Tampa Uber Accident Lawyer

Uber and Lyft Have Changed the Game

In heavily trafficked Urban areas like downtown Tampa ride sharing is simple.  Just open your phone, click on the Uber app, and a driver will be at your door in minutes. You don’t even need a car anymore.

But what if Uber accident occurs? What if your hurt? Who pays your medical bills? What insurance will cover what has been taken from you?

Below we discuss what makes Uber Tampa Auto Accident Case Different. We’ll discuss when you have a ride sharing or taxi claim. Finally, we’ll explain how a Tampa Uber Accident lawyer will bring an insurance policy claim to recover money to replace what bad drivers have taken from you.

What Makes Uber And Lyft Cases Different Than Your Average Car Accident Claim?

Let’s look at the average Tampa auto accident case.  A negligent driver breaks a safety driving rule. A crash happens.  An innocent person is hurt as a result. The innocent person has medical bills. The innocent person loses time at work. And the innocent person loses quality of life.  The innocent person seeks money to compensate for these losses. The fault driver’s insurance defends the driver and ultimately pays for the claim.

Uber and Lyft cases are different.

Uber and Lyft driver’s usually have their own insurance coverage. But Uber as a company also provides insurance coverage. There are more insurance policies and rules in play with Uber and Lyft auto accidents.

Ridesharing “Companies” have a unique corporate structure. Instead of a traditional business with old-fashioned employees, Uber and Lyft use an app to contract out rides to third-party drivers.  Uber takes a cut off the top. The rider gets the rest of the fair.

At first, Uber and Lyft took the position that they were not responsible if a rider was injured while taking an uber ride. Soon however they realized that they would struggle to get approval in different States if they did not make sure to provide coverage for people injured in an auto accident.

Now both companies have excellent coverage to protect uber riders who are seriously injured in a Uber accident.

Let’s start with Uber’s coverage for its driver.

Uber has additional coverage to protect its drivers from the bad driving of other drivers. This applies as long as Uber’s app is open for the driver.

The success of any legal matter depends on the unique circumstances of each case, therefore, we cannot guarantee particular results for future clients.

En Route To Pick Up A Passenger

If you are in an Uber vehicle and en route to pick up a passenger Uber’s insurance has you covered.  Uber provides both liability and uninsured motorist coverage.

That means if the negligent driver who caused the accident is the Uber driver then the injured person has coverage The amount of potential coverage is  $50K per person and 100K per accident.

That also means that if another driver causes an accident by smashing into the Uber, Uber has coverage for injury for the innocent accident victim in the Uber. This potential coverage is also $50K per person and 100K per accident.

This coverage is secondary to everybody’s primary insurance. If you are an innocent victim and passenger in an Uber, Uber’s coverage only applies when the original insurance coverages are dealt with.

With Passenger In Vehicle

Uber has excellent coverage when the app is on and you are transporting a passenger in your vehicle.

Specifically, Uber has 1 Million in coverage when a passenger is in the vehicle of the Uber and being delivered to his or her destination.

This is 1 million in liability coverage and 1 million in Uninsured Motorist coverage.

In the vast majority of cases arising from Tampa Uber-related auto accidents, the 1 million dollars is considered plenty of coverage for injuries and pain and suffering.

We Have A Visual Outlining Uber’s Coverage Below:

What Make A Taxi-cab Different Than A Typical Auto Accident Claim?

Taxi companies are similar to Uber and Lyft.  They charge passengers a fare. They then keep most of the fare and give a cut to the taxi driver.

Taxi companies are required by Tampa regulations and Florida law to have 250K in bodily injury coverage. This insurance coverage protects innocent accident victims injured in taxi- related accidents.

That means even if the driver of the taxi caused the accident the taxi companies’ insurance will be in play.

Seems Like Pretty Big coverage. Is That What My Case Is Worth.

Not exactly.

Think of the insurance policies as the maximum amount of coverage available in case of a taxi or uber wreck.

Of course, insurance companies and ride-sharing companies want to pay out as little as possible in injury claims.

Our Tampa Uber Accident Lawyers fight with Uber and Lyft to secure as much as possible in a settlement or trial after your accident.

And the first step is to determine what your Uber accident injury claim is worth.

How do we do that?

Injury claims are made up of two parts. First, we need to determine who is responsible for the crash.  If you are a taxi passenger, then you are going to be 100% not responsible. But if you were driving a vehicle and were side-swiped by an Uber, it’s possible that you had some fault in the accident.

Second, we have to determine what your money damages are.  Money damages include money for medical bills and lost wages.  These are usually easy to quantify. Money damages also include money for pain, suffering, and general loss of quality of life.  These are more difficult to quantify. In serious cases with permanent injuries, it takes months before we can start to value the pain and suffering with an Uber accident.

Your claim is worth the total of your damages caused by another person, reduced to reflect your responsibility if any for your injuries.

Contact our uber accident attorneys today. We serve clients all across Florida and have offices in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Brooksville, and New Port Richey.

So, What Types Of Auto Injury Cases Apply To Uber/ Lyft Cases?

We see a wide variety of auto injuries associated with Uber and Lyft accidents in Tampa, including:

I Was A Passenger In An Uber That Crashed. Do I Have A Ridesharing Insurance Claim?

If you are a passenger in an Uber that crashed, then you have a claim if you are injured as a result of the accident.

That means if you have taken a trip to a hospital you have a claim. If you went home but woke up sore and in pain the next day then you have a claim.

I Was A Driving An Uber That Crashed. Another Driver Was At-fault. Do I Have An Insurance Claim?

If you are a driver of an uber that crashed then you have a claim if you are injured as a result of the accident. Uber has sufficient coverage assuming your app was open to cover any injuries you have.

That means if you have taken a trip to a hospital or went home but woke up sore after the accident then you have an insurance claim.

I Am Hurt After An Uber Accident. How Can A Tampa Auto Accident Attorney Help?

A Tampa Taxi Car Wreck or Tampa Uber & Lyft Accident Attorney Can Help with: