In Florida, car accidents are still the most common cause of personal injury claims. Each year, nearly 200,000 car accidents are projected to occur in Florida, with more than 500 occurring every day. Unfortunately, this statistic includes Uber and Lyft drivers.
Ridesharing is a common mode of transportation, particularly in densely populated locations like Miami-Dade County. Therefore, many people have begun to wonder who is responsible for incidents that occur during these rides? What is the process of insurance? And is it possible for Florida residents to sue these businesses if they are at fault?
Suing the company is unlikely due to the fact that rideshare drivers are independent contractors. Because drivers are designated as independent contractors rather than workers, the companies see them as separate entities rather than employees. Companies are not usually liable for the activities of independent contractors because of the nature of their business. As a result, Uber and Lyft have minimal legal accountability for the behavior of their drivers.
While all rideshare businesses require its drivers to have their own auto insurance, the companies will supplement insurance and provide additional coverage for incidents that occur while the driver is on the job. Despite this, the insurance mandates that the driver’s policy be used first. Therefore, if you are injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, you would most likely file a lawsuit against the driver rather than the company.
Hevia Law Firm has built an experienced team of South Florida personal injury trial lawyers to help their clients seek justice. If you have worked with Hevia Law, please take a moment to leave a review: https://g.page/r/CcqyfECRQBMBEAI/review
