Orange Park Rideshare Accident Attorney

Uber & Lyft Accident Claims in Clay County

While rideshare services like Uber and Lyft may offer a convenient and affordable way to get around, they also pose a certain degree of risk. Unlike other private and public mass transportation operators, like taxi drivers and bus drivers, rideshare drivers receive no formal training. Like any other driver on the road, they are prone to making mistakes, being careless, and driving recklessly. As a result, rideshare drivers can—and do—cause serious accidents.

If you or someone you care about was involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Clay County, turn to the team at the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A. Since 2003, our firm has been representing injured individuals and their families throughout Florida and Georgia. From our office in Orange Park, we provide caring, personalized legal representation and aggressive client advocacy. We don’t just settle—we are ready to fight for the maximum compensation you are owed!

Call us today at (855) 933-3881 or submit an online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Do Rideshare Accidents Happen?

Rideshare accidents happen for the same reasons as any other type of car accident. Careless, reckless, and negligent drivers who are not paying attention, speeding, or engaging in risky driving behaviors collide with other vehicles, fixed objects along the roadway, and even pedestrians or bicyclists, leading to catastrophic injuries and, in the worst cases, fatalities.

Some of the most common causes of Uber and Lyft accidents include:

• Distracted Driving: Rideshare drivers may become distracted while using their cell phone to accept a ride, while looking for a passenger who has requested a ride, or while using a GPS device to carry a passenger to their requested location. Rideshare drivers can also become distracted by the same things that distract other drivers, such as texting while driving, eating behind the wheel, or looking at objects along the roadway.
• Unsafe Driving Behaviors: Rideshare drivers may engage in any number of unsafe driving behaviors. They may speed to get to a passenger or drop them off at their requested location more quickly; they may be unfamiliar with the area they are driving in and drive too slowly or change lanes or turn quickly without using a turn signal. They may even drive aggressively or engage in road rage when traveling to and from different areas.
• Third-Party Negligence: Rideshare drivers are not always at fault when an accident occurs. Sometimes, a third party’s negligent or wrongful conduct causes a collision. This might be the case when another driver acts carelessly or recklessly, or when a defective auto part contributes to or causes an accident. Rideshare drivers are not always able to avoid collisions when such instances occur.

Determining the cause of an accident is important, as it allows our Orange Park rideshare accident attorneys to identify the liable party. We work with a team of six on-staff investigators who help us conduct exhaustive accident reconstructions and reviews. We utilize this evidence to build support for your claim and outline not only who is liable for your damages but the full extent and severity of your losses, as well.

Can You Sue Uber or Lyft After an Accident?

Even if a rideshare driver negligently causes an accident, your first step may not be directly suing the rideshare company for damages. Under Florida’s no-fault system, you may need to file a claim through your own auto insurance provider. Your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance covers you for a certain percentage of your medical expenses, lost wages, and other economic damages. However, it does not cover you for the full amounts, nor does it cover you for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.

If your injuries meet Florida’s “serious injury” threshold, you may be able to go outside the no-fault system and file a claim against the negligent party, whether that’s the rideshare driver or someone else. However, if you file a claim against a rideshare driver’s private auto insurance provider, your claim will likely be denied. This is because most private auto insurance policies do not cover policyholders who are driving in a commercial capacity. If your claim is denied, you may be able to file a claim against the rideshare company.

Although most rideshare companies, including Uber and Lyft, classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, thereby limiting their liability, they do provide some coverage for those injured in accidents with their drivers.

To be eligible to receive this coverage, you must prove the following:

• The rideshare driver was at fault for the accident (at least partly)
• You are eligible to go outside the state’s no-fault system
• You were injured and suffered measurable damages
• The rideshare driver’s negligent or wrongful conduct was the proximate cause of your injuries

Additionally, you can only secure compensation through Uber or Lyft’s coverage if one of the following is true:

• The rideshare driver had the app turned on but had not yet accepted a ride
• The rideshare driver had the app turned on, had accepted a ride, but did not have a passenger in the vehicle
• The rideshare driver had the app turned on, had accepted a ride, and had a passenger in the vehicle

Uber and Lyft offer different coverage amounts in each of the above situations. Our Orange Park rideshare accident lawyers can help you determine if you are entitled to file a claim against the rideshare driver and, if so, what compensation you may be eligible to recover.

Get Started with a Free Consultation

Being involved in any motor vehicle accident is a frightening and often overwhelming experience. When the vehicle involved is an Uber, Lyft, or another type of rideshare vehicle, the process of recovering your rightful compensation can be much more complicated.

We encourage you to reach out to our attorneys to learn more about your legal rights and options. At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., we offer free initial consultations and contingency fees, meaning you do not owe any attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you. We are available to take your call 24/7, and you will always reach a real, live person when you contact our firm.

Get in touch today at (855) 933-3881 or by filling out and submitting an online contact form.