Now that Uber and Lyft have become popular enough to lead to side by side comparisons, there are many who find themselves wondering about their level of legal responsibility. Both ride-share services are also trying to lobby against further regulations, there are many who find themselves wondering about their level of legal responsibility.
How Does This Affect Florida Residents?
When an accident takes place that involves either of these ride-sharing services, there is one question that must be asked: what is my legal recourse if driven by Lyft or Uber? This question is a complicated one because these drivers fall under the category of independent contractors. Often times, their payment is not handled by the driver, it is handled by the app that they have chosen.
Whose insurance policy will be used? How can a personal injury attorney in Jupiter be of assistance? Can lawsuits be filed when automobile accidents take place?
How a Personal Injury Attorney In Jupiter Can Help
While the drivers work are third parties and are typically considered to be independent, at least from a legal standpoint, the driver can be held responsible, and Uber and Lyft can also be held responsible in certain instances.
Limited legal liability is a common issue that clients experience in the wake of an auto accident that involves a vehicle used by a ride share service like Uber or Lyft. This does not mean that the companies have zero financial responsibility to their passengers when these sorts of issues start to take place.
Considerations To Make
All of the drivers are employed by these services must have their own insurance coverage. If an accident takes place, sometimes their insurance provider will be responsible for your damages. The ride share companies also provide additional coverage that serves as a supplement in many instances.
This approach comes with certain subtleties. There are three different tiers that have to be considered. The driver’s own insurance coverage is the first variable. From there, the company’s supplemental coverage may kick in. This is the coverage that is relied upon if the driver is in the process of heading from place to place but does not have a passenger on board.
These insurance coverage plans differ greatly from the insurance plans that are used when the driver is in transit with a passenger that utilized one of the aforementioned apps to obtain their services. Liability coverage is offered by Lyft and Uber in these instances.
If you have any further questions about these ride sharing services and their level of legal liability when an auto accident has taken place, be sure to contact an experienced Florida attorney right away. They will let you know if your case is viable and give you a better idea of what to expect.
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