If you sustained injuries in a car accident involving an Uber driver, Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Talked to an experienced Tampa Uber accident lawyer. Call us today at at (813) 430-3338.
Rideshare accident claims in Tampa, FL, can quickly become complicated. Higher-dollar insurance policies are often at risk–meaning the insurer will work hard to avoid paying a full settlement. That makes hiring an experienced lawyer more critical than ever.
Our lawyers collectively have 15 years of experience practicing personal injury law. Since we founded our law firm, we’ve recovered millions of dollars, and now we’re ready to fight for you.
If you were injured in an accident, call our law offices in Tampa, Florida, to explore your legal options. Your initial consultation with a Tampa Uber accident attorney is always completely free of charge.
Why Call Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Assistance After an Uber Accident in Tampa?
Uber drivers are only human. They’re just as likely to get into car accidents as anyone else. When Uber accidents happen, Uber passengers and occupants in other vehicles are always vulnerable to injuries. Unfortunately, recovering compensation in a case involving Uber can be extremely challenging.
It’s important to hire a skilled Tampa personal injury lawyer who can protect your right to compensation. At Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers, we pride ourselves on providing personalized support to our clients throughout the legal process in Tampa, FL. You’re never just a name on a file when you choose our law firm.
Our Tampa Uber accident lawyers can help with your case by:
- Handling the investigation into your crash
- Identifying all sources of insurance coverage and compensation
- Assessing your case value
- Documenting your unique losses and proving their value
- Bringing in experts when they can strengthen your case
- Aggressively negotiating with the insurance company for a full settlement
Our Tampa personal injury attorneys have the skills to help you maximize the value of your personal injury claim. Contact our Tampa car accident lawyers today to get started.
How Common Are Rideshare Accidents?
27,469 motor vehicle accidents were reported in Hillsborough County in 2023. However, Florida doesn’t publish statistics on rideshare accidents specifically. Uber itself publishes safety reports claiming its fatality rate is half the national average when it comes to fatal car crashes.
Despite that, one independent study found that traffic fatalities have increased by roughly 2% to 4% each year since rideshare services were introduced.
How Valuable Is My Tampa Uber Accident Case?
As with any personal injury case, the value of an Uber accident claim depends entirely on the facts.
The most important facts to consider include:
- The nature of your injuries
- The impact your injuries have on your daily life
- Whether you’re expected to make a full medical recovery
- The cost of medical treatment and vehicle repairs
- Your need for ongoing rehab and medical care
- Long-term damage to your earnings and quality of life
- Whether you’re partly liable for the crash
Available insurance is, of course, also a critical factor in assessing your case value. Each insurance policy contains coverage limits. When your damages exceed those limits, you may have to find another option for recovering the full value of your losses.
How Can Rideshare Insurance Issues Impact the Value of My Uber Accident Claim?
It’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to pursue a claim for damages against Uber. Uber drivers are independent contractors. By classifying their drivers as contractors, Uber can avoid direct liability when they cause accidents.
However, depending on the facts, you may be able to file a claim against one of Uber’s insurance policies. Florida law now requires Uber to carry commercial insurance coverage to provide protection for crash victims.
The driver’s status at the time of the crash will dictate the availability of these policies as follows:
Driver Is Offline
When drivers aren’t logged into the Uber app, they aren’t working for Uber. Even if their vehicle bears the Uber sticker, you’ll likely have to file a claim with the driver’s personal insurance company if you were seriously hurt in a crash.
Driver Is Available and Waiting for Ride Requests
When a driver logs into the Uber app, they’re working for Uber. Even though they haven’t accepted a ride, Uber’s first-tier insurance policy becomes available.
Policy coverage includes:
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per victim
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
Note that this is third-party liability coverage. Since Florida is a no-fault insurance state, you’ll likely have to pursue a claim with your own car insurance carrier before accessing Uber’s policy.
Driver Has Accepted a Passenger Request
A $1 million insurance policy may kick in once the Uber driver has accepted a ride request. This policy covers accidents that occur while the driver is en route to pick up a passenger or when a passenger is in the vehicle.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Uber Accident Victims in Tampa?
Every case involves different injuries and losses. As a general matter, Florida personal injury laws allow injury victims to seek compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Your damages will typically cover losses such as:
- Current medical costs
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity due to long-term disability
- Rehabilitation
- Specialized therapies and nursing care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
In serious accident cases involving intentional wrongdoing or shockingly reckless behavior, courts may also award punitive damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?
Our lawyers in Tampa work on a contingency fee basis. Before you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of your compensation award. Typically, the fee is around 33% of your settlement or verdict but can vary depending on the complexity of your case.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for Contributing to an Uber Accident in Florida?
You can recover damages if you share some, but not most, of the blame for a crash.
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you lose your right to damages if you were more than 50% liable for the crash. Your compensation will be reduced if you share even a small portion of the blame.
Our Team Will Fight to Recover Fair Compensation for All of Your Uber Accident Injuries
Like any car accident, Uber crashes have the potential to cause severe and life-threatening injuries.
At Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent clients in all types of injury cases, including those involving:
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Head, neck and shoulder injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Recovering from your injuries should be your first priority. We’re prepared to begin work on your case even while you continue your recovery. Just call our law firm to arrange a free case review and tell us what happened.
What Are the Leading Causes of Uber Accidents in Tampa?
Rideshare drivers are human like anyone else. When rideshare accidents occur, the same factors as are relevant in ordinary car accident cases tend to apply.
Common causes of Uber accidents include:
- Distracted driving, including drivers paying more attention to GPS than the road
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Road rage and aggressive driving
- Lane departures
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Unfamiliarity with the area
- Fatigued Uber drivers
- Hazardous road conditions
Any number of factors can play a role in a crash. It’s even possible that a third party may be involved. When in doubt, contact our lawyers in Tampa. We can investigate on your behalf.
What Is Negligence and How Do I Prove It?
As with any car accident, most Uber accidents tend to happen because someone was negligent.
Negligence is a failure to exercise due caution under the circumstances. To prove someone was negligent, you must prove they breached a legal duty to behave carefully and thus caused an accident and damages.
Many different types of evidence can be used to prove your case. Police reports, medical records, dash cam footage, and information from the driver’s Uber app will all be critical. In the most complex cases, we may hire accident reconstruction specialists who can provide expert testimony about the cause of the crash.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Uber Accident in Florida?
You have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit in Florida.
The statute of limitations is a strict rule with very limited exceptions. If you wait too long to take legal action, you’ll almost certainly lose your right to damages.
Call an Experienced Tampa Uber Accidents Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Clients in Tampa, FL, have long trusted Mincone Personal Injury Lawyers for legal representation. If you were injured in an accident, a Tampa Uber accident lawyer can help. Contact us today for a free case review to learn more about your legal options.
