Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly after an accident?

Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, which limits direct corporate liability in most circumstances. However, both companies provide commercial insurance coverage that applies during active trips, and that coverage can be accessed through a claim even when a direct lawsuit against the company is not available. In cases involving negligent screening, inadequate safety systems, or other forms of direct corporate fault, broader liability arguments may be available. Feingold, Posner & Draizin evaluates every available theory of recovery at the start of each case.

What if the rideshare driver was at fault but their personal insurance denies the claim?

Personal auto policies often contain exclusions for commercial activity, meaning a driver's personal insurer may deny coverage if the app was active at the time of the crash. When that happens, Uber or Lyft's contingent or primary commercial coverage becomes the relevant source of recovery, depending on the driver's app status at the moment of impact. Navigating that coverage transition requires the kind of policy analysis and insurer negotiation that Feingold, Posner & Draizin performs in rideshare cases regularly.

What if I were a passenger and both the rideshare driver and another driver were at fault?

When fault is shared between the rideshare driver and a third-party driver, multiple insurance policies may be simultaneously available to compensate for your injuries. Uber or Lyft's commercial policy, the rideshare driver's personal policy, the third-party driver's liability coverage, and your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can all be relevant sources of recovery. Identifying the correct priority and limits of each policy is one of the first tasks Feingold, Posner & Draizin completes after a rideshare accident.

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

Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury, following a 2023 legislative change that shortened the prior four-year window. This deadline applies to rideshare accident claims just as it does to standard vehicle accident cases. Waiting to consult an attorney allows critical evidence, including app records and trip data, to become unavailable, so acting promptly after a rideshare accident protects both your legal rights and the strength of your case.

What if the rideshare driver fled the scene or cannot be identified?

Hit-and-run rideshare accidents are uncommon but do occur, particularly in cases where a driver causes a collision while dropping off a passenger and then continues driving. When the driver cannot be identified, Uber and Lyft's uninsured motorist coverage may, in some situations, provide a source of recovery, and in some cases, the rideshare company's own records can assist in identifying the driver after the fact. Feingold, Posner & Draizin moves quickly in hit-and-run rideshare cases to access every available record before the trail goes cold.

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Your Rideshare Accident Attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Understands the Insurance Complexities That Define These Cases

Rideshare accidents in Fort Lauderdale present a layer of legal and insurance complexity that standard car accident cases simply do not. When a Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft accident lawyer is what you need, the question of which insurance policy applies and at what coverage level depends entirely on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash, and the answer changes dramatically depending on whether the app was off, the driver was waiting for a match, or a passenger was in the vehicle. At Feingold, Posner & Draizin, untangling that coverage picture is where the firm's background gives it a distinct advantage.

Craig Posner spent years as a defense attorney for a national auto insurance company, learning precisely how carriers structure their policies to minimize exposure in multi-insurer scenarios like rideshare claims. Aaron Draizin was a shareholder at one of Florida's prominent statewide insurance defense firms, where he gained firsthand insight into the coverage dispute strategies insurers use in rideshare accident claims. Eric Feingold's time as both a public defender and in-house insurance counsel gives him the courtroom foundation and industry perspective to push back when carriers use policy language to delay or deny legitimate claims.

Contact Feingold, Posner & Draizin today at 954-953-5861 or through our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

Types of Uber and Lyft Accident Cases Feingold, Posner & Draizin Handles in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Rideshare accident cases in Fort Lauderdale arise from distinct circumstances, and the crash's classification shapes who can be held liable and which insurance policy provides coverage. As a rideshare accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Feingold, Posner & Draizin handles every type of Uber and Lyft accident claim, from passenger injuries to third-party collisions and pedestrian strikes.

Passenger Injury Claims

In-ride collisions: When a passenger is injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, the driver's actions and the rideshare company's commercial coverage are both directly in play.
Sudden stops and aggressive driving: Passengers who are thrown forward, struck by interior surfaces, or injured by a driver's erratic behavior have a claim even without a collision with another vehicle.
Third-party fault during a ride: When another driver causes the collision while the rideshare passenger is in the vehicle, both the at-fault driver's policy and Uber or Lyft's underinsured motorist coverage may apply.

