If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash in Florida, the policy that pays depends almost entirely on what the driver's app was doing at that moment. During an active trip, a $1 million liability policy applies. With the app on but no ride accepted, coverage drops to $50,000 per person. With the app off, only the driver's personal policy responds. Your own PIP typically pays first for medical bills if you treat within 14 days, and you generally have two years to file suit.
- App status decides everything. The same crash can be worth $1 million or $50,000 depending on whether the driver had accepted a ride.
- Screenshot your trip before you leave. The in-app receipt timestamps the ride and names the driver, which is often the cleanest proof of coverage.
- PIP comes first, but only for 14 days. Florida's no-fault benefits pay 80% of medical bills up to $10,000 if you begin treatment within two weeks.
- Suing Uber or Lyft directly is rare. Drivers are independent contractors, so the practical recovery is usually the company's insurance policy.
- Uninsured motorist coverage often carries the case. When the at-fault driver has nothing, UM/UIM may be where the money actually comes from.
- Two years, not four. Florida shortened the deadline in 2023, so older advice you find online can be wrong.
Rideshare services have transformed how Floridians get around - and they have added a layer of insurance complexity that catches almost everyone off guard after a crash. Whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or another driver, this FAQ walks through who pays, how long you have, and what to do next.
Which Insurance Applies After an Uber or Lyft Crash?
This is the single question that decides most rideshare claims, and it is worth understanding before you speak to any insurer. Under Florida Statute 627.748, coverage falls into three distinct periods:
| Driver's status | Who responds | Available limits |
|---|---|---|
| App off | Driver's personal auto policy only | Whatever the driver personally carries |
| App on, waiting for a request | Rideshare contingent coverage | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident bodily injury; $25,000 property damage |
| Ride accepted through drop-off | Rideshare commercial liability policy | $1 million |
What Types of Injuries Occur During Rideshare Accidents?
Rideshare crashes produce the same injuries as any other traffic collision, though passengers in the back seat and pedestrians struck by a rideshare vehicle are especially vulnerable. Severe impacts can lead to lifelong complications, and some victims live with pain and arthritis for decades afterward.
Head and Brain Injuries
A sudden jolt moves the brain inside the skull. Traumatic brain injuries can permanently affect cognition, motor skills, personality, vision, and hearing.
Broken Bones
High-speed crashes can cause multiple fractures, particularly when a passenger is pinned. Reconstructive surgery often leaves lasting pain and arthritis.
Neck and Back Injuries
Fractured vertebrae and herniated discs are among the most painful and costly. Bone fragments lodging in the spinal cord can cause partial or full paralysis.
Amputation and Crushed Limbs
Legs are most often pinned under a seat or steering column. When blood flow cannot be restored, amputation may be unavoidable.
Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Rideshare Accident?
If you are a registered vehicle owner in Florida, you must carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) under the state's no-fault law. That coverage typically follows you as a passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, or occupant of another vehicle - though it does not extend to motorcycle riders.
Severe rideshare crashes exhaust $10,000 quickly. Once PIP runs out, you pursue the at-fault driver and the applicable rideshare policy for the remainder, including pain and suffering.
I Don't Have PIP Insurance, So Now What?
Florida PIP extends to immediate family members living in the same household - so a college student hurt in an Uber is often covered under a parent's policy. Uber and Lyft also offer limited medical coverage to some injured riders who own no vehicle, though it rarely makes a dent in the cost of treating a serious injury. If you are not sure what applies to you, that is exactly the kind of question worth asking an attorney before you file anything.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft After One of Their Drivers Caused a Crash?
Usually the claim runs through the driver rather than the company. Uber and Lyft classify drivers as independent contractors, which generally shields the companies from direct liability for a driver's negligence - so the practical recovery is the insurance policy sitting behind that driver. There are exceptions, and they turn on what the company itself did wrong:
- The company failed to perform a comprehensive criminal background check and driving history review.
- The company ignored negative information that a background check surfaced.
- The company did not suspend or remove a driver with a record of prior crashes or traffic violations.
Another Driver Caused the Crash - Do I Still Sue the Rideshare Driver?
Typically not. Once a rideshare accident victim files a PIP claim, the claim proceeds against whoever actually caused the crash, even if that is a driver in a completely separate vehicle. If that driver turns out to be uninsured or underinsured, uninsured motorist coverage - yours, or in some circumstances the rideshare policy - is often where the real recovery comes from.
How Long Do I Have to Take Legal Action?
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit against the rideshare driver and/or the company, and the same two-year deadline applies to wrongful death claims brought by eligible family members. That window was shortened from four years to two by legislation enacted in 2023, so older articles and advice circulating online can be badly out of date. Courts enforce these deadlines strictly.
Do I Have to Go to Court?
Most Uber and Lyft claims settle, and some settle without a lawsuit ever being filed. Your lawyer negotiates with the insurer directly; if the insurer denies the claim or refuses to value it fairly, litigation follows. If a case reaches trial, you should expect to testify - though a last-minute settlement is common even at that stage.
How Much Is My Rideshare Accident Claim Worth?
Claim value depends on the severity of your injuries, your long-term prognosis, and your share of fault. An attorney adds up economic losses like medical bills and lost wages, then projects future treatment costs and lost earning capacity, often with expert input. No lawyer can promise a number, but an experienced one can give you a realistic range early. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every case turns on its own facts.
The Florida Rideshare Accident Resource Guide
Rideshare claims turn on one question most people cannot answer at the scene: what was the driver's app status? Enter your email and we will send the guide straight to your inbox, plus occasional updates when Florida law changes.
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How Can an Attorney Help After a Rideshare Accident?
Rideshare claims involve more moving parts than an ordinary car accident: the driver, the rideshare company, multiple insurers, and often third parties. An attorney handles that while you focus on recovery - obtaining the trip data that proves the coverage period, gathering medical records, police reports, and witness statements, protecting you from recorded-statement tactics, and building the negligence case against every at-fault party. Uber and Lyft have large insurers and legal teams behind them; the point of hiring counsel is to put comparable weight on your side of the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Florida?
We obtain the trip data, identify which policy was in force, and pursue every available source of coverage - including the $1 million rideshare policy. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless we win.
