West Palm Beach Lyft Accident Lawyers

Florida sets specific insurance requirements for Lyft and its drivers, and the required coverage amount depends on what stage of a ride the driver was in when the crash happened. Florida Statute 627.748 divides a Lyft ride into three coverage periods, and identifying the right one is the first step in a Lyft injury case.

When the App Was Off

If the Lyft driver had not logged into the driver app at all, no rideshare-specific coverage applies. Florida only requires a private driver to carry $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability, and does not require bodily injury liability coverage, so the driver’s personal policy may not cover your injury unless the driver bought that coverage voluntarily.

When the Driver Was Waiting for a Ride Request

Once the driver logs on and is waiting for a ride request, Florida Statute 627.748(7)(b) requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person, $100,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage, along with personal injury protection. The statute also requires uninsured motorist coverage during this period, unless Lyft’s insurer rejected that coverage in writing, which Florida Statute 627.727 allows.

When the Driver Was Driving to or Transporting a Passenger

Once the driver accepts a ride request, whether driving to pick up the passenger or already transporting them, Florida Statute 627.748(7)(c) raises the required coverage to $1 million in combined liability coverage. Lyft, the driver, or a combination of the two can supply the coverage, and it applies to injuries suffered by the passenger, the occupants of another vehicle, or a pedestrian or cyclist the Lyft driver struck.