Watch: the coverage you already paid for
Why workers’ comp usually isn’t the answer
Florida’s rideshare law says a driver is an independent contractor, not an employee, when four conditions are met: the company doesn’t set your hours, doesn’t stop you from using other apps, doesn’t restrict other work, and you signed an agreement saying you are a contractor (Fla. Stat. § 627.748(9)). Uber and Lyft structure their driver agreements to meet those conditions. The result: most injured drivers look to auto insurance, not workers’ comp.
Your app status decides the coverage
- App off: you are an ordinary driver. Your personal policy applies as it normally would.
- Logged in, waiting for a request: Florida requires coverage of at least $50,000 per person / $100,000 per crash / $25,000 property for the people you might hurt, plus PIP and uninsured-motorist coverage (§ 627.748(7)(b)).
- Ride accepted through drop-off: at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage, plus PIP and uninsured-motorist coverage (§ 627.748(7)(c)).
The liability coverage protects other people from you. For your own injuries, the pieces that matter are PIP, uninsured-motorist coverage, and the other driver’s policy.
The personal-policy trap
Florida lets personal auto insurers exclude all coverage while you are logged into a rideshare app or giving a ride, and an insurer that does so has no duty to defend or pay (§ 627.748(8)). Many drivers learn this only after a crash. That is why the rideshare policy’s PIP and uninsured-motorist coverage — and a rideshare endorsement on your own policy, if you bought one — matter so much.
When another driver caused the crash
If someone else was at fault, you have a claim against that driver’s bodily-injury coverage, like anyone else hurt in a crash. If that driver has no insurance or too little — common in Florida — the uninsured-motorist coverage required on the rideshare policy is the next place to look. Florida allows that coverage to be reduced or rejected in writing (§ 627.727). Drivers can view a certificate of insurance in the app, but the full policy — including the uninsured-motorist limit — has to be obtained.
Your car
For damage to your own vehicle during a trip, both Uber and Lyft describe “contingent” collision coverage up to the car’s actual cash value with a $2,500 deductible — but only if you carry comprehensive and collision on your own policy.
What to save
Screenshot your app status, the trip or request on screen, earnings for the day, and any in-app messages. Get the other driver’s information and photos of the scene. Report the crash through the app, but keep your statement short and factual — the insurer on the other end is not there to help you.
A former defense lawyer’s take
With injured drivers, insurers play the app phases against each other: the personal carrier points to the rideshare exclusion, the rideshare carrier argues you were offline or between rides. The time stamps settle it. I lock down the trip data first, then line up every policy in the order it has to pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do Uber and Lyft drivers get workers’ comp in Florida?
Usually not. Florida law treats rideshare drivers as independent contractors when the conditions in Fla. Stat. § 627.748(9) are met, and the companies’ driver agreements are written to meet them.
Does my personal car insurance cover me while driving for Uber or Lyft?
It may not. Florida allows personal auto insurers to exclude all coverage while you are logged into a rideshare app or giving a ride (Fla. Stat. § 627.748(8)), unless you bought a rideshare endorsement.
What covers my injuries if another driver hits me during a trip?
The at-fault driver’s bodily-injury coverage first. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, the uninsured-motorist coverage Florida requires on the rideshare policy may apply, along with PIP for medical bills.
Is my car covered if I crash during a ride?
Uber and Lyft describe contingent collision coverage up to actual cash value with a $2,500 deductible, but only if you carry comprehensive and collision on your own policy.
How long do I have to file a claim?
For crashes after March 24, 2023, generally two years to file suit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)), and medical care within 14 days for PIP.
Talk to a former insurance-defense attorney
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