The ride was supposed to be the easy part of your night. Instead you are hurt, and three insurance companies are already arguing about which one owes you anything. Our Palm Beach Gardens Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Felice Trial Attorneys find the coverage that applies, deal with the carriers, and pursue what your injuries are actually worth.
We represent passengers, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians hurt in rideshare crashes across Palm Beach Gardens and the rest of the county. Call (561) 444-8822 anytime for a free case review.
Do You Need an Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens?
Yes, if you were injured. Rideshare claims are not ordinary car accident claims, because the insurance that applies changes depending on what the driver was doing on the app when the crash happened. Sorting that out is where most people lose money.
You especially need a lawyer if the insurers are pointing at each other, if you were a passenger, or if your injuries required more than a single visit to urgent care. The consultation is free, so there is no risk in finding out where you stand.
Where Do Rideshare Crashes Happen in Palm Beach Gardens?
Most Palm Beach Gardens rideshare crashes happen in a few predictable places, and they are not random stretches of highway. This is a destination city, so the ride usually begins or ends at a busy curb.
The patterns we see most often:
- Curbside pickups and drop-offs outside Downtown at the Gardens and The Gardens Mall, where drivers stop in active traffic lanes
- The PGA Boulevard corridor, with heavy turning traffic between restaurants, offices, and shopping centers
- Parking lot exits, where a driver pulls into traffic while looking at the app instead of the road
- I-95 and Florida's Turnpike ramps, where merging at speed turns a minor error into a serious injury
Why this matters legally: a crash during a curbside pickup often happens in a different app period than a crash on the highway, and that changes which policy pays.
Who Pays After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Florida?
It depends entirely on the driver's app status at the moment of impact. Florida law requires Uber and Lyft to carry up to $1 million in liability coverage once a driver has accepted a ride or has a passenger aboard. When the app is on but the driver is still waiting for a request, the required coverage drops sharply.
That gap is the single biggest issue in most rideshare claims, and insurers know it. If you want the full breakdown, our West Palm Beach page explains how Florida's rideshare insurance periods work layer by layer.
Florida's rideshare coverage rules come from Fla. Stat. 627.748, which governs transportation network companies, or TNCs. Uber and Lyft are both TNCs.
Not sure which policy applies to your crash? Call (561) 444-8822 for a free review. We identify the coverage so you do not have to guess.
What If You Were Visiting From Out of Town?
You can still bring a claim in Florida, and where you live does not limit your recovery. Palm Beach Gardens draws seasonal residents, golf visitors, and out-of-state travelers, and many rideshare passengers here are not Florida residents.
Two things to know if that describes you:
- The claim generally proceeds in Florida, where the crash happened, so a local attorney matters even if you have gone home.
- Your own auto insurance from another state may work differently than Florida's no-fault system, which can affect who pays your first medical bills.
We handle these cases remotely when clients are out of state, and we keep you updated without requiring you to fly back for every step.
What to Do After a Rideshare Crash in Palm Beach Gardens
The two things that matter most are getting medical care and capturing proof of the driver's app status before it disappears. See a doctor right away, even if you feel fine, because head and neck injuries often surface days later.
Then protect the claim:
- Screenshot the trip in your Uber or Lyft app, including the driver's name and trip time
- Call the police so there is an official crash report
- Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with a lawyer
You can request your official Florida crash report through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
What Is Your Palm Beach Gardens Rideshare Claim Worth?
It depends on your injuries, your future care, and who was at fault, but it is almost always worth more than the first offer. Recoverable damages typically include medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Florida's Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, covers only 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to $10,000, and it pays nothing for pain and suffering. When an injury is serious, you can pursue full damages beyond those limits.
Fault also matters. Florida reduces your recovery by your share of blame and bars it only if you are more than 50% responsible, which is why insurers work so hard to shift fault onto injured people.
Why Palm Beach Gardens Clients Choose Felice Trial Attorneys
A Palm Beach Gardens claim often belongs to someone who is not from here: a winter resident, a visitor in town for a tournament, a passenger who flew home two days after the crash. We run those cases without dragging clients back to Florida for every step, and we deal with the carriers directly so they stop calling you. Our office is a short drive south, and someone here answers at any hour.
About Timothy C. Felice, Founder and Lead Trial Attorney
Tim Felice founded the firm and has spent his career representing people with serious injuries, including catastrophic and brain injury claims that require expert testimony rather than quick negotiation. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2005 and earned his law degree at Nova Southeastern University's Shepard Broad Law Center. He handles out-of-state clients regularly, which matters in a city where a large share of injured riders live somewhere else half the year.
Our Results
We have recovered more than $85 million for injured clients across our practice areas. Every case turns on its own facts, so prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The figure is less important than the habit behind it: we price a claim on what the injury will cost over a lifetime, not on what the adjuster offers in month two.
Frequently Asked Questions
I live out of state. Does that change my filing deadline?
No. The deadline follows Florida law because that is where the crash happened, and it is generally two years, under Florida's statute of limitations. It was shortened from four years in 2023. Being home in another state does not pause the clock.
Do I have a claim if I was a passenger in the Uber or Lyft?
Almost certainly, if you were injured. Passengers are rarely at fault for a crash, which usually makes their claims the most straightforward. You may have a claim against the rideshare driver, the other driver, or both, depending on who caused it.
What does an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer cost in Palm Beach Gardens?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Your first consultation is free, so there is no cost to learn what your case may be worth.
Will I have to go to court?
Most rideshare cases settle without a trial. That said, insurers offer more when they know a firm is genuinely willing to try the case, so we prepare every serious claim as if it is going in front of a Palm Beach County jury.
What if the rideshare driver had no insurance of their own?
You may still recover. Rideshare policies include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, known as UM and UIM, which can apply when the at-fault driver has no coverage or not enough. Your own UM coverage may also come into play.
Is Uber or Lyft responsible if their driver hit me?
The rideshare company's insurance is often responsible, even though the driver is not technically an employee. Florida requires Uber and Lyft to carry substantial coverage while a driver is working, and that coverage can apply whether you were a passenger, another driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian.
Can I get a rental car after an Uber or Lyft accident?
Sometimes, depending on the policies involved and who was at fault. Rideshare coverage can include property damage, and your own policy may provide rental reimbursement. It is worth asking a lawyer before you pay out of pocket, because the wrong claim path can slow reimbursement.
What if the Uber driver says the accident was not their fault?
Their opinion does not decide it. Fault is determined by evidence, including the crash report, witness accounts, vehicle damage, and sometimes app and phone data. Drivers routinely deny fault, which is exactly why an independent investigation matters early.
How long does an Uber or Lyft accident case take?
It varies. A clear case with moderate injuries may resolve in a few months, while a serious or disputed claim can take a year or more. Cases usually should not be settled until your treatment stabilizes, so the full cost of your injury is known.
Talk to Someone Before You Talk to the Adjuster
A short conversation now can keep you from saying something that reduces your claim later. We will look at the coverage, tell you what we think it is worth, and be honest if you do not need us.
Call (561) 444-8822, available 24/7, or visit us at 3 Harvard Circle, West Palm Beach, FL 33409. You can also read more from our West Palm Beach car accident lawyers.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page or contacting Felice Trial Attorneys does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Case result figures reflect gross recoveries across multiple matters and do not reflect the net amount received by any individual client after fees and costs. Florida statutes, deadlines, insurance requirements, and procedures referenced here are subject to change, and you should consult a licensed Florida attorney about the specific facts of your situation. Florida's statute of limitations is strict, and missing it may bar your recovery.