What To Do After an Lyft or Uber Accident in Miami: Protecting Your Rights From Day One

A rideshare crash in Miami is disorienting. One moment you are heading to Brickell, Wynwood or the airport. The next, you are dealing with pain, confusion and a flood of questions about insurance, fault and what to do next. What you do in the first hours and first few days can shape your health recovery and any potential injury claim. This guide covers the practical steps to take after an Uber or Lyft accident in Miami, including what evidence to collect and how rideshare insurance issues can affect your case. Uber and Lyft accidents are not handled like ordinary car accidents in Florida. Rideshare claims involve multiple insurance policies, the driver’s app status at the time of the crash and Florida’s specific rideshare insurance law under Florida Statute 627.748. Knowing the right steps to take from day one can protect both your health and your right to compensation.

1) Get To Safety and Call 911

Your first priority is safety.

• If you can move without risking further injury, get out of traffic and away from hazards.
• Call 911 and request police and medical assistance.
• If you feel dizzy, nauseated, or confused, say so clearly to first responders.

Don’t rush to “clear the scene” at the expense of your safety. Miami roads are busy, and secondary impacts are a real risk.

2) Get Medical Attention Even if You Feel Fine

Some injuries aren’t obvious at the scene. Adrenaline masks pain, and certain conditions worsen hours later. Common rideshare-accident injuries that may not show up right away:

• Concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Back injuries (including disc issues)
• Soft tissue injuries
• Internal injuries

If EMS recommends going to the ER, take it seriously. If you don’t go by ambulance, get checked out the same day at an urgent care or by your doctor. Timely treatment helps you recover and creates medical documentation that can become important evidence later. Florida is a no-fault insurance state, which means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage will pay up to $10,000 in initial medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident. To access PIP benefits, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash. Missing this deadline can completely bar your right to PIP benefits under Florida law.

3) Make Sure a Police Report Is Created

In Miami, the crash report can become a key piece of evidence. If officers respond, ask how to obtain the report number. While you’re there, double-check:

• Correct location
• Correct names and vehicle information
• Accurate description of what happened (as much as the officer can include)

If you notice a serious error later, you can often request a correction or provide a supplemental statement.

4) Document The Scene (Photos, Video, Witnesses)

Capture evidence before the scene changes. Photos and video:

• All vehicles involved (wide shots and close-ups)
• License plates
• Damage from multiple angles
• Road conditions, traffic signals, debris, skid marks
• Visible injuries (continue documenting over the next few days)

Also collect witness names and phone numbers. Witnesses leave quickly. If you wait, you may never get their contact information.

5) Screenshot Your Uber or Lyft Trip Details

This is one of the most important rideshare-specific steps. Take screenshots of:

• Trip receipt (date/time)
• Pickup and drop-off locations
• Driver name and photo
• Vehicle and license plate
• Route details
• Any in-app messages

If you were the passenger, but didn’t order the ride (for example, a friend ordered it), ask the account holder for these screenshots, too. Rideshare insurance coverage often depends on the driver’s app status. Preserving trip details early can prevent disputes later.

6) Report the Crash Through the App

Uber and Lyft allow you to report a crash through the app. Report what happened, but avoid:

• Guessing who is at fault
• Minimizing injuries (“I’m fine”)
• Speculating about what happened

A safe approach is a short, factual statement such as: ‘There was an accident during my ride in Miami. I am seeking medical evaluation.’ Avoid the slash constructions and stick to clear sentences.

7) Avoid Giving Recorded Statements to Insurance Adjusters

After a crash, you may hear from:

• The at-fault driver’s insurer
• The rideshare insurer
• Your own auto insurer

Adjusters may sound friendly, but their job is to limit payout. A recorded statement can be used to challenge your injuries or shift blame. If asked for a recorded statement, it’s reasonable to decline and follow up in writing after you’ve had time to evaluate your injuries.

8) Why Rideshare Accident Claims Are More Complicated

A typical car accident involves one or two insurance policies. Rideshare claims can involve multiple coverage layers and multiple parties. Disputes often center on:

• Whether the driver was working in the app at the time
• Whether the passenger was officially “in the trip”
• Which policy should respond
• How fault should be allocated when multiple vehicles are involved

This is why protecting evidence from day one matters so much.

