Whose insurance covers an Uber or Lyft crash
Coverage in a rideshare crash depends entirely on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of impact. California law, in the Public Utilities Code sections that regulate transportation network companies, sets three periods:
- App off. The driver’s personal auto policy applies. Most personal policies exclude commercial driving, which is why period matters so much.
- App on, waiting for a ride request. Uber and Lyft must provide at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in liability coverage, plus $30,000 property damage.
- Ride accepted or passenger on board. A $1 million liability policy applies, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $1 million typically applies for the passenger and driver.
Uber and Lyft know which period the driver was in. They do not volunteer it. A San Dimas rideshare accident lawyer’s first move is a preservation demand and a formal request for the trip data, so the coverage question is answered by the app’s records instead of by the company’s adjuster.
Passengers, drivers, and the other car
We represent everyone a rideshare crash injures, and each has a different path:
- Passengers are almost never at fault and are usually covered by the $1 million policy, regardless of which driver caused the crash. Passengers should never settle with the rideshare company’s adjuster without counsel.
- Rideshare drivers hurt by another driver can claim against that driver and, when on a trip, against the rideshare UM/UIM policy. Drivers also face the personal-policy exclusion trap when the app was on.
- Other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians hit by an Uber or Lyft car can claim against the rideshare policy if the driver was in period two or three, and against the driver’s personal policy if not.
What makes these claims hard, and how we handle it
Uber and Lyft classify drivers as independent contractors and route claims through third-party administrators whose goal is to close files cheaply. Their adjusters move fast, often within a day, and offer amounts that look generous next to nothing but small next to a $1 million policy. We slow that process down, get the trip data, document the injuries fully before any valuation, and send a demand that reflects the coverage that is actually available. If they will not pay, we file in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Your claim includes medical bills and future care, lost income, and pain and suffering, with no cap in California. The two-year deadline under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 applies, and the app data that proves the period can be lost far sooner.
In our practice, the rideshare passenger who accepts a quick check from the app company’s adjuster is the person who later learns a $1 million policy was sitting behind that offer. Never sign a release from a rideshare company or its administrator until an attorney has confirmed which policy applied and what your injuries are worth.
Rideshare accidents in San Dimas
Uber and Lyft are busy in San Dimas: rides to and from the Metrolink station, Bonelli Park and Raging Waters in season, the restaurants downtown on Bonita Avenue, Cal Poly Pomona and the Claremont Colleges, and the 210 and 57 to Ontario Airport. Rideshare drivers are often watching the app, unfamiliar with the street, or stopping suddenly to pick up a rider, and we see the resulting rear-end and lane-change crashes on Arrow Highway, Foothill Boulevard, and the freeways.
What to do after an Uber or Lyft crash
- Screenshot the trip in your app: driver name, time, route, and receipt. This proves the period.
- Call 911 and get a report. Tell the officer the vehicle was a rideshare.
- Report the crash in the app, but do not give a recorded statement to anyone.
- Get medical care the same day and keep every appointment.
- Call Morales Law Firm before you speak with the rideshare company’s adjuster.
Passengers hurt in any car can read our car accident page for the basics of claims and deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
Does Uber or Lyft’s $1 million policy cover me as a passenger?
Yes, when a ride has been accepted or you are in the car. Rideshare companies in California must carry $1 million in liability coverage for that period, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage generally applies as well.
What if the rideshare driver’s app was off?
Then only the driver’s personal auto policy applies, and most personal policies exclude driving for hire. We obtain the app data to confirm the period and pursue every policy that applies, including your own uninsured motorist coverage.
Can an Uber or Lyft driver make a claim?
Yes. A driver hurt by another motorist can claim against that motorist, and when on a trip, against the rideshare UM/UIM policy. Drivers with the app on but no trip accepted have more limited coverage, and their personal insurer may deny the claim.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Usually the claim is against the applicable insurance policy rather than the company, because drivers are classified as contractors. Direct claims against the company are possible in cases involving negligent hiring or assault, and we evaluate them.
How long do rideshare cases take?
Similar to other injury cases: six months to a year when settled pre-suit, one to two years in litigation. Obtaining the trip data early shortens the coverage fight.
The rideshare adjuster already offered me money. Should I take it?
Not before an attorney reviews it. Early rideshare offers are made before your injuries are documented and against a policy that may be far larger than the offer suggests. Signing a release ends the claim permanently.
