What if You Were Hit by a Lyft While Riding a Bicycle?

If a Lyft driver hits you while riding a bicycle, you may seek compensation through the driver’s personal insurance, Lyft’s insurance coverage, or another liable driver’s policy. The available coverage depends on the Lyft driver’s status, policy limits, injury severity, available evidence, and any share of fault assigned to you.

Bicycle accidents can lead to serious injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and spinal injuries. However, insurers often dispute the injury’s severity, cause, or future medical needs to reduce the value of your personal injury claim. At Todd Miner Law, we gather medical records, consult medical and financial experts, document future care needs, and challenge insurer attempts to undervalue your losses. Call 407-894-1480 for a free consultation.

What Should You Do If You Were Hit by a Lyft on a Bike?

If a rideshare driver hits you while cycling, move to a safe location and call 911 to document the crash. You should also seek immediate medical attention because bicycle accidents can cause injuries that may not appear right away. In addition, photograph the bike lane, intersection, traffic signals, road markings, and any obstruction that affected your path.

You should also photograph the rideshare vehicle’s license plate, damage, stopping position, and the point where it struck your bicycle. Here are some other steps to follow after the crash:

1. Preserve your bicycle and helmet: Do not repair or discard them, as their damage may help indicate the direction and force of impact.
2. Collect witness information: Get names and contact details from pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, or drivers who saw the crash.
3. Save Lyft details: Record the driver’s name, vehicle information, ride details, and any available rideshare app information.
4. Confirm the Lyft driver’s app status: Available rideshare coverage can vary depending on whether the driver is offline, waiting for a ride request, or on an active trip.
5. Look for nearby cameras: Check surrounding businesses, homes, intersections, and parking lots for footage before it gets deleted.
6. Document your cycling gear: Photograph your lights, reflectors, clothing, and helmet because insurers may later dispute your visibility.
7. Preserve digital ride data: Save GPS records, cycling app information, smartwatch data, or bike computer records showing your route and location.
8. Photograph your injuries over time: Take clear photos of bruising, swelling, cuts, road rash, and other visible injuries as they develop.
9. Keep all medical records and bills: Save emergency care records, imaging results, prescriptions, physical therapy notes, and hospital bills.
10. Track your missed work: Keep pay stubs, work schedules, employer letters, and other records showing lost wages or reduced hours.
11. Save all communication with insurers: Keep emails, letters, claim numbers, and notes from calls with the driver’s auto insurance company or Lyft’s insurance adjusters.
12. Avoid giving a recorded statement too early: Do not give Lyft or an insurance adjuster a recorded statement before consulting a personal injury attorney.

Is PIP Applicable After a Lyft Bicycle Accident?

Yes, PIP can apply after a Lyft bicycle accident in Florida. If you own a car, your own PIP coverage applies first. If you do not own one, coverage may come from a resident relative’s policy or the policy covering the Lyft vehicle that hit you.

Under Florida Statutes § 627.736, PIP generally covers 80% of medical expenses and 60% of lost wages if you receive initial treatment within 14 days of the crash. The policy can provide up to $10,000 in benefits if a qualified provider determines that you suffered an emergency medical condition. Otherwise, medical benefits are generally limited to $2,500.

Who Can Be Liable When a Lyft Driver Hits a Cyclist?

The Lyft driver may be liable if careless driving caused the bicycle accident. However, other parties may also share responsibility depending on how the crash happened. These can include another driver, the vehicle owner, or a government entity responsible for a dangerous roadway condition.

Here is why these parties may share liability:

• Another driver: A second driver may have caused the Lyft driver to swerve, brake suddenly, or enter the cyclist’s path.
• The vehicle owner: The owner may face liability if they negligently allowed an unsafe or unqualified person to use the vehicle.
• A government entity: Poor road maintenance, defective traffic signals, or an unsafe roadway condition may contribute to the crash.

In rare cases, you may pursue Lyft directly if the company’s own conduct contributed to the crash. This can include negligent driver screening, ignoring known safety concerns, or failure to follow required safety procedures.

Which Evidence Can Prove a Lyft Driver Was Negligent? 

Police reports, witness statements, security camera footage, bike camera recordings, and photos from the crash scene can help prove Lyft driver negligence. Lyft app data, GPS records, trip data, and vehicle damage can also show the driver’s speed, route, position, and actions immediately before the bicycle accident.

Other critical evidence that may help prove the Lyft driver’s negligence includes:

• Traffic citations: Citations for speeding, unsafe turning, failure to yield, or improper passing can support your negligence claim.
• Passenger statements: A Lyft passenger may describe the driver’s speed, phone use, sudden movements, or failure to notice the cyclist.
• Body camera footage: Police body camera recordings may preserve driver admissions, observations, or statements made at the scene.
• Toxicology results: Alcohol or drug testing may show impairment at the time of the bicycle accident.
• Traffic signal data: Signal timing records can help establish who had the right-of-way at an intersection.

