Have you been injured in an Uber accident in Tampa, Florida? Since Ubers are operated commercially, accidents involving these rideshare vehicles can be more complicated than other types of car accidents. While you may have the right to seek compensation from an at-fault party or insurance company, the claims process won’t be straightforward or easy. Working with an experienced Tampa Uber accident lawyer at Apex Law Firm, PLLC can help you win your case and maximize your recovery.
Apex Law Firm, PLLC offers 26+ years of experience handling high-stakes, complex personal injury disputes. As award-winning litigators with a passion for justice and excellence, we’ve successfully won more than $30 million in damages for clients like you.
Now, we’re prepared to help you take on Uber, their insurance company, negligent motorists, and anyone else who might try to stand between you and a meaningful financial recovery. We offer a free consultation, contact our Tampa law office today at (813) 444-5212.
How Apex Law Firm, PLLC Helps Uber Accident Victims in Tampa, FL
Why did your Uber accident happen? Who’s at fault? What if you get blamed for the wreck? What evidence do you need to support your case, and how can you get it? How can you know if a settlement offer is fair?
These are all important issues that need to be considered carefully in the wake of an Uber accident in Tampa. However, they’re not questions you need to navigate on your own, especially when you’re trying to recover from serious physical injuries and figure out how to deal with the sudden financial stress of a car accident.
That’s where Apex Law Firm, PLLC can help. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers are leaders in civil litigation who have the resources and experience you’ll need to force the case results you deserve.
When you ask for our help after an Uber accident, we’ll:
- Investigate your Uber rideshare accident to understand how and why it happened
- Gather evidence needed to facilitate a successful legal claim for damages, including medical records, accident reports, driver cell phone data, witness statements, and more
- Consult professionals and expert witnesses who can offer critical insights as we build your Uber accident case
- Evaluate your losses and the ways in which the Uber accident has affected your life so that we can determine what your personal injury case is worth
- File your legal claim(s) with the insurance company and/or local court clerk in Hillsborough County
- Represent your best interests during negotiations
- Reject unreasonably low settlement offers and seek better results at trial, if necessary
Our Florida Uber accident attorneys appreciate that you have a single shot at getting compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other crash-related damages. We want to help you make the most of it. Since we represent our clients on contingency, there’s no added financial pressure to ask for our help. We only get paid when we win compensation for your Uber accident case.
Learn more and have your questions answered by contacting our Tampa, FL, law office today. Your initial case evaluation is free.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against Uber After an Accident With a Rideshare Driver?
Probably not.
Uber has spent a small fortune on protecting its right to classify rideshare drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Not only does this have considerable tax benefits for the multinational corporation, but it also protects it from being vicariously liable when a driver causes an accident.
In other words, while you may have the right to pursue compensation from someone after your car accident, it won’t be Uber. At least, not directly.
Florida requires Uber to maintain insurance coverage in case one of its rideshare vehicles is involved in a crash.
Do I Qualify to Get Benefits Through Uber’s Insurance Company After a Rideshare Accident?
Uber maintains insurance policies to protect vehicle occupants and affected third parties when a driver is involved in a traffic accident while on duty.
There are two levels of coverage, depending on the driver’s status.
If the driver is logged into the rideshare app and actively seeking work, but has yet to accept a ride request, Uber’s corporate policy will cover:
- $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability damages, and
- $25,000 per accident in property damage
Once the Uber driver accepts a ride request, Uber’s insurance coverage increases to $1 million per accident and includes comprehensive and collision coverage.
You might qualify for benefits through one of Uber’s insurance policies if you are injured in a traffic accident with one of its vehicles.
However, it’s important to know that:
- Florida is a no-fault state, so you must initially seek compensation from your car insurance policy if you were an occupant of another vehicle
- Uber’s insurance policies are secondary to other applicable policies, so you have to exhaust benefits available from other sources before filing a claim with Uber’s insurance carrier
At the end of the day, you can recover benefits from Uber’s insurance policy once the Uber driver’s personal insurance benefits have been exhausted.
Can Shared Fault Limit My Ability To Get Compensation After an Uber Accident in Florida?
Potentially, yes. Florida’s modified comparative fault law can limit or prevent a financial recovery after an Uber accident in Tampa. However, the law only applies to claims against the opposing party, not against your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which is a no-fault policy.
Damages - paid through insurance or a jury award - will be reduced proportionately to fault up to 50 percent. Once you’re assigned most of the blame for an Uber car accident in Tampa, you’ll lose the right to recover benefits from a third party.
Our Tampa Uber accident attorneys know that insurance companies and at-fault parties won’t hesitate to try to blame you for your injuries. We’ll have a plan and strategies in place to dispute these victim-blaming tactics from the start. The less liability you share, the more compensation you can potentially recover for your crash-related damages.
Uber Accidents Can Cause Traumatic Physical Injuries
While several factors can influence the types of trauma you’re likely to suffer in an Uber car accident, some of the most commonly reported injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Chest injuries
- Crush injuries
- Concussions
- Brain injuries
- Leg injuries
- Burns
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Eye injuries
- Wrongful death
Always report your Uber accident through the rideshare app, notify the local Tampa Police Department, and seek prompt medical attention. Then, make sure you fully understand your legal rights and options by contacting an experienced litigator at Apex Law Firm, PLLC. Members of our Tampa, FL, law office are available to help 24 hours a day.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Tampa Uber Accident Victims?
The costs and consequences of an Uber accident can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the State of Florida allows victims to request compensatory damages from an insurance company or a liable third party.
Compensatory damages can include two classes of awards: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are intended to help you cover financial losses related to your Uber accident, such as:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Nursing care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are designed to alleviate some of the emotional trauma and life changes you experience because of an Uber accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Disability
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Embarrassment
- Chronic physical pain
Florida allows plaintiffs to receive punitive damages in a limited number of circumstances when an Uber car accident lawsuit goes to trial. Should a jury determine that a defendant’s actions were wilful or grossly negligent, they can order the defendant to pay extra damages as punishment.
When you’ve chosen Apex Law Firm, PLLC to represent you, you won’t have to worry about tactics to undermine your fight for compensation. Our Uber accident lawyers in Tampa, FL, will work with experts and build a claim that forces the defense to take full responsibility for your injuries. If they refuse, we’ll be prepared to take your case to trial.
How Long Will I Have To File an Uber Accident Claim in Florida?
Florida imposes a strict two-year statute of limitations on most car accident claims, including those that involve Uber rideshare vehicles.
There are limited exceptions, most often involving cases where a child is injured in an Uber accident.
However, never assume that you’ll have extra time to act. Once the statute of limitations runs out, you lose the ability to hold the negligent Uber driver, a third-party motorist, or an insurance company accountable for your Uber accident injuries.
Contact Our Experienced Tampa Uber Accident Attorneys for a Free Case Review
Don’t hesitate to contact the award-winning legal team at Apex Law Firm, PLLC after an Uber accident in Tampa, Florida. Backed by 26+ years of experience and a million-dollar track record, our Tampa Uber accident attorneys are the legal advocates you’ll want fighting for you after a devastating crash.
We offer a complimentary case evaluation for all prospective clients, so reach out to our law office in Tampa to discuss your Uber injury case today.