As rideshare usage reaches new heights in 2026, the legal landscape surrounding accidents involving Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) has become increasingly complex. In a recent featured interview, Dana Hoffman, a veteran attorney with the personal injury firm Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, pulled back the curtain on the insurance realities facing Florida passengers and drivers.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers are Florida Uber accident lawyers and have been in business since 1988. While many residents assume that stepping into an Uber or Lyft grants them total protection under a million-dollar policy, Hoffman warns that "hidden gaps" in coverage can leave victims vulnerable if the accident isn't the rideshare driver's fault.
The Q&A: Understanding the 2026 Rideshare Landscape
Interviewer: We’re looking at Uber accidents in 2026. Are there any major updates or changes to how these are handled?
Dana Hoffman: No changes there, no. I mean, if you're riding around waiting for a ride, you’ve got the app on... it’s 50, 100, 100 coverage. You have to have 50 per person, 100 per accident. If you are on route to pick up a passenger or have a passenger, it’s a million dollars in liability insurance that you have to have or Uber has for you.
Interviewer: What if the driver isn't even logged in?
Dana Hoffman: If you're not even on the app, you know that Uber insurance doesn't apply at all. It's your own personal coverage then. We talk about it in different periods. Period zero is you're driving around without even the app on. Period one is you're waiting for someone to call in. And then periods two and three are you're on your way to pick someone up or you have a passenger already in the car with you. Then it’s the million dollars.
Interviewer: That seems straightforward for the driver, but what about the passenger? I’ve heard there are gaps if the accident isn't the Uber driver's fault.
Dana Hoffman: They don't have to provide [uninsured motorist] coverage. They used to... now they don't. If you're a passenger in an Uber, you're not getting anything from their policy if you get hurt [by someone else]. I'm talking now it’s somebody else's fault, not the Uber driver, right? So you hop into the Uber car, somebody runs a red light, slams into you, you're messed up and hurt, and the person that hit you doesn't have any liability insurance... Uber has nothing for you. They got med pay. You might pay 5,000 bucks worth of your medical bills. That’s about it.
Interviewer: That’s a huge shift from how it used to be.
Dana Hoffman: When I first started dealing with Uber and Lyft, they used to provide a million bucks. So if there was an Uber involved, either at fault or not at fault, you knew you had a million bucks worth of insurance. Now you only have that if it’s their fault—the Uber driver’s fault—and you're going after them.
Interviewer: So as a passenger, if you get hit and it wasn't the Uber driver's fault, you can’t go after Uber’s insurance at all?
Dana Hoffman: Yeah, except for to the extent they have like med pay coverage that covers your medical bills—like five or 10,000 bucks. You might get that out of their policy, but as far as compensation for your injuries, no, you've got nothing from them. Now, you can go after your own personal automobile policy, uninsured motorist coverage—if you have it—or your resident relative’s uninsured motorist coverage.
Interviewer: Have you noticed any trends in 2026 regarding how these cases are settled or handled by insurance carriers?
Dana Hoffman: I think the most significant change in 2026 is that Uber is now requiring binding arbitration in any case where someone is injured, and the Uber driver is alleged to be at fault. Under this system, an arbitrator or a panel of them will decide your case, and you no longer have the right to a trial by jury in court. It remains to be how this arbitration system will affect Uber’s willingness to negotiate fair settlements of these claims.
Critical Protections for Florida Commuters
Hoffman’s insights highlight a vital takeaway for 2026: The "Million-Dollar" safety net is conditional. Under Florida Statute 627.748, Uber and Lyft are categorized as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), which are distinct from traditional taxis. While they carry higher liability limits when at fault, they no longer bridge the gap if an uninsured third party causes the crash.
Abrahamson & Uiterwyk recommends that all Florida residents review their personal auto policies to ensure they carry sufficient Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, as this is often the only available source of recovery for passengers injured by negligent, uninsured drivers while using a rideshare service.
About Abrahamson & Uiterwyk
With over 30 years of experience, Abrahamson & Uiterwyk is a premier Florida personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of accident victims. The firm’s expertise spans car accidents, truck accidents, and the evolving legal complexities of the rideshare industry.
Business Name: Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
Address: 900 W Platt St STE 100, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone Number: 813-223-5295
For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:
Name: Erik Abrahamson
Role: Injury Attorney & Managing Partner
Company Name: Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
Phone: 800-538-4878
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.theinjurylawyers.com/
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