Uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage is critical in situations in which:
- A third-party driver crashes into the Lyft vehicle
- That third-party does not have the requisite auto insurance or has inadequate insurance
In this situation, the third-party driver’s insurance should cover your injury-related losses from your crash. However, if they do not have the coverage needed to compensate you for all of your losses, Lyft’s UM/UIM policy would kick in and provide the coverage needed.
Lyft’s site repeatedly notes that UM/UIM coverage will vary by state. Initially, Lyft had $1 million in UM/UIM coverage for accidents caused by third-party drivers in Florida. In 2018, Lyft reduced its UM/UIM coverage in Florida to $250,000 per accident. While not ideal, many Lyft accident victims had losses that came in under $250,000, so this reduction did not impact many accident victims unless the crash resulted in catastrophic injuries or death.
Lyft’s Current Insurance Certificates
Very recently, Lyft updated its insurance certificate for Florida coverage, and the new certificate shows no UM/UIM coverage at all. This seems to be a quiet move on Lyft’s part that has the potential to significantly hurt Lyft accident victims in our state.
You can compare Florida’s insurance certificate with certificates in other states, and you can see that coverage does, in fact, vary substantially. For example, Lyft’s certificate in neighboring Georgia still shows $1 million in UM/UIM coverage. Here is the information for a sampling of some additional states:
- New York = UM/UIM coverage for $1,250,000
- Alabama = No UM/UIM coverage shown
- South Carolina = UM coverage for $25,000/$50,000/$25,000
- Mississippi = No UM/UIM coverage shown
- California = UM/UIM coverage for $1,000,000
- Illinois = UM/UIM coverage for $250,000
- Colorado = No UM/UIM coverage shown
As you can see, how well Lyft passengers are covered can vary widely from state to state.
What if You are in a Lyft Accident?
If you are in an accident as a Lyft passenger and the Lyft driver was at fault, the insurance coverage should be the same as it has been in the past. However, if another driver was to blame, your compensation will depend on that third-party driver’s coverage. If that driver is uninsured or has a minimal policy, it can be challenging to seek the full financial recovery you deserve, as Lyft is not providing coverage in these situations.
Contact a Boca Raton Lyft Accident Lawyer for Help
Lyft and rideshare companies are constantly trying to limit liability for accidents and injuries. If you are in a Lyft accident, you should speak with a Boca Raton car accident attorney at the Demand the Limits law firm right away. Contact us online or call 561-600-3555 for a free case evaluation.
