They know they are dealing with someone who is inexperienced. Insurance adjusters often take advantage of injured victims who are dealing with the financial, physical, and emotional consequences of an injury, pushing them to accept a low settlement, or even worse – representing that there is no liability and thus no value or claim to be had.

Did you know? On average, insurance payouts are 3.5 times higher for individuals that retain a personal injury lawyer.

Motor vehicle accidents happen all day long on every major road, especially in more dense and busy cities. It can happen while behind the wheel in your personal vehicle, or while out for a Sunday ride on your Harley, or, it can happen while sitting in the back of an ‘Uber’ or ‘Lyft.’

What all these vehicle accidents share in common is that if an accident occurred as a result of another’s negligence and it results in an injury- there is financial compensation that can be had. However, different kinds of accidents come with different nuances.

Generally speaking, to assert a personal injury claim after a car accident you will need lasting, debilitating injuries to a body part before Florida law allows you to step outside of the no-fault system and file a fault-based claim.

To meet the serious injury threshold, you need to suffer:

• A significant impairment to an important body part or body system.
• Disfigurement of the face, neck, arms, and injuries to prominent areas of the body.
• Permanent injuries
  Injuries that will likely cause your death.

If you believe you may meet any of these criteria, a Florida car accident lawyer can help you determine if you can collect compensation above and beyond your PIP limits by filing a third-party liability claim based on the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy. This may allow you to recover money to pay for your current bills and losses, as well as your future or ongoing care needs.

Let’s contrast this with rideshare companies, like Uber and Lyft, who must carry liability insurance to cover bodily injuries and property damage. Uber has a $1 million liability insurance policy for eligible passengers, motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders. You should be aware that this $1 million liability insurance applies only when an Uber driver is logged on, engaged, and carrying passengers.

If a driver is on the app but does not have any passengers, the driver’s personal insurance and company policies may cover anyone involved in an accident. If someone was involved in an accident with an Uber driver who was using his or her vehicle for personal use–a driver who was not on the app and not carrying passengers–only the driver’s personal insurance would apply.

Florida is one of a handful of states with a “no-fault” car insurance statute per Florida Statues § 627.736. Florida law requires all motorists to carry personal injury and liability insurance. The “no-fault” clause means that the first $10,000 in medical bills is paid by your personal auto insurance policy.

However, there are exceptions if you are a licensed and insured Florida driver injured as an Uber passenger. Florida’s liability laws are complex. You deserve to know your rights, including your right to seek compensation for an Uber accident in Florida. An Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in Florida can explain if you are entitled to pursue compensation from the at-fault party in your case.