How to File a Rideshare Accident Claim
When an Uber or Lyft is involved in a crash, the question is not only who caused it but which insurance policy was in force at that moment. The answer depends on what the driver's app was doing, and it can mean the difference between a small personal policy and a million-dollar commercial one. This guide explains the coverage periods, the steps to file and the records to save before they disappear.
What happens when you reach out
- You tell us what happenedSend the short form or call. It takes about a minute, and you share only what you are comfortable with.
- A claim specialist reviews itWe look at your deadlines, the insurer or agency involved, and the records your claim will need.
- We call you backUsually the same day, to explain your options. There is no cost and no obligation.
Prefer to talk now? Call (833) 333-0905 or text 954-933-5065.
Get help with your rideshare claim
Passenger, driver or someone hit by a rideshare car: tell us what happened and a claim specialist will call you back.
Legal Lawsuit is not a law firm. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
On this page
The three insurance periods
State laws require rideshare companies, called transportation network companies, and their drivers to carry different insurance depending on the driver's status in the app. Florida's law is a clear example:
| Driver's status | Insurance that must be in place (Florida) |
|---|---|
| App off | No rideshare coverage applies. The driver's personal auto policy is the starting point, and personal policies often exclude driving for hire. |
| App on, waiting for a request | Primary liability of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, plus personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage. |
| Ride accepted through drop-off | Primary liability of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury and property damage, plus personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage. The "prearranged ride" starts when the driver accepts the request and ends when the last rider gets out. |
Source: Fla. Stat. §627.748. Other states set similar periods with their own limits; the claim review checks the rules where the crash happened.
Your claim depends on who you are
- Passenger. You were on a trip, so the highest coverage period usually applies. If another driver caused the crash, you may also claim against that driver's insurer.
- Another driver, cyclist or pedestrian. If the rideshare driver caused the crash, which policy pays depends on the app status at that moment, so getting the trip records is the first step.
- Rideshare driver. If another driver hit you, you claim against that driver's insurer. Your own injuries may be covered by personal injury protection or uninsured motorist coverage on the rideshare policy, depending on your app status and state.
Rideshare drivers are generally treated as independent contractors, not employees, so a driver hurt on the job is usually not covered by workers' compensation.
The claim, step by step
Get medical care and a police report
Call 911 so a crash report is made, and get checked even if you feel fine. Treatment records started right away are the backbone of any injury claim.
Report the crash in the app
Both Uber and Lyft have in-app crash reporting. Use it, and screenshot your report and the trip details.
Identify the app status
Ask the driver, and later the company, whether the app was on, whether a ride had been accepted, and whether a passenger was in the car. This decides which policy applies.
Open claims with the right insurers
Depending on the facts, that may be the rideshare company's insurer, the rideshare driver's personal insurer, the other driver's insurer and your own insurer for personal injury protection.
Document your losses and send a demand
Gather medical bills, wage records and receipts, and send a written demand once your doctor can describe your recovery.
Negotiate, or file before the deadline
Rideshare claims often involve several insurers pointing at each other. If they will not resolve it, a lawsuit must be filed before your state's deadline; in Florida, negligence claims must be filed within two years.
Records to save
- screenshots of the trip: driver name, vehicle, route, time and receipt
- the in-app crash report and any messages from the company
- the police crash report number
- photos of the vehicles, the scene and your injuries
- names and phone numbers of witnesses, including other passengers
- every medical record and bill from the crash onward
Disputes and denials
The most common fight in a rideshare claim is over the app status. A personal insurer may deny the claim because the driver was working, while the rideshare insurer argues no ride had been accepted. Trip data settles the question, so ask for it in writing and keep a copy of every denial letter.
Assaulted during a rideshare trip? That is a different kind of claim. See our sexual abuse claim guide, which includes rideshare assault. For what crash cases have been worth, our sister site TortAdvisor covers rideshare accident lawsuits.
Common questions
Do I file with Uber or Lyft, or with an insurance company?
Report the crash to the company through the app, but the claim itself is handled by an insurance company: the rideshare company's insurer, the driver's personal insurer or another driver's insurer, depending on the facts.
Does the $1 million policy mean my claim is worth $1 million?
No. It is the maximum the policy will pay. What a claim is actually paid depends on the injuries, the losses and who was at fault.
What if the rideshare driver was not at fault?
Then the claim goes primarily to the at-fault driver's insurer. If that driver has too little insurance, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on the rideshare policy or your own policy may help.
Does it cost anything to have my claim reviewed?
No. The claim review is free and confidential.
Hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash?
Call (833) 333-0905 any time, or send the short form. A claim specialist will help you work out which insurance applies.
Legal Lawsuit is an information and claim-review service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice, and is not affiliated with Uber or Lyft. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Insurance requirements vary by state and change over time. Legal Lawsuit and TortAdvisor are under common ownership.
