Tustin Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

How Rideshare Insurance Works in California

California's Public Utilities Code (section 5433) sets minimum insurance for rideshare companies, which the law calls "transportation network companies." The coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash:

• App off. The driver is just a private driver. Only their personal auto insurance applies.
• App on, waiting for a ride request. At least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries, $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage.
• Ride accepted, on the way to pick up, or carrying a passenger. $1 million in primary liability coverage.
• Passenger in the car. The company must also provide uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you if another, under-insured driver caused the crash. From January 1, 2026, that minimum is $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.

The driver's personal insurer often denies coverage because the car was being used commercially, and the rideshare insurer may say the app wasn't active. Getting the trip data that shows exactly where the driver was in the app is usually the first step.

Who Can Bring a Rideshare Claim

• Passengers. If you were hurt as a passenger, you usually have a claim no matter which driver was at fault: against the rideshare driver's coverage, the other driver, or both.
• Other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists hit by a rideshare driver. See also my pages on pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents.
• Rideshare drivers hurt by another driver's carelessness. Whether you can also make a claim against the company's coverage depends on your status and the policy.

I go into more detail in who is liable for your Uber accident and what to do after an Uber accident.

What to Do After a Rideshare Crash

1. Call 911 and get medical care.
2. Take screenshots of the trip in your app: the driver's name, car, license plate and trip route.
3. Get the names, insurance and contact details of every driver involved, plus witnesses.
4. Report the crash through the Uber or Lyft app, but stick to the basic facts.
5. Don't accept a quick settlement or give a recorded statement before you understand which policies apply.

How I Handle Rideshare Cases

I identify every policy that may apply, demand the trip and app data early, and build the liability case with police reports, video and, when needed, accident reconstruction. My mechanical engineering background helps when fault depends on speeds and sight lines. Rideshare cases often involve several insurers pointing at each other, and my years on the defense side help me cut through that. Over my career, I've recovered over $20 million for my clients in total.

How Fees Work: No Recovery, No Fee Guarantee

I handle rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront, I advance the costs of the case, and they're repaid from your recovery. If there's no recovery, you owe no fee.

Rideshare Accident FAQs

Can I sue Uber or Lyft after an accident?

Usually the claim is made against the insurance Uber or Lyft must provide, not against the company directly, because rideshare drivers are generally treated as independent contractors. In some situations the company itself can be responsible, which is something I look at in every case.

How much insurance does Uber or Lyft have in California?

From the time a driver accepts a ride until the trip ends, at least $1 million in liability coverage. When the app is on but no ride is accepted, lower limits apply: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage.

Who pays if I was a passenger and another driver caused the crash?

The at-fault driver's insurance pays first. If that driver had no insurance or not enough, the rideshare company's uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which must be at least $60,000 per person from 2026, can apply.

What if the rideshare driver's app was off?

Then the driver's personal auto insurance is generally the main coverage, just like any other car accident.

How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim?

Generally two years from the date of the crash in California. Uninsured motorist claims have their own two-year requirements, so it's best not to wait.

Talk to a Tustin Rideshare Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft, call me at (714) 461-6003 or request a free consultation. I'll sort out which insurance applies and explain your options. You can also read more about my background, my page on car accidents, or see the other types of injury cases I handle.