Boca Raton Uber Accident Lawyer

Uber accidents in Boca Raton bring questions about coverage and responsibility because the insurance that applies changes with the driver’s status. A personal policy may apply when the app is off, limited coverage may apply when the driver is waiting, and Uber’s $1 million policy can apply when a passenger is in the car. All of this can be confusing and leave you unsure about which insurer is responsible or how to move forward. Our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers will sort through those details, determine liability, and build a compelling case to maximize your recovery.

If you were injured in a Boca Raton Uber accident, call Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, PLLC at 561-367-7799 to speak with one of our Uber accident lawyers who can guide your case and pursue the compensation you need.

Do I Have a Case?

A case starts with provable harm and a path to recovery through the responsible party or an insurance company. Coverage, fault, and evidence decide the next steps.

Examples of Accidents that Qualify

Passenger injured during an Uber trip or pickup.
Driver or passenger in another vehicle hit by an Uber driver who had the app on.
Pedestrian or cyclist struck by an Uber driver with the app active.
Uber driver injured while logged into the app.

How Florida PIP Fits With Uber Coverage

Florida no-fault PIP pays first for covered medical care and a portion of lost wages, regardless of fault. Serious injury or losses beyond PIP can open a case against the at-fault party. App status controls which policy responds beyond PIP, with different limits when the app is off, waiting, or on a trip.

Evidence That Helps Confirm You Have a Case

Getting medical evaluation as soon as possible and diagnosis tied to the crash.
Police crash report and any citations.
Photos, video, or 911 audio.
Witness names and contact details.
Uber trip records or screenshots showing ride status.
Vehicle data and repair estimates.

You don’t have to have everything listed above to have a case. What ultimately decides the outcome is whether negligence can be proven as the cause of the harm and whether there is an insurance policy or other source of recovery available.

Factors That Can Limit Recovery

No documented injury or large treatment gap.
Weak link between the crash and the diagnosed condition.
Policy limits that cap recovery or app-off status with only a personal policy available.
Shared fault that reduces recovery under Florida’s comparative fault rules.

Limits like treatment gaps, low policy amounts, or disputed fault don’t automatically end a case, but they can reduce what is collected. Our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers examine the facts, identify where recovery is possible, and address the issues insurers raise to minimize payment.

Uber Accidents in Boca Raton

Rideshare traffic tends to concentrate around specific roads and pickup zones in Boca Raton. Traffic density, frequent lane changes, and curbside stops combine with phone use and tight timelines.

Where Crashes Cluster

I-95 interchanges at Glades Road, Palmetto Park Road, and Yamato Road, with short merges and quick lane shifts.
Federal Highway (US-1) through downtown, with mid-block turn-ins and frequent left turns.
Pickup and drop-off areas at Mizner Park, Florida Atlantic University, and Town Center at Boca Raton.
Airport and business park corridors near Northwest 20th Street and Spanish River Boulevard.

Patterns behind Uber crashes

Screen interaction during pings or navigation prompts.
Sudden curbside stops or double parking near restaurants and venues.
Speeding to meet ETAs or make the next pickup.
Fatigue on late-night or split shifts.
Improper left turns across multiple lanes and unsafe merges.
Door openings into cyclists or scooter riders at drop-offs.

Driver fault versus outside hazards

Negligence covers actions within the driver’s control, for example handheld phone use, unsafe speed, rolling stops, or failing to yield. Outside hazards include rain-slick roads, construction zones, debris, poorly timed signals, or obstructed sight lines near driveway exits.

Hazards do not excuse careless driving. Drivers are expected to adjust speed, spacing, and attention to conditions. Fault can be split when both driver choices and road or weather conditions contribute.

Local familiarity helps our attorneys place trip logs, pickup points, and traffic patterns in context, which strengthens the link between what happened and who is responsible.

Florida Rideshare Insurance Coverage

How Coverage Tiers Work

Uber and Lyft policies change with driver status. App off places everything on the driver’s personal auto policy. App on with no passenger activates limited third-party liability from the rideshare policy. En route to a pickup or carrying a rider triggers primary $1,000,000 third-party liability.

How Insurance Companies Deny Coverage

Insurers like to dispute app status to push responsibility to a different policy. Common tactics can include:

Pointing to gaps in medical documentation to argue no crash-related injury.
Claiming shared fault to cut payouts.
Delaying or resisting release of trip data to pressure lower settlements.
Demanding recorded statements or broad medical authorizations to limit recovery.

