Fort Myers Lyft Accident Lawyer

Injured in a Lyft Crash? Our Fort Myers Rideshare Accident Lawyer Can Help You Obtain Compensation

Ridesharing services, such as Lyft and Uber, provide a useful transportation option for Florida residents and tourists who do not have access to a car. The service may even provide a relatively safe, accessible alternative for bar patrons who might otherwise have driven drunk. However, unlike a taxi, drivers are not always properly vetted. Also contrary to taxis, ridesharing services straddle the line between commercial and personal vehicular use, making insurance recovery particularly complicated when an accident occurs.

Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. is a well-known law firm that takes on these types of unusual and complicated car accident cases. Our attorneys remain up-to-date on the legal status and trends in the industry to help victims recover damages when injured in ridesharing accidents. If you were hurt while being transported by a rideshare driver or as a driver or passenger in another vehicle, turn to a Fort Myers Lyft accident lawyer at our firm today.

Liability of Lyft and Their Drivers

Lyft claims that drivers are not actually employees, but rather, independent contractors who run their own businesses using the Lyft cell phone application. This distinction is critical when it comes to liability issues and one that is weaving its way through our court system.

Lyft claims to vet its drivers, but Florida law does not currently mandate the company do so. Because the process isn’t mandatory, there may be several drivers operating under the Lyft program who are not abiding by safety laws and who may even have criminal records. Fortunately, legislation before the Florida congress may result in better vetting of Lyft and Uber drivers. Lawmakers have proposed requiring Lyft drivers to undergo a criminal background check and barring drivers who have received three tickets in the past three years while driving for a ride-hailing company.

Our Fort Myers injury law firm looks deep into the Lyft’s policies and practices to determine if the company allowed an unsafe driver to use its ride-hailing service to your detriment. We are ready to challenge the corporation to protect your rights and will work tirelessly to obtain compensation on your behalf.

Ridesharing Insurance

In the past, Lyft required drivers to carry their own insurance policies and did not cover its drivers for accidents. However, many drivers only carried the bare minimum PIP policy required by Florida law and were often subjected to clauses that barred coverage of vehicles used for commercial purposes. The law has since changed.

Florida legislators passed a bill in early 2016 that required drivers to be covered under a commercial policy, and Lyft now covers its drivers under primary automobile liability, contingent comprehensive and collision and uninsured/underinsured motorists, and contingent liability. A driver who is between fares is covered for a minimum of $50,000 for death and bodily injury for each person involved in an accident, $100,000 for death and bodily injury per incident and $25,000 for property. The coverage is raised to $1 million while the driver is carrying a passenger. The between fares coverage is crucial in accidents with Lyft drivers.

Our firm seeks compensation from the corporate policy with higher limits. We know how to overcome the Lyft corporation’s attempts to push liability on the driver, who may have inadequate coverage to fully compensate you.

Contact a Fort Myers Lyft Accident Lawyer If You Were Involved in a Rideshare Accident

Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. pursues damages against Lyft, Uber and other commercial ride-hailing services to compensate those involved in an accident with one of their drivers. Schedule a free case evaluation with a Fort Myers Lyft accident lawyer by phone at (888) 477-4839 or contact us online to learn more about your rights and options.

More Helpful Information

2022 Florida Law to Improve Ridesharing Safety 

A new Florida bill was signed into law and became effective January 1, 2022, affecting vehicle rentals and ridesharing businesses. The law is meant to align ridesharing transactions with the traditional rental car industry. 

What to Do In An Uber or Lyft Accident

The public transportation landscape has changed. Many Florida residents and visitors use rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, rather than taxis.