Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer in Panama City, FL

A Former Bay County Prosecutor Fighting for Rideshare Injury Victims

A rideshare crash isn’t handled the same way as a standard car accident. Uber and Lyft operate under layered, app-status-dependent insurance policies, and the corporate entities behind those apps don’t yield liability easily. Seaton Law Offices, P.A. represents injury victims in Panama City, Florida who need someone who understands both the insurance structure and the courts where these claims are litigated.

Attorney Rachel Seaton founded Seaton Law Offices, P.A. in 2008 after serving as an Assistant State Attorney at the 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Bay County. That background means she knows the circuit’s courts from the inside, a meaningful advantage when a rideshare claim heads toward litigation. The firm is licensed throughout Florida and handles cases in both state and federal court.

Florida’s Three-Phase Rideshare Insurance Coverage

Florida Statute 627.748 governs insurance requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft. Which policy applies to a claim depends entirely on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of the crash. There are three distinct phases:

• App off: Only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies. The TNC’s policy may not apply.
• App on, waiting for a request: Florida law requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage.
• Ride accepted through passenger exit (prearranged ride): At least $1,000,000 in liability coverage is required, and this coverage remains active until the last rider exits the vehicle.

Determining which phase applied requires retrieving app trip data from the moment of impact. That evidence is time-stamped, and it directly controls which insurance tier a claim can reach.

Who Can Pursue a Rideshare Injury Claim

Passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians struck by a rideshare vehicle each have potential grounds for a claim depending on the applicable coverage phase. Florida law classifies rideshare drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, which limits the circumstances under which the company itself can be held vicariously liable for a driver’s negligence. That classification doesn’t protect the driver personally. A rideshare driver who was speeding, driving distracted, or failed to yield can still face personal liability regardless of contractor status.

Identifying which parties carry liability, and under which policy, is exactly the kind of question that benefits from legal guidance before anyone speaks to an insurance adjuster. With more than 15 years of personal injury and car accident experience, Seaton Law Offices, P.A. can help Panama City, FL, injury victims identify available avenues for recovery.

Start with a Case Evaluation

Seaton Law Offices, P.A. offers a case evaluation for rideshare accident claims. Attorney Seaton’s familiarity with the 14th Judicial Circuit and her background in both state and federal court mean the firm can assess a situation with the full legal landscape in view, not just the insurance piece.