Watch: which Uber or Lyft policy pays
Step one: PIP, and whose PIP
Florida is still a no-fault state for medical bills. Personal injury protection (PIP) pays 80% of reasonable medical bills and 60% of lost income, up to $10,000, no matter who caused the crash. As a passenger, the question is whose PIP pays. Florida’s priority rules (Fla. Stat. § 627.736(4)(e)) put it in this order:
- You own a car: your own PIP insurer pays, even though you were riding in someone else’s vehicle.
- You don’t own a car but live with a relative who does: that relative’s PIP pays.
- Neither: the PIP on the vehicle you were riding in pays. During a trip, Florida requires the rideshare coverage to include PIP (§ 627.748(7)(c)).
Two PIP rules trip people up. You must get medical care within 14 days of the crash, and the full $10,000 is available only if a qualifying provider finds an emergency medical condition; otherwise PIP caps at $2,500 (§ 627.736(1)(a)).
Step two: the claim against whoever caused the crash
PIP rarely covers a serious injury. The rest of your losses — medical bills above PIP, lost income, and pain and suffering — come from a claim against the at-fault driver. To recover pain and suffering in a Florida car-crash case, the injury generally has to meet the threshold in § 627.737(2), such as a permanent injury.
- Your rideshare driver caused it: from the moment the driver accepted your ride until you got out, Florida requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage (§ 627.748(7)(c)).
- Another driver caused it: that driver’s own bodily-injury coverage pays first. In Florida, that is often low or nonexistent.
- Both share fault: you can claim against both. As a passenger, you are rarely assigned any fault yourself.
The main exception: if you weren’t wearing a seat belt, the defense can argue that it made your injuries worse and ask a jury to reduce what you recover (Fla. Stat. § 316.614(10)).
Step three: when the other driver has little or no insurance
Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily-injury liability coverage, so passengers are often hit by drivers with nothing to pay. Two sources may fill the gap. Your own uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage, if you bought it, can follow you into the rideshare, usually as excess coverage. And Florida requires the rideshare coverage during a trip to include UM coverage “as required by s. 627.727” — which means the amount depends on the policy actually issued. Uber and Lyft don’t publish their Florida UM limits, so the policy itself has to be obtained.
What to save from the app — today
The trip record proves you were a passenger on an active ride, which is what triggers the $1,000,000 coverage. Screenshot the trip receipt, the driver’s name and plate, the route map, and the time stamps. Keep your in-app messages. Then have a lawyer send a preservation letter to the rideshare company for the telematics and trip data before it is overwritten.
Your deadlines
- 14 days to get medical care for PIP to apply.
- Two years to file suit for negligence for crashes after March 24, 2023 (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)).
- Two years for a wrongful-death claim (§ 95.11(5)(e)).
A former defense lawyer’s take
When I defended these claims, the first move was always to make the case smaller than it is: argue about which PIP pays, question whether the ride was “active,” and treat a passenger’s injury as soft tissue. The answer to all three is paper — the app records, the PIP priority rules, and early, consistent medical care. Passengers have one of the strongest positions in any car-crash case. The goal is not to let the paperwork give that away.
Frequently asked questions
Does Uber or Lyft pay my medical bills as a passenger in Florida?
Not first. If you own a car, your own PIP pays first; if you don’t, a resident relative’s PIP pays; only if neither exists does the rideshare’s PIP pay. Bills beyond PIP are claimed against the at-fault driver — including the rideshare’s $1,000,000 policy if your driver caused the crash.
How much insurance covers me during an Uber or Lyft ride in Florida?
Florida law requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage from the time the driver accepts your ride until you get out, plus PIP and uninsured-motorist coverage as required by Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 627.748(7)(c)).
What if another driver hit my Uber and has no insurance?
Your own uninsured-motorist coverage may apply, and the rideshare policy must include uninsured-motorist coverage as required by Florida law. The amount depends on the policy actually issued, so it has to be obtained and checked.
How long do I have to sue after an Uber or Lyft crash in Florida?
For crashes after March 24, 2023, generally two years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)). PIP requires medical care within 14 days of the crash.
Can I be blamed as a passenger?
Rarely. Passengers usually have no role in how the car is driven, and the fight is almost always between the drivers and their insurers. The main exception is a missing seat belt, which the defense can use to argue for a reduced recovery (Fla. Stat. § 316.614(10)).
Talk to a former insurance-defense attorney
You'll speak with Emanuel Galimidi. He spent nearly two decades on the insurance side. Now he's on yours. The case review is free, and there are no fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Call 786-442-2873