving Lyft drivers has also increased dramatically.
In this article, we will share some tips and will guide you about some best-practices for what you need to do after getting injured in a Lyft accident in Florida.
Insurance
Lyft drivers may carry different types of insurance policies with differing maximum payment limits. We will throw some light on the insurance coverage taken by Lyft drivers because this is vital in any Lyft accident claims case.
Like all other drivers, a Lyft driver is always required by law to carry private insurance, and many insurance companies explicitly ask the driver to inform them if he or she is a ridesharing driver. Every driver and vehicle owner in Florida must have personal injury protection of $10,000 along with property damage liability insurance of $10,000.
Most Lyft drivers tend to have additional coverage of around $1 million for property damage, physical injury, and death. This insurance is contingent on many factors such as if the trip has been accepted and the rider is in the vehicle. In this case, Supplemental Lyft insurance will cover $1 million for property damage, $1 million for uninsured/underinsured coverage, and $1 million for liability.
If the Lyft app is on, but no trip has been accepted, then different limits apply, and the damages which one can claim are severely restricted because a Lyft driver has accepted no trip. In such a case, Lyft insurance will cover $50,000 per person, and $100,000 per accident for injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
What you need to do after a Lyft accident in Florida
- Call the Police: You must immediately call the police after getting injured in a Lyft accident. In case your phone is not working or is destroyed in the crash, then ask any witness to call the police.
- Collect the Evidence: Your second step must be to collect all the evidence possible in the form of call records, photos, and videos which will later serve as evidence during a trial.
- Call your insurance agent: You are required by law to call your insurance agent in case of an accident, even if you believe that you were not the cause of the accident.
- Hire an experienced Lyft Accident Attorney: Lyft accidents are different from normal vehicle accidents due to the involvement of technology and additionally liable parties. You will ideally choose to hire a specialized attorney who has dealt with Lyft accident claims in the past. So, you must start your search for a Lyft accident attorney immediately after getting injured in a Lyft accident.
Conclusion
Suing a driver or the rideshare company for a Lyft accident is not an easy task due to the several factors involved which we have highlighted above in the article.
We are a leading Lyft accident lawyer in Florida and have helped hundreds of people who were injured in a Lyft accident. Contact Shocklee and Paolino today at (727) 498-8771 to get a free legal consultation.