Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular in Florida over the past few years. Let’s be honest: They are both convenient and affordable. One of the reasons they are more affordable than traditional taxi companies is their structure. Unlike most taxi companies, Lyft and Uber do not employ their drivers. Instead, they treat them as individual contractors. As a result of this, they only have to pay them for the actual work they do, instead of a period of time.
In the state of Florida this has led to several question marks around what happens when you get injured in an Uber or Lyft car. Does it count as a commercial injury because it was a commercial vehicle? Or are you covered under the driver’s PIP insurance? This post aims to shed some light on this and let you know the 5 Things You Should Do if injured in an Uber or Lyft Car:
1. Seek a doctor immediately
Even if you are not sure if you are injured or not, it is good practice to get evaluated by a medical doctor. In Florida, you only have 14 days to report your injury, otherwise your medical expenses will not be covered by the PIP insurance. For this reason it’s important to get evaluated immediately. In the event of a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. For more minor injuries, it may be sufficient to go to the nearest Urgent Care Center.
2. Request a copy of the Dash Cam footage
Many (but not all) Uber and Lyft drivers have Dash Cams installed in their vehicle. This can be important evidence in determining fault, so you should request a copy of the footage.
3. Collect all other necessary information
If your claim becomes litigated, it will be useful for your Lyft attorney or Uber attorney to have as much information as possible. The following information may be helpful:
- Name of the driver
- A copy of the driver’s Driving License / ID
- Names and contact information of other passengers
- Names and contact information of witnesses of the accident
If your injuries are minor, you may collect this information immediately. However, in the event of serious injury, you should first proceed to an ER, then you can try to obtain this information later in time.
4. Contact the police
Immediately after being involved in a car accident you should always call the police. They will issue a Traffic Collision Report (TCR) which is important when it comes to filing a claim with the insurance company.
After being involved in an Uber or Lyft car accident, it can be confusing. Not everyone knows their rights and what compensation they are entitled to. Even regular auto accidents can be confusing. Lyft and Uber car accidents add an extra element of confusion, as it is uncertain whether your compensation should be covered by the driver’s PIP insurance, or Uber’s and Lyft’s commercial insurance. If the latter, then fortunately Uber offers the following coverage (although this may vary per state):
- Injury liability: $50,000
- Total liability: $100,000
- Property damage: $25,000
- Third-party total liability: $1,000,000
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $1,000
In order to know your rights, and what compensation you are entitled to, you should contact our Uber Accident Attorney or Lyft Accident Lawyer in Plantation.
Further information
AskMyAttorneys.com provides a venue where you find professionally drafted answers to common accident questions, access experienced licensed Florida Attorneys regarding your legal rights when injured in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident or as a pedestrian and obtain affordable solutions.
Read more about our Lyft Accident Attorney, Uber Accident Attorney, Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, or Contact Us.
This article was written on behalf of the practice by RedCastle Services. RedCastle specializes in Online Marketing for Doctors, including Medical SEO, SEO for doctors, and Medical Website Design. Contact RedCastle Services today to find out how we can help your practice increase its number of online patient referrals.
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