In today’s world, traveling by car is the most common mode of transportation. Ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber make catching a ride to where you need to go easier than ever. However, they can also make a car accident more complicated than usual.
If you or your loved one were injured in a car accident involving a ridesharing service in Melbourne, Florida, it can be challenging to know where to turn for reimbursement for your losses. Do you file claims against the driver, the ridesharing company, or both?
The team of Melbourne ridesharing accident lawyers at Ben Crump Law, PLLC is here to help, whether you suffered minor or severe injuries, property damage, or the death of your loved one. Let us take the guesswork out of what to do after a ridesharing car accident. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation.
Florida Ridesharing Rules
Ridesharing companies such as Lyft and Uber provide a valuable and increasingly common service to people everywhere. However, if you get into an accident during a rideshare drive, it can be difficult to know who is responsible for your expenses since there are more parties involved than usual.
Instead of two drivers in a typical car accident, you may have a rideshare driver, any other involved drivers, the ridesharing company, and the paying passenger who all have a financial burden because of the accident. In 2017, the governor of Florida passed a bill to help clarify matters and protect people who are involved in ridesharing accidents.
CS/HB 221 requires that all ridesharing drivers carry specific minimums of insurance coverage for death and bodily injury per person, death and bodily injury per accident, and property damage. These policies must be active whenever they have the ridesharing app turned on, even if they are not currently transporting passengers. When they are transporting passengers, Florida rideshare drivers must have at least $1 million in liability coverage, as well as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
In addition to requiring insurance coverage to help protect people in a ridesharing accident, this new bill implements several other requirements. Ridesharing companies must conduct background checks on all drivers, cannot employ drivers with certain traffic offenses, and must comply with nondiscrimination policies. If they fail to adhere to these requirements, you may have a legal case against them for their negligence.
For a free legal consultation with a ridesharing accidents lawyer serving Melbourne, call (844) 730-0233
Legal Options After a Ridesharing Car Accident
Aside from the complication of added parties who may be at fault and the ridesharing company’s insurance coverage requirements, how you go about recovering compensation for your losses in a ridesharing accident in Florida is much the same as any other car accident. What you can do to pursue reimbursement for your losses depends on your role in the accident and the extent of your injuries:
- If you were a driver in the accident and suffered minor injuries, Florida’s no-fault insurance law, Florida Statute §627.7407, mandates that you turn to your own insurance provider for reimbursement. The personal injury protection (PIP) portion of your insurance policy should pay for your medical expenses and other minor out-of-pocket costs of the accident.
- If you were a driver in the accident but were not at fault, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for property damage and other costs. The at-fault driver is responsible for reimbursing vehicle repair or replacement expenses and other property losses.
- If you were a ridesharing vehicle passenger, you can file a claim with the ridesharing company’s insurance provider to reclaim the costs of your medical treatment and other losses.
- If the at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough to fully reimburse you or they do not have insurance, you may be able to turn to the ridesharing company’s insurance.
- If you suffer a serious injury, you can go outside of Florida’s no-fault system and file a personal injury lawsuit to sue for compensation.
- If your loved one died in the accident, you can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.
A Melbourne ridesharing accident lawyer can help you determine the best course of action after a ridesharing accident. The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC can investigate the accident, gather evidence, advise you of your legal options, and pursue compensation on your behalf, allowing you to focus on healing from your injuries. Contact us today for a free case review.
Melbourne Ridesharing Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
You Have a Limited Time Frame
Every state, including Florida, has a statute of limitations that places a time limit on your right to bring legal action for wrongful events. If you do not file your lawsuit within the designated time frame, you will likely lose your ability to recover damages for the losses you suffered in the ridesharing accident—regardless of how strong your evidence is.
According to Florida Statute §95.11, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is four years and the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits is two years. Exceptions to these statutes of limitations are rare, so it is almost always in your best interest to consult with a Melbourne ridesharing accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
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Damages You Could Recover
While your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage should cover medical expenses for minor injuries and the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover your property damage costs, these are not always enough to compensate you for the suffering you endured in an accident, especially if you have life-altering or permanent injuries. Pursuing damages through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit may give you the opportunity to recover additional costs of the accident, such as long-term medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and funeral costs.
A civil lawsuit also gives you the opportunity to recover costs that are harder to quantify, but just as real. These may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Inconvenience
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
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Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Help
When someone else causes you pain, you have the legal right to seek compensation—especially when you suffer injuries in a ridesharing accident that was not your fault.
The Melbourne ridesharing accident lawyers at Ben Crump Law, PLLC can fight to help you recover the compensation you deserve. We work on a contingency basis, which means that we only charge a fee if we are able to earn a financial award for you. We are just as motivated as you are to ensure that you receive a fair settlement for your losses.
Our team can help by investigating the ridesharing accident, gathering evidence of who was at fault, identifying what damages you may be able to recover, navigating state laws, communicating with insurance providers, filing a lawsuit on your behalf, and aggressively negotiating for your right to compensation. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (844) 730-0233 for a free consultation.
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