Following an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, you may have difficulties proving fault. Because ridesharing is still relatively new, the laws regarding how these cases are handled continue to evolve. Fortunately, an experienced rideshare accident lawyer in Port St. Lucie can help you identify the liable party and prove your claim.
At The Schiller Kessler Group, our legal team follows along with any changes made to laws governing rideshare drivers and how their accidents are handled by the court. Our experienced team of Port St. Lucie car accident lawyers has been helping accident victims for over three decades and has a proven track record with these cases. Schedule a free case review today.
Proving Liability Following an Accident With the Help of a Rideshare Accident Attorney Serving Port St. Lucie
Proving fault for a rideshare accident is often challenging. The drivers for the major rideshare companies are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, so these companies can limit their liability in the event of a crash and avoid paying out benefits.
By classifying their drivers as independent contractors, the drivers typically are responsible for covering the cost of an accident while the companies enjoy various protections. However, under certain conditions, you may be eligible to pursue compensation directly from the rideshare company.
There are various other parties that you could hold liable as well. Some of the most commonly at-fault parties in rideshare accident cases include:
- The driver of the rideshare vehicle
- The rideshare company
- The company that manufactured the rideshare vehicle
- The driver of another vehicle that was involved in the accident
- A third-party driver who, while not directly involved in the crash, was responsible for causing the accident
If the rideshare driver is identified as the liable party in your accident, filing a claim with their insurance provider will likely be your primary option for recovering compensation. If your costs are greater than the limits of their insurance policy, you can file a lawsuit against the driver or the rideshare driver to get the money you need.
An experienced Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer can help you secure the money you need for your damages.
More people choose The Schiller Kessler Group because they know that we’re a cut above other personal injury law firms.
The Different Scenarios Regarding Rideshare Insurance Coverage
When working to recover compensation following a rideshare accident, you need to understand the complexities of the insurance coverage for the big rideshare companies. These companies are able to limit their liability in most cases in part due to the structure of their insurance policies.
One of the most profound ways in which these companies protect themselves is by requiring all their drivers to have their own insurance policy. After a crash, accident victims will need to file a claim with the driver’s insurer before pursuing any other avenues for compensation.
You may be able to seek additional compensation from the rideshare company’s insurer. However, this will depend greatly on the status of the rideshare driver when the accident occurred.
Driving While Not Logged in to the Application
If the rideshare driver who caused the accident was not signed in to the app when the accident occurred, the rideshare company has no liability for any damages that result from the crash.
In this situation, you will need to file a claim with the insurance provider for the driver to recover the money you need. If your damages are greater than their coverage limits, you will most likely need to file a lawsuit against the driver in order to recover the compensation you deserve.
Driving While Logged in to the Application but With No Ride Accepted
If the negligent rideshare driver was logged into the application during the accident but had not accepted a ride, the company’s insurance policy is activated in a limited form.
In this situation, recovering damages will still mean that you will first need to file a claim with the driver’s insurance provider. However, if your losses are greater than their coverage limits, you can file a claim with the rideshare company’s insurer to recover further damages.
However, under these circumstances, the coverage provided by the rideshare company’s insurer will be limited. If your damages exceed the insurance limits of both the driver and the company, you will need to file a lawsuit to recover the rest of the money you need.
Driving While Logged in to the Application With an Accepted Ride
If the rideshare vehicle driver is logged into the application and has accepted a ride, the rideshare company’s insurance policy takes full effect. In this scenario, it does not matter whether the passenger has been picked up yet.
When in full effect, the insurance policies of the large rideshare companies cover up to $1,000,000 in damages. Of course, your first option for compensation will still be to file a claim with the driver’s insurer before pursuing compensation from the company’s insurance provider.
Whatever scenario you are facing, an experienced rideshare accident lawyer serving Port St. Lucie can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
No matter what time of day it is, you can contact The Schiller Kessler Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Pay Attention to the Filing Deadline When Pursuing a Lawsuit
When attempting to recover compensation through a lawsuit after suffering damages in a rideshare accident, you need to pay attention to the filing deadline. The personal injury statute of limitations in Florida was modified to two years in 2023, meaning that accident victims must submit the paperwork for their lawsuits within two years of the date of their accident.
Should you fail to file your lawsuit on time, you will likely be out of options for recovering compensatory damages. The best thing you can do to help protect your right to recover compensation is to hire an experienced rideshare accident attorney in Port St. Lucie shortly after your accident.
Your attorney will be able to determine the exact date by which your paperwork must be filed and ensure that everything is completed accurately and submitted on time.
Reach Out to an Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Port St. Lucie Today
At The Schiller Kessler Group, our team of experienced rideshare accident attorneys in Port St. Lucie will use every available resource to help ensure you get the compensation you deserve. We have helped recover financial compensation for more than 30,000 accident victims over the years.
Contact us by phone or through our website to schedule a free case evaluation today, and check out our client testimonials to better understand how we’ve assisted others.
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