Can You Sue Lyft or Uber After a Rideshare Accident?
September 25, 2026
If you were hurt in a car accident caused by a rideshare driver’s irresponsible conduct, a personal injury lawyer can work to file a claim for compensation through insurance provided by Uber and Lyft. In rare cases, it may be possible to sue the rideshare company directly. Compensation might also come through a third party. It all depends on the cause of the collision and the evidence presented to prove causation.
Collect and preserve evidence as quickly as possible after a rideshare accident, and a dedicated attorney can help tremendously with the process. Here are some key factors to be aware of if you’ve been in a collision involving a rideshare driver.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Uber or Lyft Accident?
When someone is legally liable for an accident, they can be held accountable and required to pay compensation to cover losses such as medical expenses, pain, and suffering. Liability may fall on one person or entity, or it may be shared among several parties, depending on the situation.
The Rideshare Driver
Most car accidents in California are caused by the negligent actions of one or more of the drivers involved. These actions might include:
- Paying attention to a cell phone instead of the road
- Driving too fast
- Changing lanes without looking
- Not yielding when appropriate
- Driving while impaired
- Driving while tired or sleepy
Uber or Lyft
In many situations, an employer can be held legally liable for negligent actions taken by employees. However, Uber and Lyft do not consider their drivers employees, and they have structured their legal arrangements with these drivers so the rideshare companies are not held liable for their drivers’ behavior.
Uber and Lyft do provide insurance for their drivers, which often provides a source of recovery for accident victims even if the rideshare companies are not specifically liable. In addition, in rare situations, a personal injury lawyer can sue Uber and Lyft directly.
If the rideshare company acted negligently and that irresponsible action contributed to the accident, then the rideshare company would have direct liability. For instance, if the rideshare company put a driver in the system even though that driver had a suspended license for a DWI, then Uber or Lyft might be directly liable for accidents caused by that driver. The rideshare company should have required the driver to prove they had an active license before putting them on the platform.
A Third Party
While it may seem like a rideshare driver caused a collision, other people’s actions may have contributed, and those parties could also share legal liability. For example, another driver might have swerved in front of the Uber driver. Or a truck might have dropped debris that caused a Lyft driver to lose control and crash.
How Does Uber and Lyft Insurance Work in California?
Rideshare accident cases are far more complicated than other car accident cases, partly because Uber and Lyft insurance coverage varies depending on the situation.
- If the driver is delivering a passenger, then full coverage applies
- If the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger, then full coverage applies
- If the driver has the rideshare app on but has not accepted a ride request, then partial coverage applies
- If the driver has the rideshare app turned off, then insurance coverage does not apply at all
Insurance companies do not want to pay claims, so their legal teams may argue about the driver’s status at the time of the crash. Rideshare companies require drivers to carry their own personal auto insurance, which would cover accidents that occur while a driver is off duty. But insurance companies may argue over which coverage applies and which is primarily responsible for covering losses.
FAQs About Suing Uber and Lyft in California
How much insurance coverage do Uber and Lyft provide?
Both major rideshare companies provide up to $1 million in coverage for injuries and damage resulting from accidents caused by their drivers. However, that full coverage only applies when the driver is actively working for the company, either transporting a passenger or driving to pick up a passenger.
If the driver has the app on but has not accepted a ride request, then the state minimum coverage applies. In California, that means an injured person can receive no more than $50,000, and if more than one person is hurt, the policy will pay no more than $100,000 total.
What if you were hurt as a rideshare passenger?
Uber and Lyft insurance, as well as the insurance of other drivers involved in the accident, should cover injuries to passengers in any affected vehicle. If you did something that could have contributed to the cause of the accident, such as screaming and distracting the driver, then you could be held at least partially to blame, and that would affect your ability to recover.
Does rideshare insurance apply if a pedestrian or bicyclist is hit by an Uber or Lyft driver?
Rideshare insurance policies should cover injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists hit by an Uber or Lyft driver unless the pedestrian or bicyclist is considered to be solely at fault for causing the collision.
The Law Offices of Benjamin Arsenian Can Work to Get the Compensation You Deserve After a Rideshare Accident
Whether you sue Uber and Lyft directly or seek recovery through the insurance provided by the rideshare companies, the process will not be easy. The high value of the insurance policies involved gives corporate attorneys the incentive to work hard to shift liability to someone else, including the accident victim.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, it is wise to begin working with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to recovery. At the Law Offices of Benjamin Arsenian, we can handle the legal aspects of your case, such as gathering evidence and answering questions without saying something that could create liability. This lets you focus on physical and mental healing.
We invite you to learn more by scheduling a free consultation. Just call 714-400-2000 or contact us online to get started.