An Uber or Lyft crash can leave you dealing with more insurance companies than you expected. A Sarasota rideshare accident lawyer can help you figure out which policy applies and push back when insurers try to pay less than you need. Whether you were a passenger, another driver, a pedestrian or a cyclist, Gerber Law is here to walk you through it.
Our firm has stood up for accident victims since 1999. If you are looking for an Uber accident lawyer in Sarasota or a Lyft accident attorney who will explain things in plain English, call us at 941-484-2700 for a free consultation.
Uber and Lyft Crashes in Sarasota
Rideshare cars are everywhere in Sarasota. They carry riders up and down U.S. 41 / Tamiami Trail, drop off diners in downtown Sarasota along Main Street and Palm Avenue, and loop through St. Armands Circle, where foot traffic is heavy. Riders also request Uber and Lyft pickups at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), which directs rideshare riders to a designated pickup zone.
People choose Uber or Lyft for good reasons. Maybe you wanted to avoid driving after a night out, your car was in the shop, or you didn’t want to pay for airport parking. A crash on any of those trips can leave you with injuries, missed work and a lot of questions about who pays.
These claims start like any other car crash, but the app adds another layer. So the first question we ask is simple: what was the driver doing in the app when the crash happened?
Which Insurance Applies Depends on the Driver’s App Status
Under Florida’s rideshare insurance law, the coverage available after an Uber or Lyft crash changes with the driver’s status in the app. There are three periods to know.
App off
When the driver is not logged in to the app, they are a private motorist like anyone else. Their personal auto policy generally controls, and its limits may be modest.
App on, waiting for a request
When the driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride, Florida requires at least $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for property damage. Personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage are also required. This coverage can come from the driver or vehicle owner, the rideshare company, or a combination of both. Florida also lets a driver’s personal auto insurer exclude coverage for losses that happen while the driver is logged in to the app or giving a prearranged ride, which is one reason the required rideshare coverage matters.
En route or ride in progress
Once the driver accepts a ride, and until the last rider leaves the vehicle, Florida requires at least $1 million in primary liability coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage. PIP and UM/UIM coverage also apply. The same coverage sources can be used: the driver or owner’s insurance, the rideshare company’s insurance, or both.
Because the money available can change so much from one period to the next, insurers often argue about app status. Trip records, receipts, screenshots and app data can help show what the driver was really doing. In a claims coverage investigation, Florida law requires the rideshare company to provide, on request from a directly involved party or the driver’s insurer, the exact times the driver logged on and off the app in the 12 hours before and the 12 hours after the crash. For a deeper look, read our guide to Uber and Lyft insurance coverage in Florida.
If You Were the Rideshare Passenger
Your trip falls in the ride-in-progress period, so Florida’s $1 million primary liability requirement applies while you are being driven.
That does not always make the claim simple. Another motorist may have caused the crash, so that driver’s insurance may be involved too. If the at-fault driver had little or no insurance, the rideshare UM coverage can become important. Your own PIP may still pay first for covered medical bills.
To protect yourself as a passenger, try to save:
The electronic receipt and trip details
Screenshots of the driver’s name, vehicle and route
Your pickup and drop-off points
Any messages from Uber or Lyft about the crash
These records help show that a ride was active and keep the coverage investigation clean. We also review your own policies, because more than one source of coverage may be available.
If a Rideshare Driver Hit You
If you were driving, walking or biking in Sarasota and an Uber or Lyft driver hit you, the same question comes first: what was the driver doing in the app?
If the driver was carrying a rider or heading to a pickup, the larger rideshare policy may apply. If the driver was logged in and waiting, a smaller layer of coverage applies. If the app was off, you may be limited to the driver’s personal policy, and your own PIP and UM/UIM coverage may matter more.
Expect pushback. Rideshare companies may say their drivers are independent contractors, not employees. Insurers may claim the app was off, question how badly you were hurt or point to a policy exclusion. Florida’s rideshare insurance requirements apply to the driver, or the rideshare company on the driver’s behalf, and the statute does not make them depend on whether the driver counts as an employee, so these arguments are not the end of the story.
To learn more about how fault, evidence and insurance work after any collision, visit our Sarasota car accident lawyer page.
Florida PIP and Rideshare Claims
Florida is a no-fault state. That means personal injury protection (PIP) is generally the first source of payment for covered medical bills after a crash, even when a larger rideshare policy may also apply.
If you own a car, your own PIP usually comes into play first. If you don’t own a car, you may have coverage through a resident relative’s policy or another source. Florida’s rideshare law also requires PIP coverage during both app-on periods, and it can be provided by the driver or owner’s insurance, the rideshare company’s insurance, or both.
PIP has limits. Medical benefits can reach $10,000 when an emergency medical condition is determined, and they are limited to $2,500 without that finding. To be eligible, you must receive initial medical care within 14 days of the accident, so don’t wait to get checked out.
Serious injuries often cost more than PIP pays. When that happens, we look to the at-fault driver’s insurance and any rideshare coverage. You can read more on our page about Florida’s PIP law.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Crash in Sarasota
- Call 911 and get medical care. Prompt care protects your health, creates a medical record and keeps you inside the PIP treatment window.
- Report the crash to police. An official report gives everyone a record of what happened.
- Save the app information. Screenshot the trip screen, receipt and driver details as soon as you can.
- Report the crash in the Uber or Lyft app. Keep any confirmation messages you receive.
- Document the scene. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions and your injuries. Get names, insurance details and witness contact information.
- Talk with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. This matters most when fault or app status is in question.
Sarasota Rideshare Accident FAQs
Does Uber’s or Lyft’s $1 million policy cover passengers?
During a ride, Florida requires at least $1 million in primary liability coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage. A passenger’s claim may involve that policy, another driver’s insurance or several policies, depending on who caused the crash. PIP may still pay first for covered medical bills.
What if the rideshare driver’s app was off?
Then the driver’s personal auto policy generally applies, subject to its terms. Because those limits can be low, your own PIP and UM/UIM coverage may become important sources of recovery.
Can Uber or Lyft deny a claim because drivers are independent contractors?
The company may raise that argument. But Florida’s rideshare insurance requirements turn on whether the driver was logged in or giving a prearranged ride, not on how the driver is classified.
What does it cost to talk with your team?
Your consultation is free, and it can be in person, by phone or virtual. If you hire us, you pay no fees or costs unless we win. We can also come to your home or hospital room.
Talk With a Sarasota Rideshare Accident Lawyer
After an Uber or Lyft crash, you should be able to focus on healing, not arguing with insurers about app status. Attorney Maria Gerber, a former State Prosecutor, founded Gerber Law in 1999. She only represents injured people and never represents insurance companies.
We are available 24/7 and offer home and hospital visits. Call 941-484-2700 for a free consultation, or contact Gerber Law online. Our Sarasota office is at 3859 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 104, Sarasota, FL 34233.
The information on this page is general and is not legal advice for any individual situation.
