Are Passengers in Lyft Accidents Able to Recover Lost Wages?

Posted on 12/10/22

in Lyft Accidents

The meteoric rise of rideshare apps including Uber and Lyft has changed the world of transportation. Fewer people use public transportation like bus and rail services compared to only a few years ago and instead rely on fast, convenient, and affordable transportation that arrives at the touch of an app to take you where you want to go. But with more people using rideshare vehicles, and unbooked rideshare drivers spending time cruising the streets while waiting for passengers, the related increase in traffic has also caused a rise in rideshare-related car accidents by nearly 1,000 per day, with increased injuries and fatalities as a result.

Car accidents cause serious injuries, often requiring ongoing treatment including surgeries, physical therapy, and follow-up treatments. Extended medical care means missed work days and lost wages, sometimes even lowered earning potential going forward in those with accident-related disabilities. Many injury victims worry about their financial futures after a Lyft accident. Can passengers recover lost wages after an accident in a rideshare vehicle like Lyft?

How Do Personal Injury Claims Work After Lyft Accidents? 

In some states, including Florida, drivers must carry their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance for up to $10,000 in coverage as well as $10,000 in property damage coverage. If a passenger in a Lyft accident is also a car owner with their own PIP insurance, their policy covers their medical bills and lost wages only up to $10,000. If your medical care and lost wages exceed $10,000, you can seek compensation through Lyft’s special insurance provider. 

Lyft and Uber provide personal injury coverage based on what stage the driver is in during the accident under the following policy terms:

  • When Lyft drivers use their vehicle for personal reasons with the Lyft app turned off, their own insurance coverage is in effect for liability.
  • When the driver’s app is on and they are waiting for a ride request, their insurance provides up to $25,000 in personal injury insurance per passenger and $50,000 per accident as well as $25,000 in property damage.
  • When the driver’s app is on and they are either on the way to pick up a passenger or actively transporting a passenger, their liability coverage provides up to $1 million in personal injury protection.

Does Lyft’s Personal Injury Protection Include Compensation for Lost Wages?

 As in other personal injury policies, Lyft’s insurance coverage provides compensation for an injured passenger’s medical expenses and lost wages. As a passenger actively in the process of riding inside the Lyft vehicle, you’ll have up to $1 million in coverage. However, insurance companies are in the business to make money and frequently try to undervalue claims. An attorney with experience in Lyft and Uber accident claims knows how to collect the evidence needed to prove that your injuries occurred in the Lyft vehicle while the policy was in place and that your financial damages including lost wages directly resulted from the injury.

In cases of very serious injuries resulting in permanent disability, an injured victim may also gain compensation for lost future earning potential within the limits of the policy.

If you’ve been injured in a Lyft accident, a skilled Florida Lyft accident attorney with experience handling rideshare accident claims knows how to help you gain the maximum compensation, including recovering lost wages so you can focus on your recovery with fewer financial worries.