Uber or Lyft accident: who pays depends on what the app was doing

Last checked November 8, 2026

In an Uber or Lyft accident, the app status decides which insurance applies. With a trip in progress, or the driver headed to pick up a rider, Uber and Lyft carry at least $1 million in most places.¹² While the driver waits for a request, coverage is much lower.³⁴ Save your trip details today.

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Why does the app status matter so much?

Lyft says there are three distinct periods that determine coverage.⁵ Uber uses the same idea. So the first question in any rideshare accident is what the app was doing at the moment of the crash. The driver's trip history can show that, so get screenshots before anything changes.

What the app was doing	Who covers it	Liability limits
App off	The driver's personal auto insurance⁶	Whatever the driver's policy says
App on, waiting for a ride request	The driver's insurance, if it applies, and the company's coverage	Lyft: at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, $25,000 property.³ Uber: the same amounts.⁴
Headed to a rider, or on a trip	Company coverage	Uber: at least $1 million.² Lyft: at least $1,000,000 in most markets.¹

Limits are not the same everywhere. Lyft's own page lists lower limits in certain states, including Arizona and Nebraska during part of the time on the app.⁷ Uber says its coverages and limits vary by state and have changed over time.⁸ California law requires $1 million from the time a match is accepted until the passenger gets out.⁹

I was a passenger in an Uber accident. Who pays?

If you were riding, the app was on a trip, so the $1 million coverage is usually in play.¹² You do not need to prove your Uber or Lyft driver was the one at fault to start a claim. If another driver caused the crash, that driver's insurance is usually first in line. If that driver has little or no insurance, the rideshare company's first-party coverage may help. Lyft says this may include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.¹⁰

Who you are	Where your claim usually starts
Passenger	The at-fault driver's insurer, or the rideshare policy if your driver was at fault
Rideshare driver hurt in a crash	The at-fault driver's insurer. Then your own coverage and any company first-party coverage.
Driver of another car	The rideshare driver's insurer or company coverage, based on the app status
Pedestrian or cyclist	Same as above. Also check your own auto or health coverage.

What to do right after an Uber or Lyft accident

Call 911 and get medical care. You can also use the safety features in the app.
Take screenshots of your trip, the driver's name, the car, the plate and the time.
Get the other driver's name and insurance, and photos of all cars.
Ask for the police report number and save it. Uber tells its own drivers to do the same.¹¹
Report the crash to the company. Uber has an online report for riders¹² and another for other people involved.¹³
Keep your ride receipt and any emails or texts from the company.

What evidence matters in a rideshare accident claim?

Trip receipts and app screenshots that show the status and the time.
The driver's profile and the car listed in the app. Ask if they match the car you were in.
Any dash camera video. Many drivers have one, so ask quickly.
The police report and witness names.
Your medical records and bills, and proof of any missed work.

The app data belongs to the company and may be harder for you to get later. A lawyer can send a written request asking the company to save it.

I was driving for Uber when I got in an accident

Tell your own insurer too, even if you think it will not cover you. Most personal auto policies do not cover rideshare driving.¹⁴ Some insurers sell a rideshare add-on, and some of those cover only part of the time you are driving. If the crash was not your fault, the other driver's insurance should be your first claim. If it was your fault or the other driver had no insurance, check the company's first-party coverages for your state.¹⁰⁸

Many rideshare drivers are treated as independent contractors. That can limit workers' compensation in many states. Rules are changing, so check your state.

What can an Uber accident claim cover?

A claim can ask for medical bills, future care, lost pay, and pain and suffering. Be wary of posts about Uber passenger accident settlement amounts. They usually have no details about the injury or the insurance. Your claim depends on your injuries, who caused the crash and which coverage applied.

Do rideshare insurance rules change by state?

Yes. Each state sets its own coverage rules for these companies, and many states set their own rideshare laws. Your deadline to sue, how shared fault works, and whether no-fault insurance applies also depend on your state. Check your state's page on this site before you assume the numbers above apply to you.

Can you sue Uber for an accident?

Sometimes, but it is often harder than people expect. These companies usually treat drivers as independent contractors, not employees. Most claims go against an insurance policy, not the company itself. The app's terms may also send some disputes to arbitration. A lawyer who has handled rideshare claims can look at your facts and tell you what applies. A lawyer can review it for free. Talk to one if you were badly hurt, if the company denies coverage or says the app was off, or if several insurers are pointing at each other.

Common mistakes after a rideshare accident

Leaving without getting the other driver's information because you think the app has it.
Not taking screenshots of the trip.
Assuming Uber or Lyft will handle everything once you tap report.
Agreeing to a recorded statement with the rideshare insurer before you know your injuries.
As a driver, keeping quiet with your personal insurer about driving for an app.

Questions

What happens if my Uber driver gets in an accident?

You can usually claim against the at-fault driver's insurance or the rideshare policy. During a trip, liability coverage is at least $1 million in most places.¹²

Who pays if the Uber driver was only waiting for a ride?

The driver's insurance, if it applies, and company coverage of about $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.³⁴

How do I report an Uber accident as a rider?

Uber has an online form for riders, and another for third parties.¹²¹³ Keep a copy of what you send.

Does my regular car insurance cover me if I drive for Uber?

Most personal auto policies do not cover rideshare driving.¹⁴ Ask your insurer about a rideshare add-on.

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Sources

Lyft, checked 2026-11-08. “In most markets, at least $1,000,000 for third-party auto liability coverage”
Uber, checked 2026-11-08. “every Uber TNC trip is covered by at least $1 million in commercial liability insurance coverage when a driver is on the way to pick up a rider or transporting a rider”
Lyft, checked 2026-11-08. “$50,000/person for bodily injury $100,000/accident for bodily injury $25,000/accident for property damage”
Uber, checked 2026-11-08. “$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries $25,000 in property damage per accident”
Lyft, checked 2026-11-08. “There are three distinct periods that determine your insurance coverage while driving.”
Lyft, checked 2026-11-08. “Coverage when the app is off Your personal auto insurance coverage applies.”
Lyft, checked 2026-11-08. “For covered accidents in Arizona and Nebraska, third-party liability insurance is $25,000/per person”
Uber, checked 2026-11-08. “vary by state and have changed over time”
California Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “Ride-sharing companies are required under California law to provide drivers $1 million in liability coverage from the time a match is accepted until the passenger exits the vehicle.”
Lyft, checked 2026-11-08. “First party coverages, which may include uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage”
Uber, checked 2026-11-08. “Be sure to save the police report number if there is one.”
Uber, checked 2026-11-08. “Riders can report an accident here”
Uber, checked 2026-11-08. “Third parties can report an accident here”
Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-08. “Most personal auto policies do not include coverage when you are using your car for ride sharing.”

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