Anytime you are in an automobile collision and somebody else is at fault, you may be eligible to pursue a legal claim for financial compensation. If the other driver is a rideshare driver, unique considerations will apply, and obtaining rightful compensation can be more challenging in this situation.
A skilled rideshare crash attorney who understands Uber accidents and transportation network company (TNC) laws in Boca Raton can help you figure out who is legally responsible. Here at Your Damage Lawyer, we will always be by your side to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft, also known as TNCs, are subject to different laws than taxicab operators. The state established laws governing the operations of TNCs in Florida Statutes § 627.748. Some of the key elements of the TNC laws include:
The state defines a TNC as one that uses a digital network, such as a website or app, to connect riders to drivers for prearranged rides.
Rideshare drivers must clearly identify their vehicles and themselves with photographs so riders know which car is their prearranged ride.
Rideshare drivers are not employees of TNCs. Because of this, TNCs cannot control a driver’s hours or prohibit them from engaging in other business.
Uber and other TNCs must perform periodic background checks on their drivers to ensure that they have no criminal records and no convictions for reckless or drunk driving, and that they aren’t registered as sex offenders. Rideshare companies must also conduct regular checks of their drivers’ personal driving records and vehicle records to ensure they have valid driver’s licenses and up-to-date vehicle registrations.
Both the TNC and their drivers must carry insurance. However, the TNC’s insurance only provides coverage in certain circumstances, depending on what the driver is doing at the time of a crash. For instance, if an Uber driver were to get into an accident while driving home at the end of their workday and were not logged into the Uber app, Uber’s insurance would not cover the driver. Uber’s insurance would partially cover a driver who was logged into the app and waiting to accept a ride request, while an Uber driver actively carrying a passenger as part of a prearranged ride would be fully covered.
Our experienced Boca Raton attorneys understand the implications of a TNC’s failure to comply with applicable laws and can help you seek fair compensation after an Uber accident.
If you are injured in an Uber crash and our Boca Raton attorneys determine that Uber or one of its drivers was not in full compliance with all TNC laws, we can use that information to help you pursue a claim against both the driver and Uber. Our determined legal team will undertake a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash and the driver’s background. For example, if we determine that the driver has a poor driving record or a criminal conviction that Uber should have been aware of, you will be eligible to pursue a claim directly against Uber for their negligence in hiring.
After an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, different considerations can apply. To give yourself the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve, contact us at Your Damage Lawyer. We understand Uber accidents and transportation network company (TNC) laws in Boca Raton.
