Uber and Lyft enjoyed a surge in ridership last year, media outlets including The Washington Post reported, but utilizing rideshare services is also potentially dangerous for riders and other drivers. 

University of Illinois Chicago researchers found that one-third of rideshare drivers surveyed in a study reported being involved in a crash while working. (The study was published in the Journal of Safety Research in April 2024.)

“Using a cellphone, driving while tired or driving on unfamiliar roads increased the likelihood of a crash, according to the study,” said a release on the UIC Today website.

These accidents can injure passengers in the Uber and Lyft rideshare vehicles or other vehicles involved in a crash, while also potentially causing deaths.

Those who are injured in accidents involving Uber, Lyft and other rideshare drivers and vehicles deserve the highest compensation that can be obtained for medical bills and future medical bills, emotional pain and suffering, lost wages, any disabilities, and other issues that arise from accidents.

As with all motor vehicle accidents, it’s critical that injured parties, or families that suffer a loss, contact a highly experienced Personal Injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure that the crash is properly documented, and a record of evidence can be assembled to establish liability and build a foundation for an optimal outcome in terms of compensation.

Contact Senior Partner Ryan Henry by phone at (860) 355-2631 or email at rhenry@crameranderson.com to discuss an accident involving an Uber, Lyft or other rideshare vehicle and ensure the proper steps are taken to pursue and obtain the compensation you deserve.

Who’s Liable if You’re Injured in an
Accident Involving an Uber or Lyft Driver?

Liability in an accident involving a vehicle being used for ridesharing services by an Uber or Lyft driver is determined in the same way as it is for other motor vehicle accidents. 

The testimony of those involved, the accident scene investigation, photos of the accident scene, and the police report are all elements that contribute to establishing which parties were at fault, while also indicating to what degree each party may have liability.

It’s important that those who have been injured work with an experienced motor vehicle crash attorney to determine all the factors that preceded an accident to fully understand the elements of causation and liability. 

While the Uber or Lyft driver may have responsibility – partial or primary – for an accident, liability might also extend to factors such as other drivers, improperly maintained vehicles, faulty road conditions, and more.

Is There Sufficient Insurance in Accidents
Involving an Uber or Lyft Driver and Vehicle?

The insurance situation for accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing drivers can get complex.

The driver of the ridesharing vehicle is required to have personal auto insurance, other drivers who may be involved may or may not have auto insurance, and companies like Uber and Lyft have separate policies for crashes involving their drivers.

For example, the personal auto insurance of Uber drives covers them when they’re “offline,” and drivers are required to maintain auto insurance at mandatory minimum limits and provide proof insurance to drive or deliver for Uber.

In other words, when an Uber driver is not “on the clock” and is liable for an accident, those who are injured must file a claim against the driver and his or her personal auto insurance company.

If an Uber driver who is “online” and available for a trip is at fault for an accident and another person is injured or their vehicle is damaged, Uber’s third-party liability insurance covers the cost of injuries or damage in at least the following amounts:

• $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries
• $25,000 in property damage per accident

When an Uber driver is on the way to a trip or carrying a passenger and is at fault for an accident, insurance provided by Uber covers at least $1 million for property damage and injuries to riders and third parties involved in an accident (contingent on the driver’s personal insurance including comprehensive and collision coverage.)

Steps You Should Take After an Uber or Lyft Motor Vehicle Accident

• Call the police no matter how minor the accident.
• Seek immediate medical attention if necessary.
• Obtain the information of drivers involved in the crash: their name, the name of their insurance company, and the policy number.
• Take photos/videos of the damage and the scene where the accident occurred.
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
• Ask when the police report will be ready, obtain a copy as soon as it’s available, and carefully review it for accuracy.
• Call an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney.

Connect With a Trusted Connecticut Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney

Cramer & Anderson’s highly experienced Personal Injury team includes attorneys with an insider’s view of how the insurance industry and insurance defense attorneys work, which enables our attorneys to craft informed strategies when pursuing Uber and Lyft accident claims to seek the highest level of compensation for our clients.

Anyone who has been involved in a ridesharing motor vehicle accident should contact Senior Partner Ryan Henry by phone at (860) 355-2631 or email at rhenry@crameranderson.com.

About Cramer & Anderson

Cramer & Anderson provides sophisticated legal services, close to home, with regional offices in New Milford, Litchfield, Danbury, and Ridgefield. For more information, see the firm’s website or call the flagship office in New Milford at (860) 355-2631.