Boynton Beach Ride Sharing Car Accident Lawyer

Ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft are continuing to gain traction in communities like Boynton Beach, Florida. The services continue to gain ground among Americans of all age groups, offering an easy alternative to self-driving, using a taxi, or asking a friend or relative to drive somewhere.

In Boynton Beach, both residents and visitors are increasingly relying on ride-sharing for transportation. Visitors the Boynton no longer have to rely on public transportation, rental cars, or taxis to help them get to the beach, shopping, restaurants, or nightlife offered by Boynton. Residents can use the on-demand ridesharing app to run errands, take advantage of nightlife, or even commute to the office.

Unfortunately, Boynton Beach users of ridesharing services - like users around the world - are sometimes involved in accidents while they are using Uber, Lyft or other services. These accidents can be complex, and often require the assistance of experienced personal injury attorneys like Frankl Kominsky.

Since Uber burst onto the marketplace in 2012, it has steadily gained ground among Americans. Boynton Beach, like the rest of Florida, wrestled with questions of regulation and even whether to allow ridesharing services to operate within its jurisdiction. Each community in Florida weighed options around the ride-sharing services and created local laws related to ride sharing.

But in May 2017, Governor Rick Scott signed into law CS/HB 221, known as the "Uber/Lyft Bill." That legislation standardized the ride-sharing services requirements throughout the state. Boynton Beach no longer had its own regulations, but fell under the broader umbrella instituted by the State of Florida.

The latest statistics show that approximately 1/3 of Americans use ride sharing services. These services are particularly popular among younger Americans, although all age groups are now accessing the services. Individuals age 18-29 are the most likely to use a ride share service (28%), followed by the 30-49 age group (19%). Those 65 and over are least likely to use the service (4%), although anecdotal evidence suggests a growing number of elderly individuals are becoming more comfortable with the services and their ease of use.

Those who like the service say it’s convenient for a number of reasons. It provides on-demand service within just a few minutes. If you request a driver anywhere in Boynton Beach, it takes only a few minutes for them to arrive. Passengers don't have to find parking, can have a few drinks when they go out without concern about driving under the influence, and they can talk and text all they want during the drive.

The problems with ride sharing services occur when an accident happens. With the large increase in the number of ride sharing drivers in Boynton Beach, there is also an increased likelihood of an accident involving those drivers. Florida law requires ride sharing drivers to maintain minimum insurance levels of $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person, $100,000 for death and bodily injury per accident and $25,000 for property damage. While that seems straightforward, the situation is actually extremely complex. For example, Uber and Lyft have stringent regulations regarding exactly when that insurance kicks in and when the driver's own insurance will pay. Even when a driver is technically covered by the ride share company insurance, the company may try to avoid paying, hoping to force the driver to file a claim with his own insurance company. That raises questions about under-insurance or lack of insurance. There is also the question of what happens if medical bills exceed the level of insurance.

Frankl Kominsky can answer those and other questions related to ride share accidents in Boynton Beach and throughout South Florida. The expert legal teams at Frankl Kominsky know the tactics of insurance companies and of ride sharing companies and work to ensure victims of accidents receive the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one in South Florida has suffered in a car accident involving a ride share company, like Uber, Lyft or Sidecar, call Frankl Kominsky for a free consultation at (855) 800-8000, or fill out our online form. Frankl Kominsky serves clients in South Florida communities such as Pompano Beach, Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens. We are fluent in Spanish and Creole.