What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in California
After an Uber or Lyft accident, get medical help, collect information from every driver involved, report the crash in the app and to the police, and keep your own records before talking to any insurance company. Rideshare crashes are different from ordinary car accidents because the insurance that applies depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. Here’s how it works in California. If you were hurt in a rideshare crash in Tustin, you can also talk to a rideshare accident lawyer at no cost.
Step 1: Get safe and get medical help
Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Move out of traffic if you can do so safely. Get checked by a doctor even if you feel fine: some injuries, including concussions and neck injuries, show up hours or days later. My post on delayed concussion symptoms explains what to watch for.
California law requires every driver in an injury crash to stop, exchange information and give reasonable help to anyone injured, including arranging transport to a doctor or hospital if it’s needed or requested (Vehicle Code sections 20001 and 20003). That duty applies to the rideshare driver and any other driver involved.
Step 2: Collect information from everyone
As a passenger, you aren’t required to exchange information the way a driver is, but you should. Get:
- the rideshare driver’s name, phone number, licence plate and insurance information
- the name, contact details, licence plate and insurance of every other driver involved
- names and phone numbers of witnesses
- the responding officer’s name and the report number
- photos of the vehicles, the scene, traffic signals and your injuries
Take a screenshot of the trip in the app (pickup time, route, driver and vehicle). That record shows the driver had accepted your ride, which matters for insurance.
Step 3: Report the crash in the app and to the police
Report it to the rideshare company. Uber’s crash page says “everyone involved in the crash should file a report with Uber,” and its claims team then guides you through the process with the insurer. Lyft has its own accident report form.
Make sure there’s a police or CHP report. If anyone was injured, California requires the driver to make a written report to the CHP or city police within 24 hours (Vehicle Code section 20008). Drivers must also file an SR-1 report with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage is over $1,000. If you were driving the other car, that duty is yours.
Step 4: Understand which insurance applies
California sets the insurance rideshare companies must carry, and it depends on the app status. These rules are in Public Utilities Code section 5433:
| Driver’s status | Required coverage |
|---|---|
| App off | The statute doesn’t apply; the driver’s personal policy is the starting point |
| App on, waiting for a ride request | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per incident for injury, $30,000 property damage, plus $200,000 excess |
| Ride accepted, on the way, or passenger in the car | $1,000,000 for death, injury and property damage |
| Passenger in the car: uninsured/underinsured motorist | $60,000 per person / $300,000 per incident |
Some details matter:
- The $1 million coverage starts when the driver accepts the ride, not when you get in.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage dropped. Since 1 January 2026, the required UM/UIM coverage for rideshare passengers is $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, down from $1 million (SB 371, 2025). If another driver caused the crash and has little or no insurance, this lower amount can matter a great deal.
- The rideshare company’s coverage doesn’t wait for the driver’s personal insurer to deny the claim first, and if the driver’s own policy has lapsed, the company’s coverage pays from the first dollar.
If the other driver caused the crash, their insurance is responsible too. Your own policy’s uninsured motorist coverage may also help when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Step 5: Be careful with insurance adjusters
You may hear from several insurers: the rideshare company’s, the other driver’s and your own. Each has its own interests. Before you give a recorded statement or sign anything, it helps to know how adjusters handle claims. My post on how car insurance companies handle accident claims walks through each step from the insurer’s side.
Don’t post about the crash on social media, and don’t guess about your injuries in an early phone call.
If the rideshare company doesn’t respond
You can file a complaint about Uber or Lyft with the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates rideshare companies. The CPUC asks you to contact the company first, then send its Passenger Carrier Complaint Form, or call 1-800-649-7570. The CPUC handles service complaints; it doesn’t decide injury claims.
Deadlines
A personal injury lawsuit in California generally must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If a government vehicle or a road defect was involved, a claim against the public entity must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
Uber and Lyft accident FAQs
Who pays if I’m hurt as an Uber or Lyft passenger in California?
Once the driver accepts your ride, California requires the rideshare company to carry $1 million in coverage. If another driver caused the crash, their insurance is also responsible, and the company’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage ($60,000 per person) may apply if that driver has too little insurance.
What if the Uber driver had the app on but no passenger?
While the app is on and the driver is waiting for a request, the required coverage is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for injuries, $30,000 for property damage, and $200,000 in excess coverage.
Should I report the accident to Uber or Lyft?
Yes. Uber says everyone involved should file a report, and Lyft has its own accident report form. Also make sure a police or CHP report is made.
How long do I have to file a claim after a rideshare accident?
Generally two years for a lawsuit, but only six months for a claim against a public entity. Insurance claims should be reported much sooner.
Talk to a Tustin rideshare accident lawyer
Rideshare claims often involve several insurers pointing at each other. I began my career defending insurance companies, and I know how they assign responsibility. If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash, call me at (714) 461-6003 or request a free consultation. You’ll work directly with me, and under my No Recovery, No Fee Guarantee you pay nothing unless I recover compensation for you. Learn more about rideshare accident claims in Tustin, or read my checklist of what to do after any car accident.