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What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Florida
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What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Florida
The 8 Steps to Take After Your Uber or Lyft Crash
- Call 911 immediately. Get police on scene and request medical help. The police report becomes a critical piece of evidence later.
- Accept medical attention even if you feel "fine." Adrenaline masks symptoms for hours or days. Soft-tissue, concussion, and back injuries from rideshare crashes often surface 24-72 hours later. Refusing treatment hurts your claim.
- Document the scene with your phone. Take wide-angle and close-up photos of all vehicles, license plates, road conditions, traffic signals, debris, your visible injuries, and the driver's rideshare ID badge or app screen.
- Report the accident through the Uber or Lyft app. Both apps have built-in accident reporting. This timestamps your claim and triggers the rideshare company's insurance protocol — but do NOT give a recorded statement yet.
- Collect everything from the driver. Driver name, phone, license number, license plate, insurance card photo, rideshare profile screenshot, and a screenshot of your trip receipt (which shows the time, route, and fare confirming the rideshare relationship).
- Get witness contact info. Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash — including other passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.
- Do NOT talk to the insurance adjuster yet. Within 24-48 hours, an adjuster from Uber's or Lyft's insurer (usually Progressive or York) will call you. They are trained to get you to say something that reduces your payout. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney.
- Call a Florida rideshare accident attorney immediately. Time is the enemy. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and the 2-year deadline starts ticking the day of the crash.
Why Rideshare Cases Are Different from Regular Car Accidents
An Uber or Lyft crash is not a normal car accident claim. The driver is technically an independent contractor — not an employee — which means Uber and Lyft have built a complex insurance structure designed to limit their liability.
The rideshare company's coverage depends entirely on which "period" the driver was in when the crash happened:
Uber & Lyft Insurance Coverage Periods
- Period 0 (app off): The driver's personal auto insurance applies. Rideshare company pays nothing.
- Period 1 (app on, waiting for ride): Limited contingent liability — typically $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage if the driver's personal policy doesn't cover it.
- Period 2 (ride accepted, en route to passenger): Full $1 million liability coverage kicks in.
- Period 3 (passenger in the car): Full $1 million liability + $1 million uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If you were a passenger when the crash happened, you have access to $1 million in coverage — but only if your attorney can prove which period the driver was in. Getting your trip receipt immediately is essential.
Florida's 2-Year Deadline (HB 837)
Florida used to give injury victims 4 years to file a personal injury lawsuit. That changed on March 24, 2023, when Governor DeSantis signed HB 837 into law. The new deadline is 2 years from the date of the accident for any negligence claim, including rideshare crashes.
If you miss the 2-year deadline, you lose the right to sue forever — no matter how badly you were injured. This is one reason why calling a lawyer in the first weeks after a crash is so important.
When to Call a Rideshare Lawyer
Call a Florida rideshare attorney before talking to the rideshare company's insurance adjuster — ideally within 7-14 days of the crash. An experienced attorney will:
- Preserve the rideshare driver's trip log before it gets deleted
- Identify every insurance policy that may apply (rideshare, driver's personal, your UM/PIP, and any third-party defendant)
- Handle all communication with the adjusters so you don't accidentally say something that reduces your settlement
- Calculate the full value of your case — medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering
- File suit before the 2-year deadline if the insurance company refuses to negotiate fairly
Key Takeaways
- Call 911, get medical care, and document everything in the first hour
- Report the crash through the rideshare app — but do not give recorded statements
- Uber and Lyft both carry $1 million liability coverage during Period 2 and Period 3
- Florida's deadline to file a rideshare injury lawsuit is now 2 years (HB 837)
- Call a rideshare lawyer before talking to the insurance adjuster
Free 24/7 Rideshare Case Review →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first thing to do after a rideshare accident in Florida?
Call 911 and get medical attention. Even if you feel fine, get checked — soft-tissue, concussion, and back injuries from rideshare crashes often surface hours or days later. A medical record from the day of the crash is critical evidence for your case.
Should I report the accident through the Uber or Lyft app?
Yes — report it through the app to timestamp the incident and trigger the rideshare company's insurance protocol. But do not give a recorded statement or accept any settlement offer until you've spoken with a rideshare attorney.
Who pays for my injuries in a Florida rideshare accident — the driver, the app, or my insurance?
It depends on which "period" the driver was in. If a passenger was in the car (Period 3), Uber and Lyft each carry $1 million in liability coverage. If the driver was just logged on but had no ride (Period 1), only limited contingent coverage applies. An experienced attorney can identify every available policy.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Florida?
Two years from the date of the accident. Florida reduced the personal injury statute of limitations from 4 years to 2 years when HB 837 took effect in March 2023. Miss this deadline and you lose the right to sue forever.
Should I talk to the rideshare insurance adjuster?
No — not before talking to a rideshare attorney. Adjusters are trained to get statements that reduce your payout. They are not on your side. Decline politely and refer them to your lawyer.
Is the Uber or Lyft driver an employee or an independent contractor?
Both Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors — not employees. This is a key reason rideshare companies built their multi-tier insurance structure: it limits their direct liability while still providing coverage when a passenger is in the car.
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