Were you injured in a ridesharing accident? Perhaps you were a passenger in an Uber when another driver crashed into you. Maybe you were driving your own vehicle when a Lyft driver ran a stop sign. Or perhaps you're a rideshare driver yourself who was hurt while transporting passengers. Whatever your situation, ridesharing accidents create unique legal challenges that require experienced representation. As an experienced Palm Beach Gardens ridesharing accident lawyer, Matthew Konecky, P.A., can help.
Table of Contents
- What Makes Ridesharing Accident Claims Different?
- Understanding Insurance Coverage in Ridesharing Accidents
- Common Types of Ridesharing Accidents in Palm Beach Gardens
- Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Rideshare Accident
- How Our Palm Beach Gardens Ridesharing Accident Attorney Can Help
- What to Do Immediately After a Ridesharing Accident
- Why You Need an Experienced Palm Beach Gardens Ridesharing Accident Lawyer
What Makes Ridesharing Accident Claims Different?
Ridesharing accidents involve complexities that don't exist in traditional car accident cases. When you're in an accident involving Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare companies, multiple insurance policies may be in play depending on the driver's status at the time of the crash.
The rideshare companies have structured their business models specifically to limit their liability, creating potential obstacles for injured victims seeking fair compensation. For example, drivers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, making it harder to hold the companies directly responsible.
Additionally, these cases often involve multiple parties:
- The rideshare company (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
- The rideshare driver
- The driver's personal insurance company
- The rideshare company's insurance
- Other drivers involved in the accident
- Potentially other third parties (e.g., pedestrians)
With so many moving parts, securing proper compensation becomes significantly more challenging without experienced legal representation. At The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, we understand these unique challenges and have successfully navigated them for clients throughout Palm Beach County.
Understanding Insurance Coverage in Ridesharing Accidents
One of the most confusing aspects of ridesharing accidents is determining which insurance policy applies. Under Florida Statute 627.748, coverage depends entirely on the rideshare driver's status at the time of the accident:
Driver App is Off
If the rideshare driver's app is off and they're not working, their personal auto insurance applies just like any other accident.
Driver App is On, But No Ride Accepted Yet
When a driver has the app on and is waiting for a ride request, limited liability coverage from the rideshare company typically applies:
- Uber/Lyft typically provide $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 total injury liability per accident
- $25,000 for property damage
Driver En Route to Pick Up or Has Passenger
Once a driver accepts a ride and is either en route to pick up a passenger or has a passenger in the vehicle, much higher coverage applies:
- At least $1 million in third-party liability coverage for death, bodily injury, and property damage
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage (if the driver has such coverage on their personal policy)
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Regarding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, Florida Statute 627.748 specifies that transportation network companies and their drivers are not required to provide this coverage unless otherwise required by law.
- This means that if you're involved in a ridesharing accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, there may not always be additional coverage available beyond the liability coverage. This creates another critical reason to work with an experienced ridesharing accident attorney who can identify all possible sources of compensation for your injuries.
Understanding these complex insurance structures is crucial to maximizing your recovery. Our experienced Palm Beach Gardens ridesharing accident attorney knows exactly how to navigate these policies to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
Common Types of Ridesharing Accidents in Palm Beach Gardens
Ridesharing accidents can occur in many different scenarios across Palm Beach Gardens and South Florida:
Passenger Injuries
As a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, you're entitled to compensation if you're injured during your ride, regardless of who caused the accident.
Collisions with Rideshare Vehicles
If you were driving your own vehicle and were hit by a rideshare driver, you have rights to compensation from either the driver's personal insurance or the rideshare company's policy, depending on the driver's status.
Rideshare Driver Injuries
As a rideshare driver, you may be entitled to compensation if you're injured while working, though these claims can be particularly complex.
Pedestrian or Cyclist Accidents
If you were walking or cycling and were struck by a rideshare vehicle, you have rights to compensation for your injuries.
Airport Transportation Accidents
With Palm Beach International Airport nearby, many rideshare accidents occur during airport transportation runs.
Each scenario presents different legal challenges, which is why having an attorney familiar with all aspects of ridesharing accident law is essential to protecting your rights.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Rideshare Accident
After a ridesharing accident in Palm Beach Gardens, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including:
- Medical expenses (both current and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation costs
- Long-term care expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The severity of your injuries and the circumstances of your accident will determine the compensation you're eligible to receive. Insurance companies representing the rideshare companies are notorious for offering quick, low settlements to accident victims. Don't fall for these tactics—speak with our experienced Palm Beach Gardens ridesharing accident attorney before accepting any settlement offers.
How Our Palm Beach Gardens Ridesharing Accident Attorney Can Help
When you hire The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky to represent you after a ridesharing accident, we will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation of your accident
- Identify all potentially liable parties
- Determine which insurance policies apply and their coverage limits
- Gather and preserve critical evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Work with accident reconstruction experts when necessary
- Handle all communications with insurance companies
- Calculate the full extent of your current and future damages
- Negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation
- Take your case to trial if a fair settlement can't be reached
Our approach is comprehensive and meticulous. We understand the tactics used by rideshare companies and their insurers to minimize payouts, and we know how to counter these strategies effectively.
What to Do Immediately After a Ridesharing Accident
If you're involved in a ridesharing accident in Palm Beach Gardens, taking the right steps immediately after the incident can significantly strengthen your claim:
- Seek medical attention – Even if you feel fine, some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Report the accident through the rideshare app immediately.
- Document everything – Take photos of the accident scene, vehicles involved, your injuries, and get contact information from witnesses.
- Get the driver's information – Name, contact details, insurance information, and rideshare driver ID number.
- Save the receipt from your ride, which contains important trip details.
- File a police report – Make sure law enforcement creates an official record of the accident.
- Don't give recorded statements to insurance companies without consulting an attorney first.
- Contact an experienced ridesharing accident attorney as soon as possible.
Remember, the rideshare companies and their insurance providers will have teams of lawyers working to minimize their liability. You need someone equally skilled fighting for your rights. The best way to maximize compensation and be protected after a ridesharing accident is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Why You Need an Experienced Palm Beach Gardens Ridesharing Accident Lawyer
Ridesharing accident claims require specialized knowledge of both personal injury law and the unique challenges presented by the rideshare industry's business model and insurance structure. Without proper representation, you risk:
- Missing critical filing deadlines
- Accepting inadequate settlement offers
- Having your claim denied based on technicalities
- Being outmatched by corporate legal teams
- Failing to identify all liable parties
- Not accounting for future damages in your settlement
At The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, we have extensive experience handling ridesharing accident cases throughout Palm Beach Gardens, Ft. Lauderdale and South Florida. We understand the tactics used by these companies to avoid paying fair compensation, and we know how to counter them effectively.
Don't face the rideshare companies and their insurers alone. Contact our Palm Beach Gardens ridesharing accident attorney today to schedule a free consultation, where we'll review your case and explain your legal options.
Call our office today at (561) 671-5995 or click the button above to find out if we can help you.
