Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Bradenton

Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Presenting Winning Legal Options for Rideshare Accident Victims Seeking Compensation

Companies like Uber and Lyft have become wildly popular. According to BusinessofApps.com, 14 million Uber trips are completed every day around the world. Rideshare companies are now a way of life for people everywhere and offer convenience and affordability. Uber.com reported gross revenue in Florida at more than $870 million based on a 2017 study by the Economic Development Research Group.

But what happens if you’re involved in an Uber car wreck or Lyft accident? Can you sue rideshare companies, Uber, or Lyft drivers if you were involved as a passenger in a car accident?

If you suffered bodily injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. As your Uber and Lyft accident attorneys, we will review the information you give us and help you determine if you have a claim to pursue.

Uber and Lyft drivers are required to have personal auto insurance coverage, and rideshare companies provide their drivers with liability insurance for injured third-party accident victims. Whether your rideshare driver was at fault or even if another driver caused the accident, it’s important that your medical bills are paid and that you are compensated for your losses.

Uber and Lyft accidents can create confusion and misinformation. When you come to Legler, Murphy, and Battaglia, LLP after an Uber wreck or Lyft accident, we will navigate through the information you’ve gathered and represent you so you can move forward and recover from your injuries.

The first thing we usually do is answer common questions that drivers injured in rideshare accidents have.

What Should You Do if Your Rideshare Driver Gets in a Car Accident?

After a motor vehicle accident occurs, drivers and passengers need to take specific steps to protect their well-being as well as strengthen their lawsuit or insurance claim. Regardless of how the accident occurred and who is deemed to be the at-fault driver or other negligent party, failure to take these essential steps could endanger your chances of recovering maximum compensation.

Steps that you should consider after getting in an accident with an Uber or Lyft vehicle include the following:

Call the police. It’s essential to obtain a police report and have information recorded, especially if your rideshare driver was at fault
Get medical attention if needed. You may not be aware of all your injuries, as adrenaline caused by accidents can mask symptoms and pain. Pay attention to any changes in your body as time progresses
Be cautious about anything you say. Unfortunately, information can be turned around and used against you. Prevent this by not apologizing, giving details, or blaming yourself
Gather insurance information and identification of the other driver involved in the collision, as well as your rideshare driver
Call your insurance company to report the accident. Give only facts
Stay at the accident scene until medical help arrives and you have obtained all the necessary documentation. After a car wreck, there is often a lot of waiting. The process can be exhausting. The last thing you want to do is stand there for hours, but don’t give in to temptation. You must stay at the scene until the police report is filed, and you have a written record of events if you want compensation for your injuries. If your injuries are severe, you will need to be taken by ambulance to a hospital so your injuries can be treated properly
Document information. Gather as many details as possible. What time did the accident happen? How did it happen? What damage did it cause to the vehicles involved? When did you notice your injuries? What areas of your body did you experience pain in, and how did they appear physically?
Take pictures with your cell phone. Pictures are valuable to your case and will help provide evidence in case the driver changes the story later
Ask for witnesses to make a statement and document it on your phone. Get their name and phone number in case you need to contact them at a later time

After doing the above, contact our law firm to schedule your free case evaluation with our personal injury attorneys. We will explore all legal options to help you recover accident-related losses such as medical expenses, property damage, etc. Additionally, our law office operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not owe us a dime in legal fees unless and until we can reach a settlement for your case.

Are Rideshare Accidents Common in Florida?

Unfortunately, while rideshare services offer passengers convenient options for getting around town, accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers are fairly common. The causes of rideshare accidents largely mirror the causes of other types of motor vehicle accidents, but additional causes may uniquely affect the rideshare concept.

Drowsy and fatigued driving is a common concern for Uber and Lyft drivers, as they must often work long hours and sometimes late into the night.

In Florida, anyone over the age of 23 is allowed to work for Uber or Lyft, provided they have at least one year of driving experience. However, most circumstances require no test to become a rideshare driver. As a result, many drivers who get behind the wheel of rideshare vehicles may lack the experience to navigate the roads for their passengers and other motorists safely.

When a rideshare driver receives a ride request from a new passenger, the rideshare app provides directions. Frequently, rideshare drivers must take their eyes off the road while en route to a drop-off or pick-up point, leading to hazardous distracted driving scenarios.

As Uber and Lyft pay their drivers based on how many rides they provide in any given day, rideshare drivers can tend to drive aggressively or recklessly to perform as many rides as possible. With this incentive, speeding and other aggressive maneuvers may seem encouraged, which increases the likelihood of getting in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring the Rideshare Accident Attorneys of Our Florida Law Firm?

At Legler, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP, we are experienced in winning cases for victims of rideshare accidents. We also handle cases involving rideshare drivers convicted of DUIs.

We know Uber and Lyft accidents can be complicated, and we use our knowledge to investigate and gather crucial evidence needed to establish liability. We will negotiate with insurance companies and work to pursue your case. If necessary, we will file a lawsuit against the rideshare company on your behalf.

Legal services provided by our rideshare accident lawyers include the following:

Assistance in finding a qualified doctor who can document your injuries and provide necessary medical treatment to injured victims
Dedicated legal advice throughout the claims process, including potentially taking your case to trial as you pursue compensation for your injuries and other losses
Help getting an insurance company to provide adequate compensation for medical bills and other accident-related expenses
Legal guidance to help navigate confusing and misleading paperwork and other types of documentation related to your rideshare accident case
Perform detailed and thorough investigations into the car crash to determine who was the at-fault party

Why Are Rideshare Accident Cases Frequently More Legally Complex Than Most Auto Accident Claims?

Rideshare companies and their insurance policies can complicate personal injury claims in ways that other car accident cases may not.

Uber and Lyft drivers are not considered employees of the rideshare companies but rather independent contractors. Under Florida law, a company cannot be held liable for the negligence of independent contractors. As a result, you cannot sue Uber or Lyft based on driver negligence.

Despite that, however, state laws require that rideshare companies provide liability coverage for their drivers. If an Uber or Lyft driver is transporting an official passenger at the time of an accident, the rideshare company provides an auto insurance policy with coverage of $1 million. When not engaged in official rides, the rideshare company’s insurance policy provides far more limited coverage per person and accident.

Even if the laws are on the side of the victims in a particular case, that does not necessarily mean that insurance companies will fairly compensate injured victims for their losses. Retaining professional legal representation from an experienced rideshare accident attorney is often necessary to negotiate with insurance companies to secure more favorable settlements.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer Today

With successful legal representation, victims in rideshare accident cases can hope to recover financial compensation for their injuries and certain other losses. Potential financial recovery may include economic and non-economic damages, including compensation for medical expenses, wrongful death, property damage, lost wages, and more. Those who opt to retain the legal services of an experienced attorney often have a better chance of recovering a favorable settlement for their injuries.

To learn more about how our legal team can assist you in pursuing fair financial compensation, please contact our law office to schedule your free initial consultation today.

You can call our Florida law firm at 941-299-0308.