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Tampa Ride Sharing Accident Attorney: Uber and Lyft Claims
In a rideshare crash, which insurance applies depends on what the driver’s app was doing at that exact moment. The Reyes Firm establishes the driver’s status, identifies every policy in play, and deals with the corporate insurers so you do not have to.
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Why Rideshare Claims Need a Different Approach
We Establish the Driver’s App Status First
Everything turns on whether the app was off, on and waiting, or on with a ride accepted. We move to obtain trip records and app data rather than accepting the company’s characterisation of it.
We Map Every Policy in Play
A rideshare crash can involve the driver’s personal policy, the company’s contingent or commercial coverage, another driver’s insurance, and your own PIP and uninsured motorist coverage.
We Handle the Corporate Insurers
These claims run through corporate adjusters and legal teams rather than a local agent. We take over the communications so nothing you say in the first week gets used later.
No Fee Unless We Win
Consultations are free and we work on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
It Depends on What the App Was Doing
Rideshare drivers are treated as independent contractors, so the company’s coverage switches on and off with the app. Establishing the driver’s status at the moment of impact is the single most important fact in these claims.
App off
The driver was not working. Only their personal auto policy applies, and the rideshare company is generally not involved.
Logged in, waiting for a request
Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage at this stage, which applies when the driver’s personal policy does not. The limits are lower than during a trip.
En route to a rider, or carrying one
This is the highest tier, with up to $1 million in commercial liability coverage available through the company’s policy.
Coverage tiers and limits are set by Florida law and by the companies’ own policies, and they can change. We confirm what applied on the date of your crash rather than assuming.
Passengers, Drivers, and Everyone Else
Rideshare crashes injure more than passengers. Where you were sitting, or whether you were in the car at all, changes which policies come into play.
Passengers
If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft, you were almost certainly not at fault, and a claim usually lies against whichever driver was responsible. Your own PIP may also apply to early medical bills.
Rideshare drivers
Drivers injured while working face the same status question, and often a dispute with the company about which policy responds.
Other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians
If a rideshare vehicle hit you, the company’s coverage may apply depending on the driver’s app status, which they are unlikely to volunteer.
What to Do After a Tampa Rideshare Crash
Call 911 and get the report
An official crash report records the vehicles, the parties, and often the driver’s rideshare status at the scene.
Screenshot the trip in the app
Your ride receipt, the driver’s name and vehicle, and the trip timestamps are evidence, and they are easiest to capture before anything is deleted.
Get medical attention
Go even if you feel fine, and within 14 days if you plan to use PIP benefits. Symptoms often appear a day or two later.
Say nothing recorded, then call us
Do not give a recorded statement to Uber, Lyft, or any insurer before getting advice. Your consultation with us is free.
The Data Sits Inside Uber and Lyft’s Systems
The record that decides which policy applies is held by the company, not by you or the driver. Getting it requires knowing what to request and asking promptly, because app logs and video both have retention limits.
Meanwhile the insurer is already gathering its own version of events. The sooner a preservation request goes out, the more there is to work with later.
- Trip records and app logs showing the driver’s status at the time of impact
- Your ride receipt, driver details, and trip timestamps
- The crash report and any statements given at the scene
- Dashcam footage and nearby business or traffic camera video
- Witness accounts, including other passengers
- Medical records connecting your injuries to the crash
Rideshare Accident Questions, Answered
I was a passenger. Do I have a claim even though I did nothing wrong?
Almost certainly you have a route to a claim, though which one depends on who caused the crash. If your rideshare driver was at fault, the company’s coverage during an active trip may apply. If another driver caused it, the claim runs against them, with the company’s coverage potentially available as well. Your own PIP may cover early medical bills either way.
How much insurance is available in an Uber or Lyft crash?
It depends on the driver’s app status. With a ride accepted or a passenger on board, up to $1 million in commercial liability coverage may apply. While logged in and waiting for a request, lower contingent limits apply. With the app off, only the driver’s personal policy is in play.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Florida?
Two years from the date of the crash for most negligence claims, following the 2023 changes under HB 837. App data and video have their own, much shorter retention periods, so waiting costs evidence long before it costs you the deadline.
Uber’s insurer called me. Should I talk to them?
You can report the crash, but do not give a recorded statement or accept an early offer before getting advice. These adjusters handle rideshare claims full time, and the first call often happens before anyone knows how serious the injuries are.
What if the rideshare driver was not logged into the app?
Then the company is generally not involved and the claim runs against the driver’s personal insurance. That is exactly why app status matters and why we ask for the trip records rather than taking anyone’s word for it.
Other Cases We Handle
Injured another way? The Reyes Firm represents accident victims across Tampa Bay.
Hurt in an Uber or Lyft Crash? Let’s Make It Right.
Free consultation, no fee unless we win. Our office is at 4730 N. Habana Ave., Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33614.
(833) 422-3329 · Hablamos Español