If you were hurt in a rideshare car accident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay your medical bills and accident-related expenses. Instead, the liable party should compensate you fairly for the harm you suffered because of their negligence.
A Sarasota rideshare accident lawyer at GED Lawyers can help you file a claim or lawsuit to get the money that can help you recover from the accident. Our firm offers a free case review to personal injury victims who seek compensation.
Free Consultations, No Upfront Attorney’s Fees for Sarasota Rideshare Injury Clients
In addition to our no-cost-no-obligation case review where we discuss your case, we also provide our legal services on contingency. You pay us nothing unless we win your case. So, there’s no barrier to entry for clients seeking justice, and we can start working on your case immediately.
Calculating a Sarasota Rideshare Accident Case’s Value
A Sarasota car accident lawyer on our team will determine what your case is worth. One of our main tasks is to evaluate your injuries and losses from the collision and accurately determine how much compensation you could receive from the party that injured you. This is your case’s foundation.
Fair and full compensation is our goal for every client. We will examine the scope of your injuries (financial, physical, and emotional) to gain a total picture of what the liable party owes you. Florida law allows car accident victims to recover economic losses with no restrictions. You may be eligible to recover:
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Prescription drugs
- Travel and transportation expenses
- Home or car renovations for accessibility
- Replacement services
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident
Recovering Pain and Suffering Damages in Florida Car Accidents
Florida Statutes § 627.737(2) stipulates that car accident victims must meet the serious injury threshold to seek non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering) where personal liability insurance coverage (PIP) is in effect. That means if PIP insurance covers an injured party, they cannot claim pain and suffering damages for their injuries unless the injuries meet one of the four criteria below:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important body function
- Significant scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent injury or likely permanent injury
- Death
Those not covered by personal injury protection are not beholden to the serious injury threshold when seeking pain and suffering damages. However, the law in Florida is that all drivers must have PIP.
Recoverable Pain and Suffering Damages in a Sarasota Rideshare Accident
If you can recover damages for pain and suffering, they may include:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord or back injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Persistent and severe pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Lost quality of life
- Reduced joy of activities
- Inconvenience
- Damaged reputation or shame
Getting an accurate assessment of your losses is essential to receiving your compensation. You can speak with our rideshare accident lawyer serving Sarasota before pursuing a claim on your own. Your pain and suffering are not quantifiable; therefore, we must assign a financial value to your damages for you to recover compensation. You may not be aware of the extent of your injuries or have the resources to assess them properly.
Our injury law firm can help you do this. We have the legal knowledge and resources to help you get the proper medical treatment. We also can consult with specialists in medicine, science, life-care planning, and finances who can provide insight into how your injuries may impact your life and how much money this impacts is worth.
How Can a Sarasota Rideshare Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
Beyond providing a detailed financial assessment of your losses, we handle every step of your case. An Uber or Lyft rideshare accident attorney at our firm is responsible for:
- Thoroughly investigating the cause of your Sarasota rideshare accident
- Identifying the at-fault party (parties) and proving their negligence with evidence, such as crash reports, traffic footage, dashcam footage, crash scene photos, driver history records, etc.
- Gathering evidence of your injuries and losses, such as photos, video footage, medical records, medical bills, check stubs, work schedules, receipts for accident-related expenses, etc.
- Filing a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance policy
- Communicating with insurance companies, at-fault parties, and all necessary parties (doctors, police, experts) to move your case forward
- Negotiating with insurers for your maximum compensation
- Taking your case to trial to sue for compensation if needed
- Updating you on your case’s status and answering your questions and concerns
How does Rideshare Insurance Work in Florida?
Under Florida Statutes § 627.748, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft must maintain insurance for independent contractors who drive for their companies.
Rideshare Drivers Engaged in a Pre-Arranged Ride
Florida law requires rideshare companies to provide automobile liability coverage of at least $1 million that covers bodily injury and property damage that may occur in a rideshare accident. This policy covers passengers and third-party accident victims, but there are stipulations. A transportation network company (TNC) only has to provide the $1 million policy while a driver is either on the way to pick up a passenger or transporting one.
Rideshare Drivers Waiting for Pre-Arranged Ride Requests
When the driver is logged in to a rideshare app and waiting for ride requests, the company must still provide insurance but in lower amounts. The state requires a $100,000 policy for bodily injury (up to 50,000 per person) and $25,000 for property damage. Drivers benefit from a $10,000 PIP policy at this time.
Drivers Not Logged in to a Rideshare App
If rideshare drivers do not log in to the app, Uber or Lyft’s insurance does not cover them. Their car insurance policies must cover accidents that occur while they are off duty.
Call GED Lawyers for Help With Your Sarasota Rideshare Accident
If you were hurt in a car accident involving a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, GED Lawyers can help. A Sarasota rideshare accident lawyer at our firm can pursue the compensation you need to help restore your life. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Our multilingual legal staff serves the English, Spanish, Creole, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish-speaking communities in Sarasota and throughout Florida.
