Tampa Lyft Accident Lawyer

Did you sustain injuries in a Lyft accident in Tampa, FL? You may be entitled to hold the responsible party liable for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A Tampa Lyft accident lawyer at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the full amount available. 

Since 1992, we’ve been proudly standing up for injured clients in the Tampa Bay area. We’ve recovered over $500 million in compensation. We’re well-prepared to use our three-decades worth of skills and resources to your advantage.

Ready to learn more from a Tampa Uber and Lyft accident attorney? Contact our Tampa injury lawyers near you at (813) 222-8656 to schedule a free consultation today.

How Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Lyft Accident in Tampa

How Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Lyft Accident in Tampa

Many Tampa-area residents use Lyft to get home safely on a regular basis. However, Lyft can’t actually guarantee a safe ride. Lyft drivers can cause accidents just like any other driver.

Unfortunately, ridesharing accident claims can be complex. It’s not always easy to prove who is responsible for paying your damages. An experienced Tampa personal injury lawyer can help you navigate these difficult issues while you recover.

When you hire Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers, we’ll handle every aspect of your personal injury claim. That means your lawyer will:

  • Gather evidence to back up your claim
  • Identify all responsible parties and insurance policies
  • Stand up for you if the insurance company blames you or tries to undervalue your claim
  • Work with experts in accident reconstruction, medicine, and other specialties as needed

Negotiating with the insurance company can create a headache that you don’t need. Let our personal injury lawyers take the lead. With over 28 years of experience, we know the tactics insurance companies will use to deny or diminish the value of your claim—and we won’t stand for them.

If you’re interested in learning more, call for a free case evaluation today.

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How Common Are Lyft Accidents in Tampa?

Use of Lyft and other rideshare companies has become increasingly common in recent years. There are about 1.4 million Lyft drivers out there–and individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 report using Lyft on a weekly basis. Around 50% of users report using Lyft more than they use their own motor vehicles.

However, it isn’t always easy to tell how common Uber or Lyft accidents are. Lyft drivers are independent contractors who use their own personal vehicles. Studies do show that fatalities have increased in major cities since ridesharing companies entered the picture.

In fact, traffic fatalities increased by 2%-4% every single year that Lyft and Uber have been available. 

What is My Tampa Lyft Accident Case Worth?

Like any other car accident case, the value of a Lyft accident claim depends on the severity of the injury.

The value of your case also depends upon:

  • The cost of your medical treatment
  • Whether you can work while you recover
  • Your lost wages and income
  • The cost of repairing any damaged property
  • Your emotional pain and trauma

Compensation available to motor vehicle accident victims is also limited by insurance policy caps. Insurance policies only cover up to the maximum coverage limits. If the at-fault party has insufficient assets to make up the difference, the victim often suffers.

Liability insurance is different in Lyft accident cases. Because Lyft drivers are independent contractors, not employees, Lyft isn’t actually liable for damages after an accident. However, they are required to provide insurance coverage for accident victims under current Florida laws.

The available Lyft insurance coverage depends upon the driver’s status when the accident happens. If the Lyft app is turned off, the driver is treated like anyone else on the roads. The Lyft driver’s personal policy must cover damages related to the accident.

While using the app, however, the following insurance rules apply:

Driver is Available to Accept a Lyft Ride

Lyft’s third-party liability coverage applies when the driver is using the Lyft app, so that personal auto insurance doesn’t apply. 

If the Lyft driver is available to accept a ride, the following coverage applies:

  • $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person
  • $100,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
  • $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident

This coverage is important because a personal insurance policy won’t cover damages that happen when the driver is using the vehicle for commercial purposes.

Driver Has Accepted a Ride

Once the driver has accepted a ride, the following insurance is available:

  • $1 million for third-party liability
  • uninsured/underinsured bodily liability coverage
  • Contingent collision coverage up to the actual value of the vehicle (with a $2,500 deductible)

This coverage applies whenever the driver is transporting a passenger in the Lyft vehicle. It also applies while the driver is driving to pick up the Lyft passenger.

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What Types of Damages Are Available to Lyft Accident Victims?

Lyft accident victims can recover economic damages and non-economic damages under Florida personal injury law. 

Examples of economic damages include:

Examples of non-economic damages include:

Victims can recover the full amount of their economic and non-economic damages without limit. In rare cases, punitive damages may even be available to punish the responsible party.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Lyft Accident in Florida?

Accidents are rarely black-and-white. Multiple parties can share blame–including injured parties. The Florida comparative fault laws allow victims to recover damages even if they’re partly responsible for an accident.

However, your settlement can be reduced to account for your share of liability.

Our Tampa Lyft accident attorneys can help you minimize your role in the accident so that you walk away with the fair compensation you deserve.  

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Lyft Accident Injuries

Lyft accident injuries can be as serious as any other auto accident injury. Our legal team at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers will fight to recover compensation for all of your injuries, whether you were a driver or passenger, including:

If your loved one was killed in a fatal Lyft accident, we can also help you fight to recover damages for the wrongful death of a loved one.

We’re here to help, 24/7

Call (813) 222-8656

What Causes Most Lyft Accidents in Tampa, Florida?

Lyft is an extremely convenient way to get around Tampa–especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area. However, Lyft drivers don’t receive any specialized training. Your chances of being involved in an accident aren’t any lower than if you were driving yourself.

In fact, Uber and Lyft drivers might be even more likely to cause an accident. After all, they’re trying to make a profit. They’re in a hurry and may be distracted by the app on their phone.

Lyft accidents occur in Tampa due to:

  • Distracted driving
  • Driver fatigue
  • Unfamiliarity with the roads and traffic patterns
  • Excessive speeding
  • Aggressive driving
  • Stopping to pick up or drop off passengers in unsafe areas
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way
  • Tailgating
  • Rushing to make it through a yellow light
  • Unsafe passing
  • Illegal lane changes
  • Illegal or unsafe turns
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Drunk driving

Lyft accidents can also happen because of conditions on the road in general. Poor weather, negligently maintained roads, and malfunctioning traffic signals can also play a role. 

If you were hurt in a Lyft accident, our lawyers can help you find out why. Just call our law offices to schedule a free case review when you’re ready to get started.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Lyft Accident in Florida? 

Any number of parties can be liable after a Lyft accident. Rideshare drivers, third-party drivers, and even pedestrians and bicyclists can be responsible. To recover damages, you’ll have to prove that someone was negligent.

Negligence means that someone failed to exercise reasonable caution to keep others safe. 

From a legal perspective, your lawyer will have to prove:

For example, if your Lyft driver was speeding through a red light, that’s an example of negligence. If that negligence caused an accident, victims can recover compensation for their losses–including physical, emotional, and financial losses.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Lyft Accident in Florida?

The Florida statute of limitations is two years in personal injury cases. That means you’ll have four years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The timeline is cut down to two years for wrongful death claims. 

If you miss this deadline, you will not be able to recover any compensation. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers will make sure your filings comply with all relevant deadlines. We won’t let you lose compensation on a technicality. 

Contact a Tampa Lyft Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Were you injured in an accident involving Lyft? Don’t risk leaving money on the table. Call a Tampa Lyft accident lawyer at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers to see whether you have the right to compensation. Your first consultation is always 100% free of charge, so give us a call today.

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