Uber & Lyft Accident Attorneys

Since the inception of Uber in 2009 and Lyft in 2012, the ridesharing industry has grown to become a prominent provider of transportation over the years with the two companies combining for over $35 billion in net revenue in 2022. However, the increased number of vehicles on the road has led to an increase in traffic accidents and fatalities according to a study which has shown that the industry has accounted for a roughly 3% annual increase in traffic fatalities. While ordering an Uber/ Lyft is convenient and sometimes a preferred method of transportation in certain scenarios, it is still better to err on the side of caution in the event an accident happens.

Ridesharing accident cases are complicated and often divided into coverage periods. The coverage periods are as follows.

Rideshare driver has the app off (Offline):

Drivers rely on their own personal car insurance when they aren't using the car for work purposes. If the driver causes an accident while not having the app running, their own personal car insurance will cover them. 

The app is on and the driver is waiting for a request (Period 1):

When the driver is logged into the logged into the network and able to accept rides but has not accepted one, primary automobile liability insurance of at least $50,000 for death and bodily injury per person (Maximum $100,000 per incident) would take effect.

The app is on and the driver has accepted a request for pickup (Period 2):

When the rideshare accepts a request and is on their way to pick up the customer, the primary automobile liability insurance will increase to at least $500,000 for death, bodily injury, and property damage.

The app is on and the driver has a passenger with them (Period 3):

The driver is covered under the commercial insurance. This policy also applies to any injured third parties, including other vehicle occupants, a pedestrian, or a biker on the road. The driver's personal car insurance is used first and then the liability coverage will start covering the rest. This lasts for the duration of the ride and reverts back to period one upon dropping the customer off.

Uninsured/underinsured ridesharing driver:

Accidents can also be caused by drivers who don't have car insurance or don't have enough. If you're in an accident in a rideshare vehicle and it's caused by another driver without insurance, uninsured/underinsured coverage can help protect you and the rideshare driver. For example, Uber carries at least $1 million in uninsured/underinsured coverage for situations like these.

Remember: Your rideshare driver’s insurance can change quickly with the tap of an app. If the app is off while someone is driving, then a passenger or third-party is only protected by that driver's personal car insurance. Once the app is turned on, the supplemental liability coverage kicks in.

The biggest thing you can expect is to have a friendly and compassionate conversation. You’re not a legal expert and we don’t expect you to be. During our discussion, we’ll seek to understand your case as clearly as we can. The more you can tell us, the better we can know the position you’re in.