How PIP and UM/UIM Interact with Rideshare Coverage

Florida PIP pays first for covered treatment and a portion of lost wages, regardless of fault. Serious injury or losses beyond PIP support a bodily injury case against the at-fault party. App status then decides which liability policy responds beyond PIP.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can fill gaps when the at-fault policy runs out or denies responsibility. Stacked UM, when elected on a policy, can increase available limits by combining vehicles. Passengers may also access UM tied to the trip, depending on carrier terms and the facts of the ride.

A Boca Raton Uber accident lawyer verifies app status quickly, secures trip and telematics records, and sequences PIP, rideshare liability, and UM/UIM so recovery tracks to the right policies without delay.

Proving Liability in an Uber Accident

Liability in an Uber accident rests on the four elements of negligence and how Florida applies comparative fault rules. Evidence ties driver actions to the crash and shows which insurer should pay.

Elements of Negligence

A case begins with a duty of care that every driver owes. Breach happens when that duty is ignored, such as when speeding or using a phone behind the wheel. Causation links the breach to the crash and the injuries. Damages refer to the medical treatment, wage loss, and other documented losses.

Comparative Negligence in Florida

Florida’s comparative negligence rule reduces recovery by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured party, but anyone found more than 50 percent at fault cannot recover. The percentage assigned comes down to how convincingly liability is documented and presented.

Evidence That Proves Fault

Evidence that helps establish fault comes from a range of sources, including the following.

Police reports and any citations.
Witness accounts.
Uber trip and app-status data.
Vehicle recorders, dashcams, or nearby video.
Photos of the scene, repair estimates, and medical records.

Who May Be Responsible

Responsibility can rest with the Uber driver, another driver, or both. An Uber driver may be liable for distraction, unsafe speed, or failure to yield. Another driver may be responsible for running a red light or tailgating. Shared responsibility arises when both drivers’ decisions contribute.

Our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers secure trip data quickly, verify app status, and assemble the medical and crash evidence needed to prove liability and connect it to the coverage in play.

Compensation You May Be Able to Recover

Compensation tracks documented losses and the coverage available. Case value depends on records that tie each loss to the crash and on the policy limits in play.

Medical Expenses: Hospital and ER care start the paper trail. Follow-up treatment, prescriptions, and rehabilitation add to the record. Future care can be projected with treating providers when injuries will not fully resolve.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity: Pay stubs, 1099s, or employer letters prove wage loss. Medical opinions and work restrictions support reduced hours or a job change. Long-term impact on earnings can be calculated when injuries block a prior career path.
Pain, Suffering, and Daily Impact: Symptoms, activity limits, and sleep disruption belong in the file. Notes from family or caregivers, therapy records, and journals help show how life changed.

Wrongful Death Damages for Families: Florida law allows recovery for funeral costs and loss of support. Eligible relatives may also recover for mental pain and loss of companionship. Our team addresses probate and estate documentation so the case proceeds without delays.

How Policy Limits and Coverage Tiers Affect Recovery

Driver Not Logged Into the App: Only the driver’s personal auto policy applies, and those policies may carry low limits.
Driver Logged In but No Ride Accepted: Uber provides limited third-party liability coverage while the driver is available for trips.
Driver En Route or Carrying a Passenger: Uber’s $1,000,000 liability policy applies once a trip has been accepted or a passenger is in the car.
Multiple Injuries Under One Policy: When several people are hurt in the same crash, they may have to share the same policy limit, which reduces what each person can collect.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage: UM or UIM can fill gaps when the at-fault policy is exhausted or denies responsibility.

Our rideshare accident lawyers map every coverage source, document losses with precise records, and position the case to pursue full compensation under the policies that apply.

Building a Compelling Case

Evidence ages fast. Our attorneys move from day one to lock down digital records, physical proof, and medical documentation so liability and coverage are clear.

Preserving Electronic Trip Records

Trip data can sometimes be overwritten quickly so our attorneys send preservation notices to Uber and the driver to hold GPS logs, ride acceptance times, and status changes. We also collect in-app receipts and screenshots from the client and secure dashcam or phone video with original metadata. When available, we request downloads from the vehicle’s event data recorder.

Police and Public Records

Reports and recordings anchor the timeline. Our team requests Boca Raton Police or Palm Beach County Sheriff crash reports, supplements, and body-worn camera video. We also obtain 911 audio, CAD logs, and nearby surveillance footage when available, especially around Mizner Park, FAU, and Town Center.

Medical Proof and Case Value

Medical records connect the crash to the injuries and support damages. Hospital and clinic notes, imaging, and treating-provider opinions all strengthen the link. Wage loss is shown through pay records and employer letters. Together, these records help prove both the physical and financial impact.

