West Palm Beach Uber Accident Lawyer

The rideshare company Uber has become so well known that the name is now used as a verb. You have likely said, or heard someone say, “I’ll Uber to the house/hotel/restaurant.” Whether you use Uber for convenience or because you do not have your own reliable transportation, you do so with the expectation that your trip will be uneventful, and you will arrive at your destination unharmed. Unfortunately, Uber accidents do happen. If you were injured in a West Palm Beach Uber accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical injuries and emotional trauma caused by the accident.

If you are injured in an Uber accident, you may be suffering physical and psychological injuries as well as feeling confused about the legal steps that need to be taken when an Uber passenger is injured in a collision. Your first priority should always be to address your injuries; however, you also want to protect your rights to pursue compensation from the party responsible for the accident. Fortunately, you do not need to try and navigate the legal system on your own. A West Palm Beach Uber accident lawyer at Demand the Limits can help you if you sustained injuries, or lost a loved one, in an Uber accident. Let us put our extensive experience, considerable resources, and proven commitment to work for you to ensure that the responsible party is held accountable and that you are fully and fairly compensated for all your injuries. Contact us today by calling (561) 600-3555 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.

What Are Some Common Causes of West Palm Beach Uber Accidents?

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles keeps track of motor vehicle accidents that occur throughout the State of Florida each year. According to the FLHSMV, there were just over 25,000 collisions in Palm Beach County in 2022; however, the FLHSMV does not provide data indicating when an involved vehicle is operating as a rideshare. Consequently, we do not know how many of those collisions involved an Uber driver. We do know that some experts contend that the increase in rideshare vehicles on the nation’s roadways has increased the number of car occupants and pedestrians killed in accidents by two to three percent. Accidents involving an Uber driver occur for many of the same reasons that other car accidents occur; however, some common contributing factors may be amplified when the driver is an Uber driver, such as:

• Distracted driving. Distracted driving contributes to a fatal car crash every three hours throughout the United States. Uber drivers may be more likely to be distracted as they try to navigate unfamiliar roads or listen to instructions given by passengers.
• Drowsy driving. A fatigued driver can be as dangerous as a drunk driver with drowsy drivers contributing to one in five motor vehicle accidents nationwide. An Uber driver who has been driving for hours or who is trying to earn extra money driving for Uber after working a full day at another job may be particularly susceptible to fatigued driving.
• Speed and aggressive driving. Uber drivers have a financial incentive to get passengers to their destination as quickly as possible. Both speed and aggressive driving are known to be contributing factors in motor vehicle accidents.

Does Florida Law Require Uber Drivers to Have Liability Insurance?

Vehicles that are used to drive for Uber (or another rideshare company) are subject to liability insurance coverage requirements under Florida law that exceed the coverage requirements for a traditional passenger vehicle. A driver who operates a vehicle for Uber is required to have at least $1 million in liability coverage for property damage, physical injury, and death when a passenger is in the vehicle and $50,000 in physical injury or death liability coverage anytime the app is on, and the driver is actively looking for a passenger. Uber provides the required insurance coverage for drivers while they are looking for passengers and while driving passengers.

Who Is Responsible in a West Palm Beach Uber Accident?

Because Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state, determining fault in an accident is only necessary if the injuries suffered exceed the “serious injury” threshold. For minor injuries, a driver’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance will cover medical bills up to $10,000 without regard to who was at fault in a collision. This insurance coverage extends to passengers in the vehicle, meaning that an Uber driver’s PIP insurance should cover medical expenses and lost wages up to the coverage limit.

If you suffered serious injuries in a West Palm Beach Uber accident, you may be entitled to pursue the at-fault driver to recover compensation for your injuries in a traditional personal injury lawsuit. If the other driver was responsible for the collision, you may still be able to secure compensation from Uber’s uninsured or underinsured coverage if the other driver’s insurance coverage limits prohibit you from recovering the full value of your injuries. Determining liability and navigating insurance coverage can be complicated in an Uber accident which is why you should consult with an experienced West Palm Beach Uber accident lawyer right away if you were injured in an accident.

Am I Entitled to Compensation for My West Palm Beach Uber Accident?

If you suffered physical injuries and emotional trauma in a rideshare accident, you could be entitled to economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are direct expenses such as lost wages, hospital and doctor bills, and the cost to replace or repair damaged property. Non-economic damages are intended to compensate an injured victim for emotional trauma, permanent disability, disfigurement, and blindness as well as the loss of a limb, paralysis, trauma, and pain and suffering.

If you are a surviving parent or child of someone who was killed in a West Palm Beach Uber accident you may be entitled to compensation in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit for things such as lost future earnings, pain and suffering, and the loss of guidance and companionship.

Get Help from an Experienced West Palm Beach Uber Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a West Palm Beach Uber accident, or you are the surviving family member of someone who was fatally injured in one, you may have legal options that could provide compensation to you for your injuries or loss. An experienced West Palm Beach Uber accident lawyer at Demand the Limits can help ensure that the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable for your injuries or loss.

At Demand the Limits, our experienced West Palm Beach personal injury accident lawyers have extensive experience with Uber accident cases. We fight hard to defend the legal rights of all West Palm Beach injury victims. Call (561) 600-3555 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. Don’t delay – the sooner you have an attorney fighting for you, the better protected your legal rights will be.