You were hurt in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft, whether you were a passenger, another driver, on foot or on a bike, or the rideshare driver. If you’re not sure whether Uber, Lyft, the driver or your own insurer is supposed to pay, that’s a normal place to be. The answer usually turns on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of the crash. With the app off, the driver’s personal auto policy applies. With the app on and the driver waiting for a request, rideshare laws like Michigan’s require coverage, often $50,000 per injured person. From the moment the driver accepts a ride until it ends, the coverage is usually $1 million.
In a no-fault state such as Michigan, personal injury protection (PIP) pays medical bills first, whoever was at fault. Michigan’s rules are in the box marked “In Michigan.”
Hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash and not sure where you stand? Get a free case review. Four quick questions, no cost, no obligation.
Whose insurance covers an Uber or Lyft accident?
It depends on what the driver’s app was doing. Rideshare laws in states such as California, Michigan and Texas set one minimum while the driver waits for a request and a higher one from accepting a ride until it ends (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b), (c); MCL 257.2123(2), (3); Tex. Ins. Code §§ 1954.052, 1954.053).
| What the app was doing | Whose insurance applies | Minimum liability coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Off | The driver’s personal auto policy (Uber; Lyft) | That policy’s limits |
| On, waiting for a request | Rideshare coverage from the driver, the company or both (MCL 257.2123(4)) | Often $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage (MCL 257.2123(2); Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.052); more in some states, such as California (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(c)) |
| Ride accepted, through drop-off | The same | Usually $1 million (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b); MCL 257.2123(3); Uber; Lyft) |
- Personal policies usually don’t cover rideshare time (Texas Department of Insurance). In California, a personal policy covers it only if it expressly says so or an endorsement adds it, and Michigan lets insurers exclude it (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5434(b); MCL 500.3017(1)).
- The company is the backstop. If the driver’s own rideshare insurance has lapsed, the company’s must pay from the first dollar, and its coverage can’t depend on the personal insurer denying the claim first (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(d), (e); MCL 257.2123(5), (6)).
- Terms change. Uber’s and Lyft’s pages, read on September 30, 2026, note state exceptions, and Uber says its coverage has changed over time. What counts is the coverage on the date of your crash.
How do you prove what the app was doing?
Ask the driver. In California and Michigan, for example, rideshare drivers must share their rideshare insurance information after a crash on request, and Michigan drivers must also say whether they were logged on or giving a ride (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5442; MCL 257.2123(8)). The company’s log-on and log-off records can settle a dispute: in a coverage investigation, California requires the company to share them with the insurers involved, and Michigan also with the people directly involved (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5435; MCL 500.3017(6)).
Who pays for your injuries after a rideshare crash?
In an at-fault state, you generally claim against the liability insurance of whoever caused the crash (Texas Department of Insurance). In a no-fault state, PIP pays first, regardless of fault (in Michigan, MCL 500.3105(2)); see no-fault and at-fault states for when you can also sue.
If you were a passenger
If your rideshare driver caused the crash, you claim against the rideshare liability coverage, usually $1 million while you’re aboard (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b); MCL 257.2123(3)). If another driver caused it, you claim against that driver’s insurance. The Texas Department of Insurance also suggests asking your own insurer whether your policy covers you as a rideshare passenger.
If a rideshare car hit you or your car
You claim against the driver’s coverage for that period, as the table shows. Your own collision coverage can pay for repairs, and PIP, medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage may pay medical bills, if you have them (Texas Department of Insurance). Hit on a bike? See bicycle accident claims.
If you were the rideshare driver
The rideshare liability coverage pays for harm you cause others, and the Texas Department of Insurance warns that some rideshare policies don’t cover you or your car. If another driver caused the crash, you can claim against that driver’s insurance. Uber and Lyft say they may carry first-party coverage for drivers, such as PIP or uninsured motorist coverage, depending on the state.
Workers’ compensation depends on state law. Washington gives drivers a worker’s rights under its workers’ compensation law from accepting a ride until it ends (RCW 51.08.180(2), 49.46.300(1)). In California, a driver is an independent contractor if the company meets Proposition 22’s conditions, but the company must provide occupational accident insurance while you’re online: at least $1 million for medical expenses, and disability payments of 66% of your average weekly earnings, within set limits, for up to 104 weeks (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7451, 7455). Michigan’s workers’ compensation law covers employees (MCL 418.301(1)), and its rideshare law treats a driver as an independent contractor if five conditions are met, including a written agreement (MCL 257.2137(1)). Whether that rules out workers’ comp is a question for a lawyer.
What if the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM and UIM) coverage pays if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough, or in a hit-and-run (Texas Department of Insurance). Whether the rideshare policy includes it depends on the state:
- California: $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, from the moment a passenger gets in until they get out, paid before other UM or UIM coverage. A 2025 law lowered it from $1 million, effective January 1, 2026 (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b)(2); SB 371).
