What To Do After A Rideshare Accident In Lakeland: An Overview
BlogIf you’re involved in a rideshare accident in Florida, understanding your legal rights is crucial. From determining liability to collecting the necessary evidence, navigating a claim can be complex. This guide clarifies the basics and explains what steps to take to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
In this article, you can discover…
- Your legal rights after a rideshare accident in Florida.
- What evidence to gather after your accident.
- How liability and the driver’s options factor into your accident and claim.
What Are My Legal Rights As A Rideshare Passenger In Florida?
As a rideshare passenger, you have the protection of your own auto insurance policy as well as the rideshare company’s insurance policy.
Generally, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have one million dollars of liability and uninsured driver coverage in the event that a driver causes an accident or an uninsured driver on the road causes an accident.
If you are injured as a passenger in a rideshare accident, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the rideshare company for damages or against an uninsured driver’s insurance company, depending on who is liable.
How Is Liability Determined In A Rideshare Accident In Florida?
The party whose actions caused the accident is the party who is liable. In some cases, fault may be shared, and multiple parties (such as the driver and another motorist) may be liable. Remember that as a rideshare passenger in Florida, you can not be found responsible for the driver’s negligence.
Proving liability will be central to your case, and an attorney can help you gather police reports, dash cam video, witness testimony, and other evidence to help determine who is liable for your accident.
What Information Should I Collect From The Driver?
If possible, obtain the driver’s name, auto insurance policy information, and contact information. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report from the accident scene or the local police department. Next, report the accident to the rideshare company and reach out to an attorney to file your claim.
What Role Does The Rideshare Company Play In My Claim?
The role of the rideshare company in your claim may vary slightly depending on who is responsible for the accident. For example, when the rideshare driver is liable, you and your attorney will be referred to the corporate rideshare insurance company to make a claim.
When a third-party driver is responsible for the accident, you will need to file a claim with their insurance carrier and with the rideshare company’s uninsured motorist coverage. A lawyer can help you identify these parties, communicate with them, file a claim, and negotiate with them on your behalf.
How Do I Handle A Hit-And-Run Accident Involving A Rideshare?
If the rideshare vehicle is hit by a motorist who flees, you and your attorney can file a claim with the rideshare company’s uninsured motorist policy. If the rideshare driver himself is the hit-and-run driver, you will make a claim under the rideshare’s insurance policy and with your own insurance coverage if you have it.
If I’m Hesitant To Seek Legal Restitution Because I’m Afraid The Rideshare Driver Might Lose Their Job, What Should I Do?
It’s important to remember that you are not suing the rideshare driver directly but are seeking damages from the rideshare company’s insurance carrier. That is why insurance carriers exist, and it’s your right to file a claim if you’re injured.
As independent contractors, rideshare drivers can not be fired like traditional employees but are still responsible for not violating the terms of their agreement with the rideshare company. Whether or not a driver violated those terms during the accident is up to the rideshare company to determine.
Remember, you have the right to hold the rideshare company responsible for the damage you suffer after an accident. Getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer will help you understand your options and can get you the answers, compensation, and legal voice that you deserve.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started? For more information on What To Do After A Rideshare Accident In Lakeland, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (863) 243-6166 today.