Rideshare crashes raise a question most car accidents do not: what was the driver doing in the app at the moment of the crash? Under Florida law, the answer can change the available insurance from a personal auto policy to $1 million or more. Gross Law Group represents rideshare passengers, other drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes across the Florida Panhandle and the Space Coast.
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Key Takeaways About Florida Rideshare Accident Claims
- Florida sets minimum insurance for rideshare drivers based on what the driver was doing in the app at the time of the crash.
- From the moment a driver accepts a ride until the last rider gets out, at least $1 million in primary liability coverage is required.
- When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, the minimum is $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage.
- Trip records and app data can determine which coverage applies, so they should be requested early.
- Fee terms are set out in a written agreement.
Florida's Rideshare Insurance Tiers
Florida's transportation network company law, Fla. Stat. 627.748, sets the minimum coverage. The required insurance may be provided by the driver, the rideshare company, or a combination of the two:
- App off. The rideshare insurance requirements do not apply, and the driver's personal auto policy is the main source of coverage. Florida's general requirement is $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability.
- App on, waiting for a request. Primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage, plus PIP and uninsured motorist coverage (627.748(7)(b)).
- Ride accepted, through drop-off. Primary liability coverage of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury, and property damage, plus PIP at the level required for a limousine and uninsured motorist coverage (627.748(7)(c)). A "prearranged ride" begins when the driver accepts the request and ends when the last rider exits the vehicle (627.748(1)).
If the driver's own insurance has lapsed or does not provide the required coverage, the rideshare company's insurance must provide it from the first dollar of the claim and defend the claim, and the company's coverage cannot depend on a personal insurer first denying the claim (627.748(7)(d) and (e)).
Uber and Lyft describe the coverage they maintain on their own websites (Uber, Lyft). The policies actually in force on the date of the crash control, so we request the policy documents rather than relying on summaries.
Why Trip Status Matters
Because the coverage tier depends on whether the driver was offline, online and waiting, en route to a pickup, or carrying a passenger, the app's timestamps are often the most important evidence in a rideshare case. In a claims coverage investigation, Florida requires the rideshare company, on request by a directly involved party, to provide the precise times the driver logged on and off the app in the 12 hours before and after the crash (627.748(8)(d)). Florida also allows personal auto insurers to exclude coverage while a driver is logged on or providing a ride (627.748(8)(b)), which is why the company's coverage is often central. We send preservation requests early for trip records, GPS data, and driver status so these records are available when the coverage question is decided.
Who May Be Injured, and Who May Be Responsible
Rideshare claims are brought by passengers, by drivers and passengers of other vehicles, and by pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Responsibility may rest with the rideshare driver, another driver, or both. Florida law treats a rideshare driver as an independent contractor rather than an employee of the company when certain conditions are met (627.748(9)), which can limit claims against the company directly even though its insurance may still apply.
Florida's no-fault rules still apply to rideshare crashes, so PIP is usually the first source for medical bills, and which PIP policy pays can depend on your own coverage. To claim pain and suffering against an at-fault driver, the injury must involve significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, a permanent injury, significant permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death (Fla. Stat. 627.737(2)).
Florida Law That Affects Rideshare Claims
Under the 2023 changes to Florida law (HB 837), most negligence claims arising after March 24, 2023 must be filed within two years (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a)), and wrongful death claims also carry a two-year deadline (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(e)). Florida now uses modified comparative fault: in most negligence cases (medical negligence claims are an exception), a person found more than 50 percent at fault for their own injury cannot recover damages, and a lower share of fault reduces the recovery (Fla. Stat. 768.81(6)).
HB 837 also changed how medical bills are proven. Evidence of medical bills that have already been paid is now limited to the amount actually paid; evidence of unpaid bills generally includes what the injured person's health coverage would pay (or, for people without private coverage, an amount tied to Medicare or Medicaid rates); and treatment under a letter of protection must be disclosed (Fla. Stat. 768.0427). That makes careful documentation of current and future care more important than ever.
How Gross Law Group Handles a Rideshare Case
- We request the trip record, driver status, and GPS data that determine which coverage tier applies.
- We obtain the crash report, witness information, and available video.
- We work to identify every policy that may apply, including the driver's personal policy, the company's policy, and your own uninsured motorist coverage.
- We work with your doctors to document your injuries, future care, and lost earning capacity.
- We handle communications with each insurer involved.
See also our Panama City and Pensacola car accident pages, and our approach to catastrophic injury cases.
Offices Serving the Florida Panhandle and the Space Coast
Gross Law Group handles rideshare accident cases from our offices in Pensacola, Panama City Beach, and Melbourne. If you contact us and can't travel, we can arrange to meet by video or at a location convenient to you.
Gross Law Group, P.A. – Pensacola Office
21 East Garden Street, Suite 208
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (888) 858-1505
Gross Law Group, P.A. – Panama City Beach Office
4408 Delwood Ln, Suite 14
Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Phone: (888) 858-1505
Gross Law Group, P.A. – Melbourne Office
2084 Meadowlane Ave
Melbourne, FL 32904
Phone: (321) 321-1441
Talk With a Rideshare Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash, call Gross Law Group at (888) 858-1505 or send us a message. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee: No Recovery, No Fee. The first consultation is free.
Rideshare Accident FAQs
Was I covered if my Uber or Lyft driver crashed?
Florida requires at least $1 million in primary liability coverage, provided by the driver, the rideshare company, or both, from the time a ride is accepted until the passenger exits, under Fla. Stat. 627.748. Lower limits apply when the driver is logged on but has not accepted a ride.
What if the driver was on the way to pick someone up?
Under Florida law, a prearranged ride begins when the driver accepts a ride request. The $1 million minimum therefore applies from acceptance, including the drive to the pickup point, until the last rider gets out (Fla. Stat. 627.748(1) and (7)(c)).
What if the driver had the app on but had not accepted a ride?
During that period Florida requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage, plus PIP and uninsured motorist coverage, provided by the driver, the rideshare company, or both (Fla. Stat. 627.748(7)(b)).
Can I bring a claim against Uber or Lyft itself?
Florida law treats a rideshare driver as an independent contractor rather than an employee of the company when certain conditions are met (Fla. Stat. 627.748(9)), which can limit claims against the company directly. The company's insurance may still cover the crash. Whether any other claim exists depends on the facts.
How does Gross Law Group charge for rideshare accident cases?
See fee terms in your written agreement. The first consultation is free.