- Washington: $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident of UIM coverage, which there includes uninsured drivers, while a passenger is aboard (RCW 46.72B.180(1)(b)(iii), 48.22.030(1)).
- Michigan: the rideshare law doesn’t require it (MCL 257.2123).
Uber says it carries UM and UIM for rideshare where the law requires it. Your own UM or UIM may also apply, so ask your insurer. See how uninsured motorist claims work.
Not sure which insurer owes you, or whether the app was on? Get a free case review. Four quick questions, no cost, no obligation.
What should you do after an Uber or Lyft accident?
- Get help. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first (Uber), and get medical care promptly.
- Save the trip record: screenshots of the trip, the driver’s name, photo and plate, and the receipt. Michigan, for example, requires an electronic receipt showing the trip’s origin, destination, time and distance (MCL 257.2135).
- Collect information. Uber says to get names and phone numbers from everyone involved and photograph any other driver’s plate, registration and insurance card. Ask the rideshare driver for the rideshare insurance information and whether the app was on.
- Get the police report number, and ask how to get a copy.
- Report the crash to Uber or Lyft. Uber says everyone involved should report it; riders can use the Safety Incident Reporting Line in the trip’s Ride Details screen, under Activity. Lyft’s help center asks anyone involved in an accident to report it.
- Be careful with insurers. You have no contract with the other side’s insurer (Texas Department of Insurance), so read what to tell insurance adjusters before you give it a recorded statement.
Our checklist of 10 things to do after a car accident covers the days that follow.
Do you need an Uber or Lyft accident lawyer?
Not always. If you healed quickly and your bills were paid, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. The hard part is usually the claims process: a personal policy, a rideshare policy and your own coverage can all be in play, insurers can disagree about which one pays, and the insurers on the other side handle claims like yours every day. An Uber or Lyft accident lawyer makes more sense when:
- you were seriously hurt, or someone died
- anyone disputes what the app was doing, and so which coverage applies
- several insurers are involved, including the rideshare company’s, or one is delaying or denying benefits
- you were the rideshare driver
Ask how the lawyer is paid; see how injury lawyers get paid. Check the lawyer’s license and discipline record with your state’s lawyer-licensing agency. In Michigan, you can compare car accident firms by Google rating and the $1 million-plus results they report, each linked to its source; past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome. Our lawyer directory covers Michigan for now.
Hurt in a rideshare crash and not sure what your claim needs? Get a free case review. Four quick questions, no cost, no obligation.
How long do you have to file a rideshare accident claim?
The same deadlines apply as after any crash, and each state sets its own; see our state-by-state guide. In Michigan, most injury lawsuits must be filed within three years (MCL 600.5805(2)), and PIP needs written notice within one year (MCL 500.3145(1)). Check the deadlines in any UM or UIM policy, too.
What to do next
- Get medical care, and keep every bill and record.
- Save the evidence: trip screenshots, the receipt, photos and the police report number.
- Notify your insurer in writing. In Michigan, PIP notice is due within one year of the crash (MCL 500.3145(1)).
- Hold off on releases, and on recorded statements to the other side’s insurer, until you know which coverage applies and how badly you’re hurt.
- Get a free case review. Tell us what happened in four quick questions, or, in Michigan, compare car accident lawyers.
What waiting can cost
- Proof of the app’s status. Screenshots get lost, and video gets recorded over.
- Your no-fault benefits. In Michigan, missing the one-year written notice can end your right to sue for PIP benefits (MCL 500.3145(1)).
- Your lawsuit. A lawsuit filed after the deadline is generally barred (in Michigan, MCL 600.5805(1)).
What a good outcome looks like
Your medical bills go to the right insurer and get paid while you heal. What the app was doing is on record, so the right policy answers for the crash, and if you were badly hurt, the at-fault driver’s coverage pays fair compensation for what your own doesn’t. Every notice goes out on time. From wondering whether Uber, Lyft, the driver or your own insurer pays to knowing which policy applies, what it covers and how long you have to act.
For more, see our car accident lawsuit guide and all our car, truck and motorcycle accident guides.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays if I'm hurt as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft?
If your rideshare driver caused the crash, you claim against the rideshare liability coverage, usually $1 million while you're in the car (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b); MCL 257.2123(3); Uber; Lyft). If another driver caused it, you claim against that driver's insurance, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help if it falls short. In a no-fault state such as Michigan, personal injury protection (PIP) pays first, regardless of fault, and in Michigan it comes first from your own household's policy (MCL 500.3105(2), 500.3114(1), (2)(g)).
How much insurance do Uber and Lyft drivers have?
