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February 28, 2017We’re all familiar with Uber. Uber vehicles are all over the roads of Weston, Fort Lauderdale and Miami and often provide a convenient alternative to driving. With that said, Uber vehicles are not immune to car accidents, just like any other vehicle. The difference with Uber accidents is that many times Uber passengers suffer injuries in these accidents.
The first question is, does Uber’s insurance offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP or no-fault) benefits to help pay for an injured passenger’s medical bills, and the answer is no. Uber’s own insurance does not offer PIP or no-fault coverage, because Uber essentially fall under the same law dictating insurance requirements for limos and taxis, which are not required to carry PIP benefits in Florida.
However, injured Uber passengers may qualify for PIP benefits under their own auto insurance policy (if they have one) or under the auto insurance policy of a relative who lives at the same residence. Also, in some instances, Uber passengers may qualify for PIP coverage under the Uber driver’s personal auto insurance policy.
In addition to seeking potential PIP benefits from these sources, injured Uber passengers may also bring a legal claim against the other driver(s) involved in the accident, provided that one or more of the other drivers are at fault for causing the accident. This claim would be made against these drivers’ bodily injury insurance policies, which unfortunately, are also not required in the state of Florida.
Lastly, an injured Uber passenger may also be able to bring a claim against Uber’s own underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage. Uber generally carries a sizeable underinsured motorist policy to compensate passengers injured in car accidents where other insurance coverage may not be available, or is inadequate to fully compensate the injured passenger.
Clearly, the process for seeking insurance benefits to help pay for the medical bills and pain and suffering of injured Uber passengers can be a difficult and confusing. If you, or someone you know, was injured in an accident while riding in an Uber vehicle, it is vital that you contact a skilled Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney with experience in dealing with Uber. An attorney will help guide you through the process and ensure that your best interests are protected.
For further information on this topic or any other, feel free to contact the Schulman Law Group at (954) 349-3300, or at info@schulaw.com