St. Petersburg Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? You could be entitled to compensation to cover the medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by your crash. When you call Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, you’ll benefit from 300+ years of combined legal experience on your side. As the first personal injury law firm in Tampa Bay, we are well-known and well-respected in the region–for our results (over $675 million recovered and counting).

And don’t worry–you can afford premier legal representation from our St. Petersburg rideshare accident lawyers. That’s because we work on a contingent fee basis. Our fee is collected from whatever we recover on your behalf, so if we don’t win, you don’t pay. 

There’s no reason to wait, contact us today at (727) 591-3354 for a free consultation at our St. Petersburg office.

Understanding Uber & Lyft Accidents in St. Petersburg

Rideshare accidents in St. Petersburg often happen in busy areas such as Downtown, Central Avenue, Gulf Boulevard, and near popular destinations like St. Pete Beach and Tropicana Field. 

Common reasons for Lyft accidents are:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving while drowsy
• Running red lights
• Failure of safety or other essential equipment
• Passenger negligence

Unlike typical car crashes, rideshare accident claims may involve multiple insurance policies, including the driver’s personal insurance and Uber or Lyft’s corporate coverage. Determining which policy applies — and when — is one of the most complex parts of these cases.

Florida Rideshare Laws

Florida law classifies Uber and Lyft drivers as independent contractors, not employees. However, the state requires transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft to carry specific insurance coverage for their drivers.

Florida law divides rideshare activity into three distinct “periods”:

• The driver is logged off the app
• The driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride
• The driver has accepted a ride or is transporting a passenger

Each period comes with different insurance requirements and liability implications, which can significantly impact your claim.

In addition, Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that most people first file a claim with their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage before pursuing additional compensation. However, serious injuries often allow victims to go beyond PIP and seek damages from the at-fault party — which may include Uber, Lyft, the driver, or another motorist.

Who is Liable for an Uber or Lyft Accident?

Determining liability in rideshare accidents depends heavily on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash.

When the Driver Is Logged Off

If the Uber or Lyft driver is not logged into the app at the time of the accident, then the rideshare company is generally not responsible. In this situation, the driver’s personal auto insurance policy becomes the primary source of coverage.

If the driver caused the crash, their personal insurer may be responsible for covering your medical bills, property damage, and other losses.

However, many drivers don’t carry high-limit insurance policies, making it more difficult to recover fair compensation — especially in serious injury cases.

When the Driver Is Logged On But Has Not Accepted a Ride Request

If the driver is logged into the app and waiting to accept a ride request, Uber or Lyft provides limited liability coverage in Florida:

• Up to $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• Up to $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
• Up to $25,000 for property damage

This coverage applies only if the driver’s personal auto insurance refuses the claim or doesn’t offer enough compensation.

This period is often the most contested, as insurance companies may try to argue about whether the app was truly active. Our St. Petersburg rideshare accident lawyers can obtain digital records from Uber or Lyft to prove the driver’s status at the time of the accident.

When the Driver Has Accepted a Ride or Is Transporting a Passenger

When a driver has accepted a ride and is either:

• On the way to pick up a passenger, or
• Actively transporting a passenger to their destination

Uber and Lyft are required by Florida law to provide up to $1 million in liability coverage for injuries and damages caused in an accident.

This level of coverage is critical in catastrophic injury cases that involve:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Permanent disability
• Wrongful death

If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, you may be covered under this $1 million policy even if another driver caused the accident.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

A St. Petersburg rideshare accident lawyer from Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers may help you seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Hospital stays and surgeries
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability
• Emotional distress
• Property damage

In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.

Florida Uber & Lyft Accident Claim FAQs

How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?

Generally, Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. However, it’s important to act quickly to protect your rights and gather evidence.

What if I was a passenger in a rideshare vehicle?

If you were injured as a passenger, you are likely covered by Uber or Lyft’s $1 million liability policy, depending on the situation.

What if another driver caused the accident?

You may have a claim against the other driver’s insurance in addition to any coverage provided by Uber or Lyft.

Do I need a lawyer for a rideshare accident?

Yes. Rideshare cases are much more complex than regular car accidents. Multiple insurance companies may be involved, and each will try to minimize their responsibility.

What if the rideshare company denies responsibility?

Our legal team can subpoena records, driver data, app activity logs, and insurance contracts to determine which party is legally responsible.

How Our Firm Can Help

Our experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers have the know-how, resources, and skill to fight for the maximum possible award while minimizing the stress to you. We’ve done just that for countless clients over the years.

When you hire our St. Petersburg, FL law firm, we’ll:

• Investigate your rideshare accident and identify all potentially liable parties
• Handle your case from beginning to end, keeping you informed every step of the way
• Determine the value of all applicable insurance policies
• Calculate your damages to cover all of your physical, financial, and emotional losses
• Negotiate for a fair settlement 
• Send a trial lawyer to represent you in court if the insurance company refuses to offer an acceptable settlement

We’re the oldest personal injury firm in Tampa Bay, and we’ve been committed solely to helping victims of preventable accidents since 1955. Call (727) 591-3354 for a free case evaluation.