In a place like Estero, Florida, where college town meets vacation destination, locals, tourists, and students can hail a ride with apps like Uber and Lyft anytime. More cars often mean more accidents. Drivers must be vigilant, especially on busy roads like US 41, where serious and fatal accidents occur.
If a ride-sharing vehicle collision injured you in Estero, GED Lawyers can help you obtain compensation. An Estero rideshare accident lawyer at our firm can review your accident and advise you of the legal recourse you have. You can start today with a free consultation with a team member.
What Compensation Can I Recover After an Estero Rideshare Accident?
Available compensation in a rideshare accident in Florida, doesn’t differ from other car accidents in Estero. You can recover damages for monetary and non-monetary losses in Florida. If you’ve sustained injuries, medical bills can quickly pile up. Making matters worse, you may also be missing work because of it, which also means you are missing out on making money.
Whether income from traditional W-2 employment or self-employment as a small business or indie contractor, your lost wages, income, or sales could be recovered in an insurance claim or injury lawsuit. In a rideshare accident in Estero, you may be able to recoup the cost of:
- Lost income, bonuses, tips, commission, and other benefits
- Medical expenses
- Physical rehabilitation
- Property damage, including personal items you carried with you
- Essential replacement services
- Pain and suffering under certain conditions
We Can Determine How Much Financial Recovery You Can Seek
Our Estero rideshare accident attorney can help you assess all your accident-related losses and determine how much your case is worth. Regardless of the amount, our firm will work hard to get you the maximum compensation you deserve. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients and would like to recover money for you.
Our Firm Serving Estero Can File a Rideshare Accident Insurance Claim
Rideshare companies, legally called transportation network companies (TNCs), must provide insurance protection at different periods throughout the ride. Three defined periods require coverage; however, TNCs do not have to provide insurance for all three.
Florida’s transportation network company law states that in Period 1, known as the off-duty period, a rideshare driver’s car insurance is in effect. This period is the same as any other time you drive in Florida, even if the driver hopped in the car intending to drive for Uber. If they haven’t officially logged in to the app, they’re liable for any car accident they cause. That leaves Period 2 and Period 3 for the rideshare network company to cover. They are:
Period 2: Rideshare Driver Signed in to the Rideshare App
The driver is ready to take ride requests when they sign on to the app; therefore, the law considers them on duty. Under this period, they are independent contractors for Uber or Lyft and must retain TNC insurance coverage. Coverage at this stage includes $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), $100,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Period 3: Rideshare Driver is Signed in to App and Conducting a Ride
At this point, a driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to the passenger or already transporting the individual. Overall third-party liability coverage increases to $1 million, designated to bodily injury and property damage. Rideshare drivers lose PIP at this stage, so they must seek financial recovery elsewhere.
Which Insurance to File an Estero Rideshare Accident Claim With
Given the complexity of insurance coverage in rideshare accidents, options for compensation vary. As a no-fault state, Florida doesn’t make car insurance claims simple. This is ironic, considering the state’s no-fault law aims to simplify and speed up the financial recovery process for drivers involved in accidents.
In short, options for seeking damages depend on your insurance coverage, the at-fault driver’s coverage, and sometimes the severity of your injuries. As far as car insurance goes, you could file a claim with:
- Your PIP coverage
- A family member’s PIP insurance
- The driver’s PIP coverage (for covered parties that an off-duty driver hit)
- Rideshare PIP (if rideshare driver was covered during the coverage period)
- Rideshare third-party liability insurance
- Third-party driver’s bodily liability insurance (if another driver is at fault for the crash)
Filing a Lawsuit Against the Liable Party in Estero Rideshare Accident
Generally, if we cannot file a claim against an applicable insurance policy in your Estero rideshare accident case, we can help you file a civil suit against the liable party. Your case’s specifics will determine if filing a lawsuit is the right choice for you. Our firm’s attorney can advise you on the best course of action. Suing the liable party may be a viable option in your rideshare accident case if:
- The Uber or Lyft driver who caused the crash was off duty when the accident occurred and did not have the right or enough coverage.
- The at-fault driver is a third party with no bodily injury or property liability insurance.
- Coverage from any insurance claim falls short of covering the full amount of your economic losses.
- You are seeking pain and suffering damages under certain conditions.
- The insurance company denies your claim.
- The insurance company refuses to pay out a fair settlement.
Statute of Limitations for Estero Rideshare Accident Lawsuits
Victims seeking compensation through a car accident lawsuit in Florida have two years from the accident date to file, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). That may seem like a long time, but building a case takes time.
Also, negotiating with the liable party can take a while, which delays the start of a lawsuit. It is in your best interest to reach out to our Estero personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. We can advise you on your next steps. We can also file your case on time so you won’t have to worry about the filing deadline.
GED Lawyers Can Seek Compensation for Estero, FL, Rideshare Accident Victims
You can get help with seeking compensation for the injuries you suffered in an Estero rideshare accident. GED Lawyers can help you build a compelling case and hold the at-fault party responsible.
An Estero rideshare accident lawyer at our firm is dedicated to obtaining justice for Florida injury victims. We don’t charge you any fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call us today for a free case evaluation. Our multilingual staff can communicate with you in English, Spanish, Arabic, Creole, Greek, Portuguese, Russian, or Turkish.