It depends on what the app was doing. While the driver waits for a request, state laws often require $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for injuries, and $25,000 or more for property damage (MCL 257.2123(2); Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.052; Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(c)). From accepting a ride until it ends, California, Michigan, Texas and Washington require $1 million (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b); MCL 257.2123(3); Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.053; RCW 46.72B.180(1)(b)(ii), 48.177.005(6)). Uber's and Lyft's own pages, read on September 30, 2026, list those amounts as minimums in most states and say the driver's personal insurance applies while the app is off. Lyft lists lower limits in Arizona and Maryland while a driver is on the way to a pickup. Terms vary by state and can change.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Usually your claim is against the at-fault driver, paid through the insurance for that period; Uber and Lyft say they maintain rideshare coverage while the app is on. Whether the company itself can be held responsible beyond that depends on state law and the facts. California's rideshare insurance law says it doesn't limit a company's liability above the required coverage (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(f)). Michigan's says a company isn't considered to control a driver or the driver's car unless they agreed otherwise in a written contract (MCL 257.2137(2)). Ask a lawyer licensed in your state.
Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover a crash with an uninsured driver?
Only where state law requires it or the company's policy includes it. California requires $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage while a passenger is in the car, down from $1 million before 2026 (Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b)(2); SB 371). Michigan's rideshare law doesn't require it (MCL 257.2123). Uber says it carries this coverage for rideshare in states where the law requires it. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may also apply, so ask your insurer.
Can an Uber or Lyft driver get workers' compensation?
It depends on your state's law. Washington gives drivers a worker's rights under its workers' compensation law from accepting a ride until it ends (RCW 51.08.180(2), 49.46.300(1)). California treats drivers as independent contractors when the company meets Proposition 22's conditions, but requires the company to provide occupational accident insurance for injuries while online, with at least $1 million for medical expenses (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7451, 7455). Michigan's rideshare law treats a driver as an independent contractor if five conditions are met, including a written agreement saying so (MCL 257.2137(1)). Ask a lawyer what applies to you.
Do I need a lawyer after an Uber or Lyft accident?
Not always. If you healed quickly and an insurer paid your bills, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. A lawyer helps most when you were seriously hurt, when anyone disputes whether the driver's app was on, when several insurers are involved, or when you were the rideshare driver. Get advice before you give a recorded statement or sign a release, and ask how the lawyer is paid before you sign a fee agreement.
Sources
- Ride sharing: 3 questions to ask (updated December 10, 2025) · Texas Department of Insurance
- Auto insurance guide (updated December 11, 2025) · Texas Department of Insurance
- Accident not your fault? Here's how to deal with the other driver's insurance (updated April 24, 2025) · Texas Department of Insurance
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433, Transportation network company insurance: coverage by period, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5434, Personal auto policies while a driver is logged on · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5435, Sharing log-on and log-off times in a claims coverage investigation · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5442, Proof of insurance after an accident · California Legislative Information
- SB 371, Transportation network companies: insurance coverage (Chapter 314, Statutes of 2025) · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7451, App-based drivers as independent contractors (Proposition 22) · California Legislative Information
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7455, Occupational accident insurance for app-based drivers (Proposition 22) · California Legislative Information
- Tex. Ins. Code ch. 1954, Insurance for transportation network company drivers (§§ 1954.052, 1954.053: coverage while waiting and during a ride) · Texas Legislature
- RCW 46.72B.180, Insurance that covers commercial transportation services · Washington State Legislature
- RCW 48.177.005, Definitions, including "prearranged ride" · Washington State Legislature
- RCW 48.22.030, Underinsured motorist coverage; "underinsured motor vehicle" defined · Washington State Legislature
- RCW 51.08.180, "Worker" defined, including rideshare drivers on the way to a pickup or carrying a passenger · Washington State Legislature
- RCW 49.46.300, Transportation network company definitions (dispatch and passenger platform time) · Washington State Legislature
- MCL 257.2102, Definitions, including "transportation network company prearranged ride" · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 257.2123, Insurance required for rideshare drivers · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 257.2135, Electronic receipt after the ride · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 257.2137, Rideshare drivers as independent contractors · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3017, Rideshare exclusion in personal auto policies · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3105, PIP benefits payable without regard to fault · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3107, Allowable expenses, work loss and replacement services · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3113, People not entitled to PIP benefits · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3114, Order of priority for PIP claims, including rideshare passengers and motorcyclists · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3115, PIP claims by people who were not in a vehicle · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 500.3145, Limitations on actions for PIP benefits; notice of injury · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 418.301, Workers' compensation for employees injured in the course of employment · Michigan Legislature
- MCL 600.5805, Period of limitations for injuries to persons or property · Michigan Legislature
- Insurance for Rideshare Drivers (read September 30, 2026) · Uber
- Uber Ride Accident: What to Do After a Crash (read September 30, 2026) · Uber
- Insurance resources for Lyft drivers (read September 30, 2026) · Lyft
- Report a safety incident or citation (read September 30, 2026) · Lyft
Updated October 20, 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and laws change. For advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.