St. Petersburg Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? You may be entitled to compensation from the rideshare driver or the company itself. The St. Petersburg Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers can help you recover the money you need for your medical bills and other losses. Contact us at (813) 536-3437 for a free consultation.
Rideshare accident claims can be more complex than typical car accidents due to the involvement of multiple insurance policies and corporate liability issues. Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, having an experienced legal team on your side can make all the difference.
Why Choose Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers for Help After a Rideshare Accident in St. Petersburg, FL?
You deserve an experienced St. Petersburg car accident lawyer who can level the playing field and hold them accountable for what they owe.
Clients in St. Petersburg, FL, choose Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers because:
- We have over 120 years of combined experience handling car accident claims.
- We’ve recovered hundreds of millions for injured clients.
- We’ve been recognized by leading legal organizations like Martindale-Hubbell (AV Preeminent Rating and Client’s Choice award).
- We have hundreds of five-star ratings on Google.
- We work on a contingency fee basis and only get paid if you win.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a St. Petersburg Uber and Lyft accident attorney. We’re available 24/7 to help you.
Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage in Florida
Uber and Lyft utilize a tiered insurance system. The coverage offered after a rideshare accident depends on the driver’s status on the rideshare app when the collision occurred.
Driver Offline (App Off)
If the rideshare driver was not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, the rideshare company generally provides no insurance coverage. Rather, personal auto insurance policies typically apply.
Florida’s minimum required liability insurance coverage for drivers includes:
- $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP)
- $10,000 in property damage liability
Under the state’s no-fault insurance system, you will first make a claim with your PIP policy, regardless of who was at fault. If you suffered serious injuries or your damages exceed the policy limits, you can make a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Importantly, Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability insurance. In practice, most drivers do carry this coverage, but it can leave victims exposed if it is not available.
Driver Available and Waiting for a Ride Request
When the rideshare driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft provide limited contingent coverage.
This coverage generally includes:
- Up to $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
- Up to $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
- Up to $25,000 in property damage coverage
This coverage typically applies if the driver’s personal insurance does not fully cover the damages.
Driver En Route or Transporting a Passenger
Once a driver accepts a ride request or is actively transporting a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide their highest level of insurance coverage.
This typically includes up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage for injuries and damages caused by the rideshare driver.
Determining which of these coverages applies to your accident is one of the most important steps in your case. The higher the limits, the better.
What Compensation Can I Recover After an Uber or Lyft Accident in St. Petersburg?
After a rideshare accident, you may be entitled to pursue economic damages and non-economic damages for your personal and financial losses. Together, these should compensate you for the full range of harms you’ve suffered.
Your damages award may include money for:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages while recovering
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also have the right to damages for funeral expenses, loss of support, and lost companionship. An experienced attorney can help you identify all the damages you’re entitled to.
How Much Does a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg Cost?
Most rideshare accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no upfront fees or hourly fees for legal representation. Instead, your law firm advances the costs associated with investigating and pursuing your claim.
Your attorney will collect compensation at the end of your case, but only if they recover a settlement or verdict for you (their fee is a percentage of your award).
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers offers contingency fees in all personal injury cases. We also offer free consultations to explain your legal rights.
Comparative Fault in Florida Rideshare Accident Cases
Florida follows a modified comparative fault system, which means you can still recover compensation after an accident as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault. If you are partially responsible, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
However, if you are found to be more than 50 percent responsible, you may be barred from recovering damages altogether. For example, if your total damages equal $150,000 and you are found to be 20 percent at fault, your recovery could be reduced to $120,000. But if you were determined to be 55 percent at fault, you would likely be unable to recover compensation.
In rideshare accident cases, where multiple drivers and insurance policies may be involved, it is common for insurers to dispute liability and shift blame. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can review the facts of your case, push back against unfair fault claims, and work to protect your right to compensation.
We Can Recover Compensation for All Your Uber and Lyft Accident Injuries
Rideshare accidents are a type of car accident. Therefore, they can cause all the same injuries as typical motor vehicle wrecks.
Victims in St. Petersburg Uber and Lyft accidents often suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Neck and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
- Psychological trauma
These injuries (and others) can also result in wrongful death. A car accident claim allows you to recover compensation for all the physical and emotional harm you’ve suffered after a crash.
Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg’s busy streets, tourism traffic, and growing population create challenging driving conditions for rideshare drivers. Still, many Uber and Lyft accidents occur because of negligence.
Some of the most common causes of rideshare accidents include:
- Distracted driving (especially navigation apps and ride request apps).
- Driver fatigue due to long hours or late driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to yield
- Driving Under the Influence
- Inexperienced driving due to minimal training
Identifying the cause of a rideshare accident is an important part of building a strong claim. A detailed investigation can help determine who was responsible and what insurance coverages apply.
What Is the Deadline to File an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawsuit in Florida?
For most rideshare accident cases in Florida, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the accident results in a fatal injury, you will have two years from the date of death to pursue a wrongful death claim.
There could be exceptions, but they are rare. You should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a rideshare accident for help identifying the deadlines in your case.
Should I Hire a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in St. Petersburg?
Uber and Lyft accident cases are different from most motor vehicle accident claims. Several layers of insurance coverage may apply depending on whether the driver was actively transporting a passenger, waiting for a ride request, or using the vehicle for personal purposes.
Determining liability requires a detailed investigation from lawyers who know what to look for. An experienced St. Petersburg rideshare accident lawyer can help you by:
- Conducting an investigation of the accident
- Collecting evidence such as crash reports, app data, and witness statements
- Working with accident reconstruction experts when necessary
- Determining whether the rideshare driver, another motorist, or a third party is responsible
- Identifying all available insurance coverage
- Handling communications with insurance companies
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Preparing your case for trial if negotiations do not produce a fair outcome
Having trusted legal representation can help you navigate the overlapping insurance policies and corporate defense teams that are common in rideshare accident claims.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a St. Petersburg Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer
An Uber or Lyft accident can disrupt everything. You shouldn’t be left wondering what insurance applies or if your injuries are even covered. The St. Petersburg Uber and Lyft accident attorneys at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers can help you seek maximum compensation.
We have decades of experience representing individuals injured in serious motor vehicle accidents across Florida. If you were hurt in a rideshare accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, call today to schedule a free consultation. We are ready to help you take the next step toward recovery.
