Personal Injury
Miami Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Hurt in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft in Miami? The insurance coverage available for your injuries depends on what the driver's app was doing at the moment of impact. We represent injured passengers, drivers, and pedestrians across South Florida, untangle the coverage layers, and fight for the full value of your claim.
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Rideshare Crashes Add Layers That Ordinary Accidents Do Not Have
Thousands of Uber and Lyft trips crisscross Miami every day: to the airport, to Brickell, to the beach. When one of those trips ends in a crash, the usual questions (who was at fault, who pays) come with an extra one: what was the app doing at that exact moment? The answer can change the available insurance coverage from a basic personal policy to $1 million.
The rideshare companies and their insurance companies know how to use that complexity. Claims get bounced between insurers, each pointing at the other while your bills pile up. At Leyva Law, attorney Daniela Leyva handles your case directly, pins down which coverage applies, and deals with every insurance company involved so you do not have to.
Florida's Rideshare Insurance Law: What Coverage Applies
Florida regulates Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies under section 627.748, Florida Statutes. The law divides a rideshare driver's time into periods, and the required insurance changes with each one:
A Ride Is Accepted or a Passenger Is in the Car
From the moment the driver accepts a ride until the passenger gets out, the law requires $1 million in liability coverage. This is the coverage that typically protects injured passengers and anyone the rideshare driver hits during a trip.
The Driver Is Logged In, Waiting for a Request
When the driver is on the app but has not accepted a ride, the law requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage.
The App Is Off
With the app off, the driver is just another motorist, and only their personal auto policy applies. Be aware that many personal policies exclude coverage while a driver is working for a rideshare app, which is exactly why the periods above matter so much.
Proving which period applies takes evidence: trip records, app data, and driver statements. We demand that data early and hold the insurance companies to what the law requires.
Who Can Bring a Rideshare Injury Claim
You do not have to be a passenger to have a claim. We represent passengers riding in an Uber or Lyft, drivers and occupants of other cars hit by a rideshare vehicle, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders struck by a rideshare driver, and rideshare drivers themselves who were hit by a negligent motorist.
Each of those situations triggers different coverage, and sorting that out quickly is a large part of what we do.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Miami
1. Call 911 and Get Checked Out
A police report ties the crash, the driver, and the vehicles together in one official record. Then see a doctor within 14 days: Florida's no-fault law (section 627.736, Florida Statutes) requires treatment within that window for your own Personal Injury Protection benefits to pay.
2. Screenshot the Trip
Before the app updates or the trip disappears from view, capture the trip screen, the driver's name and photo, the vehicle, and the receipt. That data ties the crash to a covered rideshare period.
3. Report the Crash in the App
Both Uber and Lyft have in-app crash reporting. Reporting creates a record with the company itself, not just with the police.
4. Talk to a Lawyer Before the Insurers
You may hear from several insurance companies, each trying to move the claim somewhere else or close it cheap. Before any recorded statement or settlement offer, get legal advice. The consultation is free.
The Deadline to File a Rideshare Injury Lawsuit
For crashes after March 24, 2023, Florida generally gives you two years to file a negligence lawsuit (section 95.11(5)(a), Florida Statutes). Earlier crashes usually fall under the older four-year deadline. App data and trip records are far easier to obtain close to the crash, so the sooner we start, the better.
Rideshare Accident Cases We Handle in Miami-Dade
- Injured Uber and Lyft Passengers
- Rideshare Drivers Hit by Negligent Motorists
- Drivers Struck by an Uber or Lyft
- Pedestrians and Bicyclists Hit by Rideshare Vehicles
- Motorcycle and Scooter Riders in Rideshare Crashes
- Hit-and-Run and Uninsured Rideshare Collisions
- Airport and Late-Night Trip Accidents
- Wrongful Death
Miami Rideshare Accident FAQ
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly after an accident?
Usually the claim is made against the insurance coverage that Florida law requires for rideshare driving, not against the company itself, because drivers are treated as independent contractors. The good news is that the required coverage is substantial: up to $1 million while a ride is in progress. We identify every policy that applies to your crash.
I was a passenger in the Uber. Whose insurance pays for my injuries?
As a passenger you are covered by the $1 million policy that applies whenever a passenger is in the car, no matter which driver caused the crash. If another driver was at fault, their policy may apply as well. Passenger claims are often the clearest rideshare cases because coverage is rarely in doubt.
What if the driver was waiting for a ride request when the crash happened?
That period carries lower required coverage: at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Proving the driver's app status becomes critical, and it is something we push the companies to document early.
I drive for Uber or Lyft and was hit by another driver. Am I covered?
You may have several options: the at-fault driver's policy, your own Personal Injury Protection benefits, and depending on your app status and the policies in place, rideshare coverage as well. Do not assume you are on your own just because you were working.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Florida?
For crashes after March 24, 2023, you generally have two years to file a negligence lawsuit under section 95.11(5)(a), Florida Statutes. Earlier crashes are usually governed by the older four-year deadline. Trip and app records fade fast, so contact us as early as you can.
Related: property insurance claims · all personal injury cases · meet the attorney. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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Weekends by appointment
Email & fax
info [at] leyva-law.com
Fax (786) 422-1365
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9555 SW 175 Terrace #4016
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
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