Can You Be Partially at Fault in a Rideshare Accident?

Legal issues can quickly arise after an Uber or Lyft accident. One common question is if an injured party can access fault if they were partially at fault.

When healing from a rideshare collision injury, connect with a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer. Fully comprehending your compensation options is key if you’ve been injured in one of these collisions.

How Partial Fault Can Arise in Rideshare Accidents

In March 2023, Florida updated its negligence laws. The state now follows a modified comparative negligence system. Under this rule:

• You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident.
• If you are 51% or more responsible, you cannot recover compensation.
• Should you share partial fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if your damages total $100,000 but you are found to be 20% at fault, you can still recover $80,000. This system applies to rideshare accidents just as it does to other types of motor vehicle crashes.

Being involved in a rideshare accident doesn’t automatically make fault clear-cut. Multiple parties could share responsibility, including the rideshare driver, another driver, passengers, or the rideshare company. Drivers who were distracted or speeding could be held accountable. In rare cases, a passenger’s actions, such as distracting the driver or interfering with vehicle operation, could contribute to fault. Rideshare company issues such as poor driver vetting or vehicle maintenance can contribute to accidents, too.

Why Fault Matters in Florida Rideshare Claim

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide tiered insurance coverage that depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident (app off, waiting for a ride, or transporting a passenger). If you are partially at fault, the available insurance coverage may still apply, but your recovery will be reduced.

For instance, if you were injured as a rideshare passenger, the company’s liability insurance likely applies, even if you share some fault. Or as another driver, your share of fault will directly affect what you can recover from the rideshare driver’s or company’s insurance.

Because rideshare accidents involve multiple parties and layered insurance coverage these cases can become very complex. Victims should contact a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer has the expertise to investigate the accident to determine liability and protect you from insurance adjusters who may exaggerate your share of fault.

In short, you can be partially at fault in a rideshare accident in Florida, but that doesn’t mean you lose your right to compensation. Thanks to Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, you may still recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible.

Would your role in an accident bar you from recovering funds? After a collision involving a rideshare vehicle in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach, connect with the attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez. Insurance companies often try to assign more blame to injured parties to reduce payouts. That’s why understanding how partial fault is determined is crucial. Call 561-660-9421.