9) How Florida Rideshare Insurance Coverage Works

Florida Statute 627.748 governs rideshare insurance requirements in Florida and divides coverage into three distinct phases based on what the driver was doing in the app at the time of the crash

Phase 1 – App Off

When the driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, only the driver’s personal auto insurance policy applies. Most personal auto policies exclude commercial activity, but if the driver was simply off-duty, their personal coverage will apply just like any other car accident.

Phase 2 – App On, Waiting for a Ride Request

When the driver is logged into the app but has not yet accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. This coverage applies only if the driver’s personal insurance denies the claim.

Phase 3 – En Route to Pickup or During Trip

Once the driver accepts a ride request and is either driving to pick up a passenger or actively transporting a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide a $1 million liability policy plus $1 million in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This is the highest level of coverage available and applies during the entire trip until the passenger is dropped off. Determining which phase applied at the moment of your accident is one of the most contested issues in any rideshare claim. This is why preserving trip screenshots and app data is so critical.

10) Track Your Expenses and Symptoms

Start a simple log to track:

• Medical visits and treatment recommendations
• Out-of-pocket costs (prescriptions, copays, medical devices)
• Transportation expenses to appointments
• Work missed and income lost
• A brief daily note on symptoms and limitations

This creates a clearer record of how the crash impacted your life and keeps you organized if a claim moves forward.

11) Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Claim

When you’re stressed and in pain, these missteps are easy to make:

• Waiting too long to get medical care
• Not documenting the ride details in the app
• Giving recorded statements too early
• Posting about the accident on social media
• Signing forms you don’t understand

When in doubt, pause. A quick decision in the first 24 to 48 hours can be hard to undo.

12) Your Rights as a Passenger, Driver or Pedestrian

If you were a passenger

Passengers often assume Uber or Lyft automatically “covers everything.” In reality, you still may need to prove:

• Who was at fault
• What coverage applies
• What injuries and losses you experienced

If you were another driver hit by a rideshare vehicle

Your claim may involve the rideshare driver, the rideshare insurer (depending on app status), and potentially other drivers.

If you were a pedestrian or cyclist

Evidence preservation becomes even more important. Photos, witnesses, and any available surveillance footage may be critical.

Florida’s Two-Year Statute of Limitations for Rideshare Accidents

Under Florida Statute 95.11, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit arising from a rideshare crash. This deadline was changed from four years to two years in March 2023 under HB 837. If you do not file within this two-year window, your claim is permanently barred regardless of how strong your case is. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and preserve critical evidence before it disappears.

How Mausner Group can help after a rideshare accident in Miami

At Mausner Group Injury Lawyers, we handle Uber and Lyft accident claims throughout Miami and South Florida. We understand the complex insurance and liability questions that come with rideshare crashes and we know how to identify every available source of compensation for our clients. Our Miami injury attorneys have experience handling Uber and Lyft accident claims, including the complex insurance and liability questions that come with them. We can help you:

• Identify all available insurance coverage
• Preserve critical evidence before it disappears
• Handle communications with adjusters so you don’t have to
• Pursue fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering

Call Mausner Group Injury Lawyers at 305-344-4878 today for a free case review. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Uber and Lyft Accidents in Miami

How long do I have to file an Uber or Lyft accident lawsuit in Florida?

Under Florida Statute 95.11, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline was reduced from four years to two years in March 2023 under HB 837 and is strictly enforced.

Who pays for my medical bills after a rideshare accident in Florida?

Florida is a no-fault state, so your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance pays up to $10,000 in initial medical bills regardless of fault. If your injuries exceed PIP limits or meet Florida’s serious injury threshold, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. In rideshare cases, this may include Uber or Lyft’s $1 million liability policy depending on the driver’s app status at the time of the crash.

Does Uber or Lyft’s $1 million insurance always apply?

No. The $1 million policy only applies when the driver had accepted a ride request and was either en route to pick up a passenger or actively transporting one. If the driver was logged in but waiting for a request, lower contingent coverage applies. If the driver was off the app, only their personal insurance applies.

Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly after an accident?

Uber and Lyft generally classify their drivers as independent contractors, which limits direct vicarious liability against the companies. However, you can pursue claims against the rideshare insurance policy that applies to the trip, and in some cases against Uber or Lyft directly for negligent practices. An experienced attorney can determine the best legal strategy for your specific case.

What if I was a passenger in an Uber or Lyft and the driver was at fault?

If you were injured as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle and the rideshare driver caused the crash, Uber or Lyft’s $1 million liability policy typically applies. As a passenger, you generally have a strong claim because you were not in control of the vehicle and cannot be assigned comparative fault for the collision itself.