Last Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Read Time: 3 mins
Auto Accident Lawyer
Filing a claim after getting in an accident with a ridesharing company like Uber and Lyft can process similarly to those of normal accidents with private citizens. It depends heavily on the situation, though. Uber and Lyft both have immense insurance policies to cover accidents, but your accident must fall in the parameters of certain criteria for it to apply. Trying to make a claim with the companies without understanding how their insurance works could be a mistake that leads to lost time. Here are what you might see in an accident with one of their drivers.
Who Pays
Compensation for injuries and damages often falls to the insurance company of the negligent driver. Since that driver is at fault for causing the accident, it makes sense that their insurance should be responsible for covering everyone involved. In ridesharing cases, you cannot assume that Uber and Lyft will be the ones to foot your bill. Oftentimes, it can be the company driver’s personal insurance that you file a claim with. Only accidents that occur in specific situations can involve claims with the big companies.
Types of Accidents
There are three different scenarios dependent on the Uber or Lyft driver that determine who pays your compensation.
- A driver who is not on the job: if an Uber or Lyft driver is not on the app when the accident happens, the company cannot be held liable for damages
- A driver who is on the app with no passengers: if the driver is on the app or going to pick someone up, the ridesharing company is still not likely to be liable, though some states may require they pay some of the bill
- A driver is on the app and carrying a passenger: this is when the $1 million coverage comes into play from Uber and Lyft’s insurance policies
Only in the third situation will the large policy cover everyone involved in the accident: drivers and passengers. You can only make this claim if you have evidence proving that the company driver was negligent and caused the accident.
Passengers
If you are injured in a ridesharing accident as a passenger, proving negligence has nothing to do with you. Instead, you simply file a claim for your injuries from the insurance of whoever is at fault.
If you’re having a difficult time dealing with insurance companies or feel you’re not getting rightful compensation, talk to an attorney, he or she can help you navigate your situation and get you on the right path to recovery.
Patterson Bray
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