Attorney for Uber and Lyft Car Accidents in Miami
Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft make catching a ride easier than ever. With a few taps on your phone, your ride is hailed, the driver comes directly to you and takes you exactly where you want to go, and the cost for the trip – calculated in advance – is deducted from your account. it’s no wonder people are lining up by the millions to use Uber and Lyft to get around, or applying to drive for these transportation network companies (TNCs) and make a little (or a lot of) extra cash.
But what happens if you are hurt in a car accident during an Uber or Lyft trip? Understanding your rights and the best way to go about obtaining compensation for your injuries can be confusing, intimidating and maddeningly frustrating. Having a trusted legal professional on your side takes away that confusion and frustration. In Miami, attorney Michael Goldfarb and Goldfarb Law help Uber and Lyft car accident victims get the medical care and compensation they need after a serious car accident has let them with medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering and other legal damages.
Risk of car accidents for Uber and Lyft drivers
In a city with nearly 200 crashes a day, avoiding a car accident requires constant careful driving and attention to the road. Uber and Lyft drivers often have more distractions than the average driver, making them more vulnerable to traffic collisions. Remember that rideshare drivers are not professional cabbies who know every inch of the city inside and out. Often they rely on their phone and navigation to find their way to their fare’s destination. Every second with eyes on the phone is time with eyes off the road, and a sudden traffic slowdown, an object in the road or an unexpected maneuver from another driver is all it takes to cause an accident with a distracted driver.
Another danger with Uber and Lyft drivers is that there is no time limit on the lengths of shifts. Drivers may be on the road for hours, or they may work a full-time job and then get on the road logged in to their app, making driver fatigue and drowsy driving a very real danger. Additionally, unlike cab drivers whose cars are maintained by fleet mechanics, it is up to the individual TNC driver to make sure tires and brakes and other vehicle maintenance is properly looked after. Some are simply more diligent in this regard than others.
Finally, cab companies have the ability to screen drivers they hire, but there is little in the way to keep a relatively inexperienced driver, or a reckless or aggressive driver, from driving for a ridesharing app.
What does Florida law require of Uber and Lyft drivers?
Florida law does require TNCs to conduct a background check of prospective drivers. TNCs are not supposed to use any driver who was convicted of DUI, reckless driving, hit and run, any felony or certain misdemeanor violent or sex offenses in last five years. Other requirements include being a licensed driver with proof of registration and no more than three moving violations in the last three years. TNCs are also not allowed to use anyone convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license in the last three years, or any registered sex offender.
In addition, Florida Statutes 627.748 sets out insurance requirements and other laws regarding transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber or Lyft and the drivers who work for them. The law requires either the driver, the TNC on the driver’s behalf, or a combination of the two to maintain primary automobile insurance that meets certain minimum requirements. The amount of insurance required differs depending on whether the driver is merely logged in to the app and accepting fares or is actually engaged in a prearranged ride:
Driver is logged in to app – $50,000 per person for death or bodily injury, up to $100,000 per accident, plus $25,000 in property damage liability PDL. Driver must also be insured with $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) requirements and also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
Driver is engaged in a prearranged ride – $1 million in primary coverage, plus PIP and UM
These requirements are good news for the car accident injury victim, but it is still no easy matter to get the insurance company to recognize the full extent of your damages and pay you what your claim is worth. Attorney Michael Goldfarb has handled enough cases, including multi-million-dollar settlements, to know how much a car accident case is worth and how to go about obtaining that compensation from the insurance company through settlement negotiations, litigation or trial.
Call Goldfarb Law after a Ridesharing Car Accident in Miami
If you have been hurt in a Miami car accident as a ridesharing passenger, or as a pedestrian, bicyclist or other driver struck by someone driving for Uber or Lyft, call Goldfarb Law at 305-433-3200 for a free consultation with a skilled, knowledgeable and aggressive Miami car accident personal injury attorney.