Which Florida Bicycle Laws Can Affect a Lyft Accident Claim? 

Florida’s bike lane rule, three-foot passing rule, and bicycle lighting requirements can affect a rideshare claim. Similarly, sidewalk and crosswalk rules, helmet requirements, and bicycle brake laws may also influence how investigators assign fault.

Here is how each law can affect your claim:

1. Bike Lane Rule

Under Florida Statutes § 316.2065(5), cyclists must use an available bike lane when traveling slower than surrounding traffic. If a cyclist ignores this requirement and that conduct contributes to the crash, insurers may use it to argue comparative fault and reduce compensation.

2. Three-Foot Passing Rule

A Lyft driver must give a cyclist enough space when passing under Florida Statutes § 316.083. This means they must leave at least three feet of clearance. If the driver passes too closely and causes the crash, the violation can help establish negligence.

3. Bicycle Lighting Requirements

Under Florida Statutes § 316.2065(7), cyclists riding between sunset and sunrise must use required front and rear lighting. If those lights were missing, insurers may argue that limited visibility contributed to the crash.

4. Sidewalk and Crosswalk Rules

Cyclists can ride on sidewalks and through crosswalks, but they must follow specific rules. Florida Statutes § 316.2065 generally gives cyclists pedestrian rights in these areas. However, riders must still yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning before passing.

5. Bicycle Helmet Law

Under Florida Statutes § 316.2065, cyclists and bicycle passengers under 16 must wear an approved, properly fitted helmet. The helmet must meet recognized safety standards and stay securely fastened while riding.

6. Florida Bicycle Brake Requirements

Florida Statutes § 316.2065 requires every bicycle to have brakes that can stop the bike within 25 feet from 10 mph on dry, level, clean pavement. If the brakes fail to meet that standard, insurers may argue that the cyclist could not stop in time and contributed to the crash.

How Are Lyft Bicycle Accidents Different From Standard Car Accidents?

Lyft bicycle accidents involve different injury risks, evidence, and insurance issues than standard car accidents. Cyclists have no vehicle frame, airbags, or seat belts to absorb impact. As a result, even a moderate collision can cause serious injuries. These claims also require closer analysis of bicycle-specific rules and rideshare coverage.

For example, fault analysis may involve the cyclist’s position on the road, use of the bike lane, traffic signals, visibility, and the Lyft driver’s passing distance. Investigators may also review whether the driver failed to yield, turned across the cyclist’s path, or opened a door into the rider’s path.

In addition, the available insurance coverage changes depending on the Lyft driver’s app status. If the driver is logged in but waiting for a ride request, Florida requires limited rideshare coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Once the driver accepts a ride request and is en route to pick up a passenger, coverage increases to at least $1 million in liability insurance.

What Injuries Are Common in Bicycle Crashes?

Bicycle crashes commonly cause head injuries, broken bones, road rash, shoulder injuries, and spinal trauma. Some injuries appear immediately, while others develop over the next several hours or days. Here are some other common injuries in bicycle crashes:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Facial fractures
• Dental injuries
• Wrist and hand fractures
• Knee injuries
• Hip and pelvic fractures
• Neck and back injuries
• Internal bleeding

How Can You Prove Long-Term Medical Needs in a Rideshare Accident?

At Todd Miner Law, our personal injury lawyers secure detailed medical records, diagnostic imaging, and treatment plans showing that your injuries require ongoing care. We also consult medical specialists who can explain your prognosis, permanent limitations, and future treatment needs. In addition, we may work with life care planners to estimate the type, frequency, and cost of future medical care you may need.

Here are some other steps we take to prove long-term medical needs:

• Prepare future medical cost projections: We calculate expected costs for surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, specialist visits, and long-term therapy.
• Establish permanent limitations: Our lawyers document reduced mobility, chronic pain, work restrictions, and other lasting effects of your injuries.
• Use functional capacity evaluations: These assessments measure strength, mobility, endurance, and physical restrictions that may continue after recovery.
• Address insurer disputes: We challenge claims that your future treatment is unnecessary, excessive, or unrelated to the crash.
• Build a consistent treatment timeline: We organize appointments, referrals, procedures, and follow-up care to show that your medical needs continued beyond the initial recovery period.

What If Your Medical Bills Exceed the Available Insurance Coverage?

If your medical bills exceed the available liability insurance, you may seek additional compensation through underinsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy. Under Florida Statutes § 627.727, uninsured and underinsured motorist limits generally match your bodily injury liability limits unless you selected lower limits or rejected the coverage in writing.

You may also use health insurance to continue paying for medical care after other coverage runs out. However, your health insurer may later assert subrogation or reimbursement rights. This means it may seek repayment from part of your settlement for medical expenses it previously covered.

