If you are hurt in an Uber crash anywhere in Florida, the right moves in the first minutes and days can protect your health and your claim. Florida has unique insurance rules, strict deadlines, and special coverage layers for rideshare trips. Below is a practical, legally informed checklist you can follow right now, plus key Florida laws and resources linked throughout. If you would like guidance that is specific to your situation, the Pensacola Uber accident lawyer team at Fenimore Injury Law is ready to help.
Step 1: Move to safety and call 911
First, get to a safe location away from traffic if you can do so without worsening injuries. Call 911 to report the crash and request medical help. Florida law requires reporting certain crashes to law enforcement. Section 316.065 explains when a crash must be reported to police, including when there are injuries, a hit and run, a DUI investigation, a commercial vehicle, or apparent property damage of at least 500 dollars. Even if you are unsure, calling 911 is the safest choice.
While you wait for first responders, activate hazard lights, set out cones or triangles if you have them, and avoid standing between vehicles. If someone is badly hurt, provide basic first aid within your ability until paramedics arrive.
Step 2: Accept medical evaluation on scene and within 14 days
Many collision injuries are not obvious at the scene. Let paramedics evaluate you and follow up at an ER, urgent care, or with your physician as soon as possible. Timely care also safeguards your Personal Injury Protection benefits. Florida’s no fault PIP law, Florida Statute 627.736, requires prompt treatment for benefits to apply. When in doubt, get checked and describe every symptom, even if it seems minor.
Keep copies of discharge instructions, prescriptions, and imaging orders. Create a simple symptom journal to record pain levels, range of motion, sleep issues, and missed work. These details help connect your medical story to the crash.
Step 3: Document the scene thoroughly
While waiting for officers or as soon as it is safe, create a detailed record. Think like an investigator.
- Take photos and short videos of vehicle positions, damage, deployed airbags, skid marks, road conditions, lighting, signage, and any rideshare app screens that confirm the trip phase. Capture wide shots and close ups.
- Save screenshots that show whether the driver was waiting for a request, en route to a rider, or carrying a passenger. This can affect which insurance applies.
- Collect names, phone numbers, emails, and insurance details for all drivers and any witnesses.
- Note the exact time, location, weather, and any hazards such as construction, lane closures, or standing water.
These habits mirror best practices promoted by traffic safety agencies and can make a significant difference when insurance carriers evaluate fault and damages. The more neutral facts you preserve, the stronger your claim will be when adjusters scrutinize causation and injury.
Step 4: Ask for the official crash report and know where to get it
Tell the responding officer that you need the report number. Florida crash reports are available through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If an officer does not respond and the crash is minor, you may be able to complete a self report. Follow the instructions on the state site for the Driver Report of a Traffic Crash. When your report becomes available, save a digital copy and a printed copy for your records.
Step 5: Preserve the Uber app data and your phone records
Do not delete the app or clear notifications. Keep push alerts, receipts, and the trip map. Email yourself screenshots so nothing is lost if the app updates. If you were the rider, note the driver’s name, license plate, and the trip ID found in your receipt. If you were driving another vehicle, capture any visible details about the rideshare driver and vehicle while staying safe.
Step 6: Notify the right insurers the right way
Florida’s rideshare crashes can involve several insurance layers. Understanding which policy applies depends on where the driver was in the trip. Uber publishes an overview of coverage for drivers and delivery partners that explains how coverage differs when the driver is offline, waiting for a request, or on a trip. You can review Uber’s insurance summary here: Uber Insurance for Rideshare and Delivery Drivers.
As a passenger, you should still notify your own auto insurer because PIP may apply even if you were not driving. If you have medical payments coverage or uninsured motorist coverage, those benefits may also help. Keep your statements factual and brief. Do not guess about injuries or fault. Consider speaking with a lawyer before providing any recorded statement.
Step 7: Understand Florida’s fault rules and how they affect recovery
Florida moved to a modified comparative negligence system in 2023. Under section 768.81, a party who is more than 50 percent at fault is barred from recovering damages in many negligence cases. Fault percentages are highly fact driven. Your photos, witness statements, and the crash report will be central to how those percentages are assigned.
Florida also shortened the time limit for filing many negligence lawsuits. Section 95.11 sets a two year statute of limitations for most negligence claims filed after March 24, 2023. Missing this deadline can end a claim. There are exceptions and special rules for claims against government entities and for certain types of cases, but you should not wait to get case specific advice.
Step 8: Do not post about the crash on social media
Insurance adjusters and defense lawyers routinely review social media. A single post or story can be used to challenge how the crash happened or how you were injured. Keep updates private and share details only with your medical providers and your attorney. Ask friends and family not to tag you in photos or comments about the incident.
Which insurance applies in an Uber crash in Florida
Rideshare coverage changes by phase. Here is a simplified look at how coverage typically works in Florida.
- Driver offline. The driver’s personal auto policy applies.
