What Happens After a Florida Rideshare Crash? The Part Uber & Lyft Leave Out

Bryan Greenberg Accident Lawyers Personal Injury

These days, hailing a ride with your phone is second nature. Whether you’re heading to work, picking up groceries, or enjoying a night out, companies like Uber and Lyft have made getting around easier than ever. But what happens when something goes wrong?

As an attorney who’s been representing injury victims right here in Port Charlotte for decades, I’ve seen firsthand just how complicated and frustrating it can be for people who’ve been hurt in a rideshare accident. What’s worse—most folks don’t realize that Uber and Lyft have built-in legal strategies to avoid paying fair compensation to injured passengers, drivers, and even other motorists.

So let me tell you what Uber and Lyft won’t—and what you need to know to protect your rights if you’ve been injured in a Florida rideshare crash.

Uber & Lyft Say They’re Not Transportation Companies (And That’s a Problem)

This is the first trick in their book. Uber and Lyft call themselves technology platforms, not transportation providers. It might sound like a small technicality, but it’s not.

By claiming they’re just connecting people with drivers, they try to avoid legal responsibility when someone gets hurt. If a rideshare driver causes a crash, these companies often say, “Hey, the driver’s on their own—we just make the app.”

This lets them dodge lawsuits and keep themselves out of reach when people like you are stuck with medical bills and lost wages.

Background Checks Are Shallow—and Ongoing Oversight Is Rare

You’d hope that the driver picking you up has been thoroughly vetted. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case.

Uber and Lyft do limited background checks, usually only looking back seven years. That means a driver with a criminal history older than that—or a history of bad driving behavior—might still get approved.

And once drivers are on the road, there’s little to no ongoing oversight. Even if there are complaints, dangerous driving habits can slip under the radar.

You’ll Get the Runaround from Insurance Companies

After a rideshare accident, don’t expect a clear answer on who’s going to pay for your medical bills.

Uber and Lyft both carry large insurance policies—up to $1 million —but they’ll often say the driver wasn’t technically active on the app at the time.

Or they’ll claim the ride hadn’t officially started yet. And personal insurance companies will turn around and say, “That’s commercial use—we don’t cover that.”

So victims get shuffled back and forth, while their bills pile up and their injuries get worse. At All Injuries Law Firm, we deal with these insurance games all the time—and we know how to cut through the red tape.

No-Fault Insurance Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Sue

Here in Florida, we have no-fault insurance, which means your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers some expenses regardless of who caused the crash.

But here’s what Uber and Lyft won’t tell you: if your injuries are serious enough, you can absolutely step outside of the no-fault system and file a claim for additional damages. That includes:

• Permanent injuries
• Significant scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of important bodily functions

Don’t assume you’re stuck with just what PIP offers. If your life has been disrupted by a rideshare crash, you may have far more legal options than you realize.

They May Be Watching You After the Crash

Once you file a claim, the insurance companies—whether it’s Uber’s, Lyft’s, or the driver’s—may keep tabs on you. That means they might:

• Look at your social media accounts
• Check for photos or posts that suggest you’re “fine”
• Even hire private investigators to see if your injury claims hold up

This might sound extreme, but it happens more often than people think. That’s why I always tell clients: be cautious about what you say and post after an accident, and let your lawyer do the talking.

Reporting the Accident in the App Doesn’t Start a Legal Claim

Uber and Lyft both have options in their apps for reporting an incident. But those tools are not legal claims. They’re internal forms that go to customer service—not their insurance carriers.

I’ve had clients tell me, “I reported the accident in the app, so I thought everything was being handled.” Sadly, that delay can hurt your case. The clock is ticking after a crash. The sooner you file an official claim—and ideally, get legal help—the better your chances of recovering compensation.

Arbitration May Limit Your Legal Rights

Buried in Uber and Lyft’s terms of service is something called an arbitration clause. By using the app, you might unknowingly agree to give up your right to a jury trial if there’s ever a dispute. That means:

• No public court hearing
• No jury
• Lower settlement outcomes

Now, we’ve been able to fight back against arbitration clauses in some cases. But the point is, Uber and Lyft don’t tell you this upfront—and it could seriously affect your ability to hold them accountable.

We’re Here When Uber & Lyft Won’t Be —You Deserve Your Own Port Charlotte Legal Team

If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Englewood, or anywhere in Southwest Florida, don’t let the big companies push you around. At All Injuries Law Firm, we’ve been standing up for people like you for over 30 years. We understand Florida law, we know how these insurance companies operate, and we’re ready to fight for every dollar you deserve.

You don’t need to figure this out on your own—and you shouldn’t. Call us toay at (941) 625-4878. Tell us what happened. Let’s talk about your options.

Your recovery and your future are too important to trust to an app.