Expert Analysis When Liability Is Disputed

Accident reconstruction: analyzes speed, braking, and movement from EDR and video.
Human factors analysis: evaluates visibility and driver reaction time.
Vocational evaluation: measures work capacity after injury.
Economic and life-care planning: projects long-term medical costs and household impact.

Our attorneys combine preserved trip data, public records, medical proof, and expert input in one file so settlement talks start from a strong position and a lawsuit can be filed with confidence if negotiations stall.

Timelines and Deadlines

Florida Filing Deadlines

Based on Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury deadlines are as follows:

Two years from the crash for personal injury cases.
Two years from the date of death for wrongful death cases.
Three years to present a written claim against a government entity, or two years for wrongful death connected to a government entity.

Missed deadlines usually ends the case, regardless of the evidence.

Insurance Notice Windows

Written notice to insurers is required as soon as practicable.
Florida’s PIP statute allows carriers to demand written notice, and once filed, it starts their payment deadlines.

Medical Timing and PIP Eligibility

Initial medical treatment has to occur within 14 days of the crash for PIP to apply.
Care started later is excluded from PIP benefits.
Early records strengthen the case by linking the injury directly to the crash.

Our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers track every deadline, send insurer notices, and make sure treatment is documented right away so coverage applies and recovery is not cut off.

Choosing the Right Attorney

The lawyer you hire decides how quickly evidence is secured, how strongly insurers respond, and whether negotiations move forward or stall.

How Local Experience Helps

Our attorneys know how Boca Raton Police handle reports and body-cam video, which businesses near Mizner Park or Town Center keep surveillance, and how to request those clips before they get deleted. Local hospitals and clinics follow set routines for imaging and chart copies, so medical proof lands in the file without delay. Familiarity with Palm Beach County procedures also helps us pace negotiations and file suit when needed.

Working With Rideshare Insurers

Rideshare cases turn on app status and policy language. Our attorneys request trip records, GPS breadcrumbs, and written confirmation of the coverage tier in the first round of letters. Carriers sometimes push for broad medical authorizations or recorded statements that shrink recovery. We narrow those requests, deliver the proof needed and keep negotiations on facts tied to the crash and the policies in play.

Trial-Ready Firms vs. High-Volume Settlement Shops

Settlement-oriented law firms process lots of files but may hesitate to hire experts or file suit, and insurers take advantage of that. Our firm treats every case as if it may go to trial, which can change how carriers value cases.

Questions to Ask Before You Hire

How many Uber or Lyft cases has your firm handled in Palm Beach County in the past two years?
What is your process for verifying app status and locking down trip data?
When do you bring in experts like accident reconstruction or vocational evaluators?
How often do you file suit if the carrier refuses to pay policy limits?
Who will handle my case day to day, and how will you update me?

Our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers use local knowledge, proven insurer strategies, and trial readiness to position every case for maximum recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Pays If I Was a Passenger in an Uber Crash? PIP pays first when available. After that, the at-fault driver’s liability policy applies, and during an accepted Uber trip the $1,000,000 Uber policy can apply. Our attorneys verify app status and line up the policies that cover your losses.

Can I Sue Uber Directly? Recovery usually runs through insurance policies rather than a lawsuit against Uber. Direct suits are uncommon and hinge on facts beyond a driver’s negligence. Our attorneys target the policy that applies and file suit against the responsible party when needed.

What If the Uber Driver Was Logged Out of the App? Only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. PIP may still pay first for treatment. Our team checks limits and evaluates UM/UIM options when available.

Does Uber’s Insurance Cover Me if the Driver Was at Fault? Yes during an accepted trip or while transporting a passenger, because Uber’s $1,000,000 liability policy applies. Coverage is more limited when the driver was waiting for a ride. Our attorneys confirm status with trip records.

What Happens if the Uber Driver’s Personal Insurance Refuses to Pay? We pull trip data to prove status and tender to Uber’s insurer when the facts fit. UM/UIM can address any shortfall, and we move toward filing suit against the at-fault driver if required.

Can I Recover Damages if Another Driver, Not the Uber Driver, Caused the Crash? Yes, depending on the facts. The case proceeds against that driver’s liability policy. If limits are low, UM tied to the trip or your own UM can cover the gap.

What Should I Do if the Uber App Status Is Disputed by the Insurer? Save app receipts and screenshots right away. Our attorneys send preservation letters for trip logs, request written confirmation of status from the carrier, and gather video or witness statements to match timing and location.

Our Boca Raton Uber Accident Lawyers are Ready to Fight for You

Call Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel, PLLC in Boca Raton at 561-367-7799 for a free consultation with our Boca Raton Uber accident lawyers. Our attorneys handle negotiations with Uber, Lyft, and their insurers and work to secure the full compensation available in your case.