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Uber and Lyft accidents: who pays and what to do next
After an Uber or Lyft crash, the insurance that applies usually depends on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of the crash. Passengers, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists can all be affected, and each starts from a different place.
By SettlementLift. Published · Updated .
The short answer
If the driver was on a trip or on the way to pick someone up, the rideshare company’s commercial policy generally applies, with liability limits of at least $1 million for injuries caused by the driver. If the driver was online but waiting for a request, lower contingent limits usually apply. If the app was off, the driver’s personal policy is the starting point. State law sets the details, so confirm which period applied.
Uber: Insurance coverage by trip period ↗Coverage by app status
Uber describes three periods. App off: the driver’s own policy. Online and waiting: third-party liability of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. En route or on a trip: at least $1,000,000 in third-party liability. Some states also require uninsured or underinsured motorist, personal injury protection or medical payments coverage during these periods.
Uber: Insurance coverage by trip period ↗Your role changes the claim
A passenger is rarely at fault, so the questions are usually which driver caused the crash and which policy responds. If another motorist hit your rideshare vehicle, that motorist’s insurer may be primary. A pedestrian or cyclist hit by a rideshare driver starts with the driver’s period of app use. Your own health, auto or medical-payments coverage may pay some bills first.
State rules decide the details
Each state sets its own rideshare insurance rules. Florida, for example, requires $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 liability while a driver is logged on without a ride and $1 million during a prearranged ride, plus personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage. California reduced its rideshare uninsured motorist requirement in 2026. Ask which statute and policy apply to your crash.
Florida Statutes §627.748: Transportation network company insurance ↗What to do in the first days
Get medical care, report the crash to police when required, and screenshot the trip receipt, driver name, vehicle and time stamps before they become harder to find. Report the crash in the app and keep the reference number. Photograph the vehicles, scene and injuries. Keep the other driver’s insurance details if another car was involved. Do not sign a release before you understand it.
When the company itself may be named
Rideshare drivers are generally treated as independent contractors, so many claims proceed against the driver’s coverage rather than the company directly. Some lawsuits name the company on other theories, and rider terms may include arbitration provisions. Whether either applies depends on the facts and state law, which is a question for an attorney.
Robotaxi rides booked through Uber or Lyft
In some cities, a ride booked in the Uber or Lyft app can be served by an autonomous vehicle, such as Waymo in Atlanta and Austin through Uber and in Nashville through Lyft. Coverage and evidence questions for those rides differ from a ride with a human driver. See our self-driving car accident guides.
Waymo: Where Waymo serves riders ↗When to talk to an attorney
Consider a consultation when injuries need ongoing treatment, fault is disputed, more than one policy may apply or an insurer asks for a recorded statement or a signed release. Ask how the attorney would identify the app period, which policies they expect to review and how fees and case expenses are calculated.
ABA: Questions to ask a lawyer ↗Frequently asked questions
Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover passengers?
During a trip, the rideshare company’s commercial policy generally provides at least $1 million in liability coverage for injuries the driver causes. If another motorist caused the crash, that motorist’s insurance may be primary. Some states also require uninsured motorist or personal injury protection coverage.
What if the rideshare driver was not on a trip?
If the app was on but the driver had not accepted a request, lower contingent limits usually apply, such as $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. If the app was off, the driver’s personal auto policy applies.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Many claims proceed against the driver’s coverage because drivers are generally treated as independent contractors. Some lawsuits name the company, and rider terms may include arbitration provisions. An attorney can tell you whether either applies.
Is there a deadline to file a claim?
Yes. Each state sets a filing deadline for injury lawsuits, and insurers may require prompt notice. Confirm the deadline for the state where the crash happened.