Third-Party Driver and Vehicle Claims

Collisions caused by the rideshare driver: When an Uber or Lyft driver causes an accident that injures occupants of another vehicle, the injured parties face a coverage picture that depends on the driver's app status at the time of impact.
App-on, no passenger: When the driver has the app active and is waiting for a ride request, Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage at reduced limits, which may be supplemented by the driver's personal policy depending on that policy's terms.
En route or on-trip: When the driver has accepted a ride or a passenger is in the vehicle, Uber and Lyft's full commercial coverage of up to one million dollars in liability applies, representing the broadest available protection for injured third parties.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Rideshare Accidents

Pickup and drop-off zone collisions: Rideshare drivers stopping suddenly in travel lanes, bike lanes, or crosswalks to pick up or discharge passengers are among the most common causes of pedestrian and cyclist injuries involving Uber and Lyft in Fort Lauderdale.
Distracted driving strikes: Drivers monitoring the app, following navigation prompts, or communicating with passengers are frequently distracted at the precise moment a pedestrian or cyclist enters their path.
Sidewalk and crosswalk incursions: Drivers pulling onto sidewalks or blocking marked crosswalks create direct hazards for pedestrians and cyclists who have no reasonable way to anticipate the vehicle's position.

Accidents Involving Uninsured or Underinsured Rideshare Drivers

Personal policy gaps: Many rideshare drivers carry personal auto policies that explicitly exclude commercial activity, creating coverage gaps when the app is active but no passenger is present.
Uber and Lyft contingent coverage limits: The reduced liability limits that apply during the app-on, no-passenger phase may fall well short of the costs of a serious injury, making underinsured motorist coverage and other sources of recovery critical to a complete claim.
Multiple policy navigation: Identifying which policies apply, at what limits, and in what order of priority requires the kind of coverage analysis that Feingold, Posner & Draizin is built to perform.

Wrongful Death Rideshare Claims

Fatal passenger injuries: When a rideshare passenger is killed in a collision, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver, the rideshare company, and any other at-fault parties.
Fatal third-party injuries: When an Uber or Lyft driver causes a fatal crash involving occupants of another vehicle or a pedestrian, the same wrongful death framework applies, with the coverage picture determined by the driver's app status at the time.
Survivor eligibility: Florida's wrongful death statute defines which family members may bring a claim and what categories of damages are available, and consulting an attorney promptly is essential to protecting those rights within the applicable deadlines.

Whether your case involves a coverage dispute, a serious injury, or a fatality, a Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft accident lawyer at Feingold, Posner & Draizin investigates every available source of recovery and pursues compensation that reflects the impact the accident has had on your life.

How Insurance Coverage Works in Fort Lauderdale Rideshare Accident Cases

Understanding which policy applies is the central challenge in any Uber or Lyft accident claim. The coverage available to an injured person shifts based on the driver's app status at the moment of the crash, and carriers on all sides of the claim are experienced at using that framework to their advantage.

When the App Is Off

When an Uber or Lyft driver is not logged into the app, they are operating as a private individual. Only the driver's personal auto insurance policy applies, and that policy must meet the minimum requirements under Florida law.

When the App Is On, but No Ride Has Been Accepted

During this phase, Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage that applies only if the driver's personal policy does not cover the claim. The limits during this period are substantially lower than the full commercial coverage that applies when a passenger is in the vehicle, and personal policies that exclude commercial activity may leave a significant gap.

When a Ride Is Accepted or a Passenger Is Present

Once a driver accepts a ride request or has a passenger in the vehicle, Uber and Lyft's full commercial coverage applies. This policy provides up to one million dollars in third-party liability coverage and includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that can be accessed when the at-fault party's own policy is insufficient.

Why This Matters for Your Claim

Insurance carriers use the phase distinction aggressively to limit their exposure. Establishing the precise app status of the driver at the moment of impact is often the first and most important factual question in a rideshare accident case. Feingold, Posner & Draizin moves quickly to secure the app records, trip data, and driver communications that answer that question before they become unavailable.

Common Injuries in Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft Accident Cases

Rideshare accidents produce the same range of serious injuries as any other vehicle collision, often compounded by the unique circumstances of rideshare travel, including passengers who are not wearing seatbelts, seated in rear positions with reduced crash protection, or exiting or entering the vehicle when the impact occurs.

