Melbourne Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Lyft and Uber drivers are constantly working, transporting passengers through Melbourne, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Orlando International Airport, and Port Canaveral. When a person is injured or killed in a rideshare crash, the case is more complex than those involving standard vehicles. Insurance policies vary based on the driver’s app status, and Uber and Lyft always work to limit their liability. Our Melbourne rideshare accident lawyer group represents rideshare drivers, passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists harmed in Lyft and Uber accidents throughout Brevard County.
Our law firm offers free consultations, and clients don’t pay unless we secure fair settlements or jury awards. Call 321-725-3425 or fill out our contact form to get started.
What To Do After a Rideshare Accident in Brevard County
- Call 911 and get medical attention right away. Your medical records will serve as evidence later.
- Report the Lyft or Uber accident to the police.
- Gather evidence. Take photos/videos of vehicles, the accident scene, injuries, and anything else to help document what happened.
- Screenshot the Lyft or Uber app, trip details, and driver information if it is safe to do so.
- Get contact information and witness statements, if possible.
- Report the Lyft/Uber accident through the app.
- Notify your own insurer.
- Contact a rideshare accident lawyer in Melbourne, FL, before giving a recorded statement to any insurer.
Our Melbourne Uber accident lawyer and Melbourne Lyft accident lawyer group have decades of combined experience, helping clients secure maximum compensation in the aftermath of serious personal injuries or fatalities.
Melbourne Uber Accident Lawyer
Our Melbourne Uber accident lawyer team handles claims throughout Brevard County.
Uber accident cases hinge on the driver’s status at the time of the collision. The company uses a tiered system, and Uber accident coverage varies based on whether the Uber app was off, the person was waiting on a ride request, had accepted the ride, or was actively transporting a passenger.
Uber drivers are also classified as independent contractors. This allows the company to argue it’s not responsible for drivers’ actions. This doesn’t eliminate the ability to seek compensation through Uber’s insurance claims process. Disputes over Uber accidents in Brevard County often center on timing and which policy applies.
Our Melbourne Uber accident lawyers use Uber app data, trip logs, and the company’s internal processes as evidence when disputes arise.
Melbourne Lyft Accident Lawyer
The Lyft accident claims process is similar. However, Lyft handles them through its own corporate system. Like Uber accidents, Lyft policies typically depend on whether the driver was offline, waiting for a ride request, or actively working.
Like Uber, Lyft classifies drivers as independent contractors. This complicates fault and shifts focus to coverage issues. Our Melbourne Lyft accident attorneys use company data, trip history, and the claim file to help determine which tier applies to our client.
Legal Representation For Lyft and Uber Accident Victims Throughout Brevard County, FL
If You Are | How We Help |
|---|---|
Passenger injury in rideshare and rideshare passenger assault | You were injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft. The TNC’s $1 million policy should cover your injuries. Our Lyft and Uber accident lawyers in Melbourne, FL, fight to make sure it does. |
Rideshare driver injuries and property damage | You were injured while working. Your rights hinge on your app status, personal auto policy, and the TNC’s coverage tier. We navigate those problems for you. |
Another motorist hit by a Lyft or Uber driver | The rideshare driver caused the crash. We pursue every available policy, including the driver’s personal insurance, the TNC’s commercial policy, and your own UM/UIM insurance. |
Cyclist or pedestrian hit by a Lyft or Uber driver | Our Lyft and Uber accident lawyers handle both bicycle accident claims and pedestrian accident claims in Melbourne. We recommend calling as soon as possible to explore your legal options. |
Insurance Coverage Works For Accidents Involving Rideshare Companies in Florida
In Florida, insurance coverage in a Lyft or Uber accident depends on the status at the time of the crash.
Driver’s App Status | Insurance Coverage |
|---|---|
App off | Driver’s insurance policy; no TNC |
Driver is logged in, waiting for a ride request | Contingent liability: $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury, $25,000 property damage |
En route to pick up or transport a passenger | $1 million combined single limit; TNC’s full commercial policy |
Why this matters:
- Insurers will fight to classify Lyft/Uber drivers in the lowest-coverage tier. Their legal teams examine data down to the second. You need a Melbourne rideshare accident attorney who does the same.
- If the driver was logged into multiple apps: Gig drivers will wait for delivery or ride requests from delivery services like Uber, Lyft, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, etc. If the driver is logged into both a Lyft and Uber app, for example, each insurer will point to the other.
- Florida’s 2023 tort reform shifted the state to a modified comparative fault system. If you’re found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover. Insurance companies use this aggressively.
Comprehensive Coverage and TNC Insurance Claims
Comprehensive coverage applies when a Lyft or Uber driver causes a crash. It generally protects the vehicle from non-collision losses. Examples typically include theft, vandalism, fire, hail, falling objects, or animal damage. Comprehensive coverage does not pay for injuries to passengers or other people.
In TNC claims, comprehensive coverage applies if the rideshare vehicle itself was damaged. However, it’s not usually the main source of financial compensation for injury victims.
Using Your Own UM/UIM Insurance Policy
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is also important. If the rideshare driver’s insurance coverage is disputed, delayed, or insufficient, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional path to recovery.
Florida's Serious Injury Threshold for Car Accident Injury Claims
Lyft and Uber accident claims can also be affected by Florida’s “serious injury” threshold. To recover non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, victims need to show a qualifying personal injury beyond minor whiplash or soft tissue damage.
When personal injuries don’t meet this threshold, compensation can be limited to no-fault benefits and financial losses.
Can You Sue Uber or Lyft Directly?
Every client asks, “Can you sue Uber after an accident?” or “Can you sue Lyft after an accident?”
Companies classify Lyft and Uber drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This shields the company from vicarious liability.
However, you can sue Lyft or Uber directly when the following applies:
- Negligent hiring or retention: Lyft or Uber drivers with a known history of dangerous driving, criminal record, or prior complaints.
- Lyft/Uber vehicle safety violations: the company failed to enforce its own vehicle inspection requirements
- Sexual assault or other violent misconduct: Lyft or Uber may face direct liability if the company failed to properly screen a driver, ignored warning signs, or did not take reasonable action after complaints, reports, or other examples of dangerous behavior emerged.
These lawsuits don’t replace recovery from insurance companies; they add to it. Our Melbourne rideshare injury attorneys investigate Lyft/Uber drivers’ histories and the companies’ hiring and retention practices to determine whether we can help maximize settlement offers.
Common Locations for Lyft and Uber Accidents in Melbourne and Surrounding Communities
Our Melbourne rideshare accident attorney team often handles cases in the following locations:
- US-192 (New Haven Avenue) and Wickham Road: the top crash intersection in Brevard County
- Downtown Melbourne entertainment district: from Strawbridge Avenue and New Haven Avenue bar and restaurant, late-night travel
- Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB): staging areas and terminal access roads
- Port Canaveral: cruise and tourist travel on SR-528
- A1A through Cocoa Beach: tourism travel, peaking during spring break and summer
- I-95 corridor: high-speed trips between cities
- Eau Gallie Boulevard and US-1: high-risk intersection
Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Brevard County – Locations We Serve
Palm Bay Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Palm Bay Lyft and Uber accident cases are common due to heavy traffic along Babcock Street, Palm Bay Road, and US-192. We help passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists injured in rideshare crashes in Palm Bay.
Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Lyft and Uber accident cases in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral often stem from tourists traveling on A1A and near Port Canaveral. Our law firm handles Lyft and Uber injury cases across the barrier island.
Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers in Viera and Rockledge
Car accidents involving Lyft and Uber drivers most frequently happen around the Avenues and Wickham Road. We handle Lyft and Uber injury claims in Viera, Rockledge, and the surrounding areas.
Merritt Island and Titusville Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer
Rideshare services are common along US-1 and SR-3. Our law firm handles Uber and Lyft injury claims in Titusville, Merritt Island, and across North Brevard.
Don’t see your city? Our Melbourne rideshare accident lawyer team serves all of Brevard County. Call 321-725-3425.
Lyft and Uber Accident Questions and Answers
Can You Sue Lyft For an Accident?
Yes, but not always directly. Lyft classifies drivers as independent contractors. When a ride is in progress, you can seek compensation through Lyft’s insurance company, which provides up to $1 million in liability coverage.
Can You Sue Uber For an Accident?
Yes. You can pursue compensation from the Uber driver or Uber’s insurance company. Uber vehicles have up to $1 million in liability coverage when Uber drivers are en route to pick up passengers or during trips.
How are Lyft and Uber Passenger Accident Claims Handled?
If you’re injured as a passenger in a Lyft or Uber accident, you are covered by the company’s $1 million insurance policy. Use the company’s policy first, regardless of whether your driver or another vehicle caused the collision.
What Happens When Lyft or Uber Kills a Pedestrian or Cyclist?
When a Lyft or Uber driver fatally injures someone, the family can sue the driver’s personal insurance and seek coverage under the company’s policy if the driver was using the Lyft/Uber app. Fatal cases are governed by Florida § 768.16, which allows recovery for financial and emotional damages.
What Happens If The Lyft or Uber Driver Didn't Have Personal Insurance in Florida?
This depends on whether the Lyft or Uber driver was providing rideshare services at the time of the collision. Under Florida’s rideshare law, rideshare companies must provide backup insurance if a driver doesn’t have insurance or their insurance company denies a claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Car Accident Involving a Rideshare Vehicle in Florida?
You typically have two years from the date of the Lyft/Uber accident (or death) to file a lawsuit under Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(a). If you miss this, you’ll lose your right to recover compensation.
Contact a Melbourne Rideshare Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, you can speak with a Melbourne rideshare accident lawyer right now. A free case review is available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys assist passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists throughout Brevard County, including Palm Bay, Viera, Cocoa Beach, Titusville, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Satellite Beach, Cape Canaveral, and Melbourne, FL.
Call 321-725-3425 or fill out our contact form to get started.