- Driver logged in and waiting for a request. A contingent liability policy may apply that is designed to cover others if the driver is at fault. Uber’s summary explains coverage limits that can apply in this period. See Uber’s insurance overview.
- Driver en route to pick up or carrying a passenger. Uber generally provides higher third party liability limits and may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and contingent collision coverage when the driver also maintains comprehensive and collision. Review the Uber page linked above for the latest program details.
Because these layers interact with Florida no fault benefits, your own PIP under section 627.736 can help pay initial medical bills regardless of fault, up to policy limits. If injuries are serious and exceed PIP, claims against at fault parties and applicable rideshare policies may be available.
For more information on liability when it comes to Uber accidents, read here.
What not to do after an Uber accident
- Do not leave the scene before exchanging information or speaking with law enforcement when required. Section 316.065 and related laws outline reporting duties.
- Do not refuse medical care simply because you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask injury.
- Do not freestyle with an insurance adjuster. Stick to facts and do not speculate about speed, visibility, or fault.
- Do not sign broad medical authorizations or releases without legal advice.
How the timeline unfolds after you leave the scene
1. First 24 to 48 hours. Get medical care, notify your insurer, preserve app data, and create a written timeline while details are fresh. If the police did not respond and your crash qualifies for self reporting, use the state’s crash report resources. Save every receipt, copay, rideshare charge, and medication purchase.
2. First 2 weeks. Follow up with specialists and imaging if symptoms persist. Prompt care supports your PIP claim under section 627.736. Keep a daily pain and activity log. If you miss work, ask your employer for a simple letter that confirms your role, wage, and dates missed.
3. Weeks 3 through 8. Expect calls from multiple insurers. Before giving any recorded statement, consider a free consultation with Fenimore Injury Law. Evidence preservation and early strategy are critical, especially under the modified comparative fault rule in section 768.81. This is also the window to gather any nearby surveillance footage and identify additional witnesses.
When to contact a lawyer after an Uber crash
If any of the following are true, reach out to an attorney immediately.
- You have pain, numbness, dizziness, or restricted motion.
- The other driver disputes fault or blames you.
- You were a passenger and the app shows a different trip phase than what the insurer is claiming.
- There is a question about whether Uber’s policy applies.
- A government vehicle or road hazard may be involved, which can trigger additional notice rules.
Local experience matters. For riders, drivers, and other motorists in Northwest Florida, learn how a case is built and what to expect by visiting our page for Pensacola Uber accident claims.
Frequently asked Florida questions
Do I have to report every crash to police?
No. But many crashes must be reported by law. Section 316.065 lists the situations that require notification. If anyone is hurt, call 911 and let officers decide the proper form.
Will my own PIP apply if I was an Uber passenger?
Often yes. Florida’s PIP law in section 627.736 can apply to pay initial medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. Every policy and fact pattern is different, so have a lawyer review your coverage and the rideshare policy.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after an Uber accident in Florida?
For many negligence cases, the deadline is two years under section 95.11. Claims against a city, county, or state agency can involve special notice and timing rules. The safest approach is to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
What if the Uber driver who hit me had the app on but no passenger?
Coverage in that period is different from when a passenger is in the car. Start by reviewing Uber’s insurance page, then have an attorney analyze how that policy coordinates with your own coverage and the other driver’s policy.
Why choose Fenimore Injury Law after an Uber accident
Our firm understands how rideshare claims are investigated and defended. We help preserve digital trip data, identify every available insurance layer, and build a medical narrative that aligns with Florida’s PIP and liability rules. We also coordinate with your providers to document treatment plans, restrictions, and future care needs. For a deeper dive into Florida driving and liability concepts, explore our comprehensive guide to Florida driving laws.
Quick checklist you can save
- Call 911 and request medical help.
- Move to safety and use hazard lights.
- Take photos of vehicles, the roadway, and the Uber app screen.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with all drivers.
- Ask for the officer’s name and crash report number.
- Seek medical care the same day or as soon as possible.
- Notify your insurer and save all receipts and records.
- Avoid social media posts about the crash.
- Call Fenimore Injury Law for a free case review.
Helpful Florida resources and laws
- Uber’s insurance overview for drivers and delivery partners: Insurance for Rideshare and Delivery Drivers
- Florida PIP statute: Florida Statute 627.736
- Statute of limitations for negligence actions: Florida Statute 95.11
- Florida’s modified comparative negligence statute: Florida Statute 768.81
- Crash reporting and obtaining crash reports: FLHSMV Traffic Crash Reports and the Crash Reporting FAQ
Your next step
If you were in an Uber accident in Pensacola, Escambia County, or anywhere in Florida, you do not have to figure this out alone. Start with the steps above to protect your health and your claim, then reach out to Fenimore Injury Law’s Uber accident team in Pensacola for a free, no obligation consultation. We can investigate the trip data, manage communications with multiple insurers, and build your claim on a solid foundation of Florida law.