In addition, your lawyer can investigate whether another party contributed to the bicycle accident. In some cases, another driver, a vehicle owner, or a company responsible for unsafe road conditions may share liability and serve as an additional source of compensation.

Can You Sue If Auto Insurance Does Not Cover Your Losses?

Yes, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault Lyft driver if the available insurance does not fully cover your damages. If the court enters a judgment in your favor, the Lyft driver becomes personally responsible for the unpaid amount. You may then pursue compensation through legally available collection methods, including:

• Wage garnishment: A court may allow part of the driver’s paycheck to go toward the unpaid judgment.
• Bank account garnishment: Money in certain bank accounts may be used to help pay the judgment.
• Judgment liens: A lien can attach to certain property, which may help you collect when that property is sold or transferred.
• Taking nonexempt property: Some property may be sold to help satisfy the unpaid judgment if Florida law does not protect it.

Note: Obtaining a judgment does not guarantee that you will recover the full amount. Florida law protects certain wages, bank funds, homes, and personal property from collection.

Can You Claim Pain and Suffering After a Bicycle Crash?

Yes, you may recover pain and suffering damages after a bicycle crash if your injuries meet Florida’s required injury threshold. These damages can compensate for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, permanent limitations, and the loss of enjoyment of daily activities caused by the crash.

Under Florida Statutes § 627.737, you may pursue these damages when the crash causes:

• A significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
• A permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Death

Does Not Wearing a Helmet Affect Your Injury Claim?

Yes, not wearing a helmet can affect your injury claim if you suffered a traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, or another head injury. Insurers may argue that a helmet would have reduced the severity of those injuries. As a result, they may try to reduce the compensation tied to your head injury.

However, that argument does not apply to every injury. If the crash caused a broken leg, shoulder injury, road rash, or similar harm, helmet use has no connection to those damages. Therefore, insurers cannot use non-use of a helmet to minimize compensation for those injuries.

Can You Recover Damages If You Were Riding Outside the Bike Lane?

Yes, you can recover compensation even if you were riding outside the bike lane. Florida Statutes § 316.2065 allows cyclists to leave a bike lane in certain situations. For example, you may leave it to pass another cyclist, prepare for a left turn, or avoid unsafe conditions. Therefore, simply showing that you rode outside the bike lane does not establish negligence.

Still, comparative fault can reduce your compensation if your position on the road contributed to the bicycle accident. For example, if you left the lane unlawfully and that action contributed to the crash, your recovery may decrease according to your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, Florida Statutes § 768.81 generally bars recovery.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in a Fatal Lyft Bicycle Accident? 

In Florida, the deceased cyclist’s personal representative files the wrongful death claim against the Lyft driver or other liable parties. Under Florida Statutes § 768.20, the representative seeks damages for the estate and eligible survivors, including lost support, lost services, medical or funeral expenses, and other recoverable losses.

However, Florida Statutes § 768.21 determines which damages each survivor may recover. Those damages vary based on the survivor’s relationship to the deceased cyclist and the circumstances of the case.

How Do Insurers Challenge Bike Accident Claims? 

In bike accident claims, insurers often shift blame by arguing that you ignored traffic signals or lacked proper lights, which affected visibility. They may also claim that you rode outside a bike lane or entered traffic suddenly. These arguments can increase your share of fault and reduce the compensation you may recover after a rideshare accident.

Here are some other tactics insurance companies may use to challenge your claim:

• Dispute injury causation: Insurers may review earlier medical records and argue that a pre-existing condition caused your current symptoms.
• Use treatment gaps against you: Delayed medical care or missed appointments may support arguments that your injuries were minor or unrelated.
• Analyze bicycle condition: Adjusters may examine damaged brakes, tires, lights, or other bike components and argue that poor maintenance contributed to the crash.
• Review social media activity: Photos or posts showing physical activity may help insurers challenge your reported limitations or recovery period.
• Use biker bias to shift fault: Insurers may rely on assumptions that cyclists act unpredictably or ignore traffic rules. They can use this bias to question your account and place more blame on you.

Call Our Lyft Accident Lawyers to Discuss Your Bicycle Injury Claim Today!

A bicycle accident with a Lyft car can leave you with serious injuries because a cyclist has little protection against the force of a vehicle. While you are already dealing with pain, treatment, and recovery, insurance companies may question your injuries, dispute fault, or try to reduce your claim. That added pressure can make an already difficult situation even more stressful.

At Todd Miner Law, our attorneys bring more than 30 years of experience representing injured cyclists across Florida. We know the bicycle laws that apply to these cases and the tactics insurers use to reduce payouts. We use that experience to build strong claims, establish liability, document your losses, and pursue the full compensation available to you. Call 407-894-1480 or visit our law firm at 915 Outer Rd, Orlando, FL 32814 to discuss your case.

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