Traumatic brain injuries: The sudden forces of a vehicle collision can cause serious brain trauma even without direct head contact, producing cognitive, neurological, and emotional effects that persist well beyond the initial recovery period.
Spinal cord injuries: Rear-seat passengers are particularly vulnerable to spinal injuries in rear-end and side-impact collisions, where the forces are absorbed directly through the occupant's position in the vehicle.
Fractures and orthopedic injuries: Broken arms, legs, wrists, and ribs are common when passengers brace for impact or are thrown against interior vehicle surfaces.
Soft tissue injuries: Whiplash and torn ligaments may not appear on initial imaging but can cause lasting pain and restricted function that affect daily life and work.
Lacerations and scarring: Broken glass, deployed airbags, and contact with interior surfaces can cause cuts and scarring that may require surgical repair and result in permanent disfigurement.
Psychological injury: Serious rideshare accidents can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and other emotional injuries that may be recoverable as part of a Florida personal injury claim.

Feingold, Posner & Draizin works with medical professionals to document every injury thoroughly, building a complete picture of both the immediate and long-term cost of your recovery.

Why Choose Feingold, Posner & Drazin as Your Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

Rideshare accident cases require a firm that understands not just personal injury law but also the specific insurance architecture Uber and Lyft have built for their drivers. Feingold, Posner & Draizin is staffed by attorneys who spent years on the defense side of exactly these coverage disputes.

Craig Posner, Former Insurance Defense Attorney: Craig spent years inside a national auto insurance company learning how carriers structure policies, manage multi-insurer claims, and use coverage phase arguments to reduce what they pay. That knowledge is directly applicable to every rideshare accident case the firm handles.

Eric Feingold, Former Public Defender and Insurance Counsel: Eric's background as a public defender in the Miami-Dade justice system and as in-house counsel for a national health insurance company gives him both the trial experience and the industry perspective to challenge coverage denials and push difficult cases toward fair outcomes.

Aaron Draizin, AV Preeminent Rated and Five-Time Super Lawyers Rising Star: Aaron spent years developing defense strategies at one of Florida's leading statewide insurance defense firms, including firsthand experience with the coverage dispute strategies rideshare insurers apply in accident claims. He holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for five consecutive years.

What Every Rideshare Accident Client Receives

No upfront cost and no fee unless compensation is recovered
Immediate preservation of app records, trip data, and driver communications
A complete analysis of every available insurance source from the first consultation
Direct attorney access at every stage of the process

About Uber and Lyft Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale's concentration of entertainment districts, hotels, airports, and nightlife destinations makes it one of the most active rideshare markets in South Florida. That volume of daily Uber and Lyft activity creates a consistent pattern of accidents that a rideshare accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL, sees across specific corridors and circumstances throughout the year.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: The pickup and drop-off zones at FLL generate a high volume of rideshare activity in a compressed, fast-moving environment. Drivers rushing to complete trips, navigating unfamiliar terminal layouts, and watching for passenger notifications rather than traffic create recurring hazards for other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in the area.

Las Olas Boulevard and the Riverfront: The concentration of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues along Las Olas produces peak rideshare demand during evening and late-night hours. Drivers stopping in travel lanes, blocking crosswalks, and pulling onto sidewalks to reach passengers are a consistent source of pedestrian and cyclist injuries in this corridor.

Broward County Transit Corridors: Rideshare drivers navigating the arterials that connect Fort Lauderdale's neighborhoods to transit hubs and commercial centers encounter a mix of high speeds, frequent stops, and pedestrian crossings that demand sustained attention. Distracted rideshare drivers on these routes are a recurring factor in the accident cases that a rideshare accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL, handles throughout Broward County.

Feingold, Posner & Draizin has represented rideshare accident victims throughout the greater Fort Lauderdale area and understands both the local conditions that lead to these crashes and the insurance coverage issues that follow.

Contact the Experienced Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer at Feingold, Posner & Draizin for a Free Case Evaluation

Rideshare accident claims involve coverage disputes, multiple insurers, and corporate defendants with experienced legal teams. A Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft accident lawyer at Feingold, Posner & Draizin will step in immediately to secure the evidence that determines coverage, identify every liable party, and build a strong case in support of the compensation you may be entitled to pursue under Florida law.

There is no upfront cost and no fee unless compensation is recovered on your behalf. Call 954-953-5861 today or complete our online contact form to schedule your free case evaluation.

Fort Lauderdale Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer