Florida is one of the busiest rideshare markets in the country. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the surrounding metro area see millions of Uber and Lyft trips every year — and with that volume comes a significant number of accidents.

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident — whether as a passenger, a pedestrian, or the driver of another vehicle — your claim is more complex than a standard car accident case. Rideshare accidents involve multiple layers of insurance coverage, corporate legal teams, and rules that most passengers never know about until they need them.

Here is what you need to know to protect your rights from day one.

This is the most important thing to understand about rideshare accident claims: the insurance coverage that applies depends entirely on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash.

Florida law and Uber/Lyft's own policies divide coverage into three distinct periods:

The driver has the Uber or Lyft app open and is available for rides but has not yet accepted a trip request.

Coverage:

• Uber/Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of:
  • $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
  • $25,000 for property damage
• This coverage only applies if the driver's personal insurance does not cover the claim (most personal auto policies exclude commercial activity)

The driver has accepted a trip and is driving to pick up the passenger.

Coverage:

• Uber/Lyft's $1 million liability policy applies
• Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage (if the driver carries it on their personal policy)
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

The passenger is in the car, from pickup to drop-off.

Coverage:

• Uber/Lyft's $1 million liability policy applies — this is the broadest coverage
• Contingent comprehensive and collision
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Why this matters: If you are injured during Period 1, your recovery may be limited to $50,000. If you are injured during Periods 2 or 3, you have access to $1 million in coverage. Determining which period applies — and proving it — is one of the first things your attorney will do.

Rideshare accident claims can involve several categories of injured parties:

If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft and the driver caused an accident, you are covered by Uber/Lyft's $1 million policy (Period 3). If another driver caused the accident, you can claim against that driver's insurance — and potentially against Uber/Lyft's uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver's policy is insufficient.

If an Uber or Lyft driver caused an accident that injured you while you were in another car, you can file a claim against the rideshare company's liability policy — the amount depending on which period the driver was in.

Pedestrians and cyclists struck by an Uber or Lyft driver can claim against the applicable coverage based on the driver's period at the time of the crash.

Uber and Lyft drivers injured in accidents while driving for the platform have more limited options. They are classified as independent contractors, not employees, which affects their ability to claim workers' compensation. An attorney can help identify all available coverage.

This is a question that comes up in almost every rideshare accident case — and the answer is complicated.

Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, not employees. Under this classification, they argue they are not vicariously liable for their drivers' negligence in the same way an employer would be for an employee.

Courts have generally accepted this classification, which means you typically cannot sue Uber or Lyft directly for the driver's negligence. Instead, you access their insurance coverage through the driver's claim.

However, there are circumstances where Uber or Lyft may have direct liability:

• Negligent hiring or retention — if Uber or Lyft failed to properly screen a driver with a history of dangerous driving or criminal conduct
• Negligent supervision — in limited circumstances involving the company's own conduct
• App design defects — if the app itself contributed to the accident (e.g., by directing the driver to a dangerous maneuver)

An experienced rideshare accident attorney will evaluate all potential theories of liability.

Always call 911 after any accident involving injury. A police report is essential for your claim.

Even if you feel fine, get evaluated by a doctor the same day. Many serious injuries — whiplash, concussions, internal injuries — are not immediately apparent. A same-day medical record creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries.

Under Florida's no-fault law, you have 14 days to seek medical treatment to access your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. Miss this deadline and you may lose up to $10,000 in coverage.

This is critical and unique to rideshare accidents. If you were a passenger:

• Take a screenshot of the Uber or Lyft app showing your trip details, the driver's name, and the trip status
• Note the time of the accident

If you were in another vehicle:

• Ask the rideshare driver whether they had a passenger or were en route to a pickup
• Note whether the Uber or Lyft app was visible on their phone

The driver's status at the time of the crash determines which insurance policy applies.

Document all vehicles, the scene, road conditions, traffic signals, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of all witnesses.

Both Uber and Lyft have in-app accident reporting features. Report the accident through the app to create an official record with the company.

Uber and Lyft's insurance carriers will contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement without first speaking to an attorney. Their goal is to minimize your claim — not to help you.

Florida's no-fault insurance system applies to rideshare accidents just as it does to standard car accidents. Your own PIP coverage pays your initial medical bills and lost wages — regardless of who caused the accident.

To step outside the no-fault system and pursue the at-fault driver (or Uber/Lyft's liability coverage) for full damages including pain and suffering, your injuries must meet Florida's serious injury threshold — permanent injury, significant scarring, or significant loss of a bodily function.

Rideshare passengers are particularly vulnerable in accidents because they are often in the back seat without a headrest positioned for their height, and they may not be wearing a seatbelt. Common injuries include:

• Whiplash and cervical spine injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Broken bones and fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Lumbar and thoracic spine injuries
• Internal injuries

The value of your claim depends on:

• The severity of your injuries and whether they are permanent
• Your medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Which insurance period applies (Period 1 vs. Periods 2/3)
• Whether the at-fault driver has personal coverage in addition to Uber/Lyft's policy

Because Uber and Lyft carry $1 million liability policies during active trips, rideshare accident claims can result in significantly larger recoveries than standard car accident cases — but only if the claim is properly pursued.

Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury claims — including rideshare accidents — is 2 years from the date of the accident (as of 2023). Miss this deadline and you permanently lose your right to sue.

Rideshare accident claims are significantly more complex than standard car accident cases:

• Multiple insurance policies may apply, and determining which one requires investigation
• Uber and Lyft have experienced legal and claims teams working against you immediately
• The driver's independent contractor status creates legal complexities around liability
• Florida's no-fault rules interact with rideshare coverage in ways that require legal expertise to navigate

At Juan Cordero Lawyers, we handle Uber and Lyft accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Florida, call us now at 305.525.8957. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We serve clients throughout Miami, North Bay Village, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and all of Florida. Bilingual service available in English and Spanish.

• Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer Florida — Practice area overview and free consultation
• Car Accident Lawyer Florida — Related auto accident claims
• Personal Injury Attorneys in Miami — Serving Miami-Dade County
• Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer — Serving Broward County
• Florida Personal Injury Statute of Limitations — Filing deadlines