Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer in California
Injured in an Uber or Lyft crash anywhere in California? You generally have two years to file an injury claim — and as little as six months if a government vehicle was involved. Which insurer pays depends on the driver’s app status, so talk to us before you speak to any insurance company.
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California legal deadlines
In California you generally have
2years
from the date of an Uber or Lyft crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1)
6months
to file a written government claim if a public vehicle or public entity was also involved (Government Code § 911.2).
Which insurance policy applies depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of impact. Save the trip receipt and screenshot the ride details the same day, before they become harder to retrieve.
Damage to your own vehicle or belongings runs on a separate clock — generally three years from the crash (Code of Civil Procedure § 338). Insurance policies can also set their own, shorter notice deadlines.
Miss those deadlines and a strong case can end before it starts. In a rideshare claim, losing the trip evidence early can do nearly as much harm.
A Rideshare Crash Puts More Than One Insurer in the Room
You may have been a passenger in the back seat, a driver hit by someone working for Uber or Lyft, or a pedestrian or cyclist struck at a pickup or drop-off. Either way, the first question is the same: whose insurance pays?
The answer depends on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of impact — off, on and waiting for a request, on the way to a rider, or carrying a passenger. Coverage steps up and down with each stage, and the difference between the lowest tier and the highest is very large.
Uber and Lyft treat their drivers as independent contractors, so the companies often argue their coverage does not apply. The driver’s personal insurer may deny the claim because the car was being used commercially. Injured people get caught between the two.
Meanwhile an adjuster will ask for a recorded statement before you know the extent of your injuries, and may offer a number before your treatment has really begun. That is an opening position, not a verdict. It moves when the file is documented and the insurer understands the case can be tried.
California regulates rideshare companies under their own set of rules, separate from ordinary auto insurance. Knowing which period applied, which policies are in play and which deadlines are running is the difference between negotiating and guessing.
California Rideshare Rules That Decide Your Claim
| Rule | What California law requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for injuries | 2 years from the date of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). The same two-year period applies to a wrongful death claim, running from the date of death. |
| Deadline for vehicle and property damage | 3 years from the date of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure § 338). This is a separate clock from the injury deadline. |
| If a government vehicle or agency was also involved | A written claim is generally due within 6 months (Government Code § 911.2). If the claim is formally rejected, suit must usually follow within 6 months of the rejection notice (§ 945.6). This covers city buses, police and public-works vehicles, and dangerous road conditions. |
| Who regulates Uber and Lyft | The California Public Utilities Commission licenses them as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). Their insurance duties are set by Public Utilities Code § 5433, not by ordinary auto-insurance rules. |
| App off | Only the driver’s personal auto policy applies — often the California minimum of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 property damage (Senate Bill 1107, 2022). |
| App on, waiting for a ride request | At least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $30,000 property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage per occurrence. |
| Ride accepted, on the way to the rider | $1,000,000 in primary commercial liability coverage. |
| Passenger on board | $1,000,000 in primary commercial liability coverage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage also applies, but Senate Bill 371 reduced it from $1,000,000 to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for policies in effect from January 1, 2026. |
| If you were partly at fault | California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, but you are not barred even if you were mostly responsible. |
| Reporting duties for drivers | A driver involved in a crash with injury or death must report it to police or the CHP within 24 hours (Vehicle Code § 20008) and file a DMV SR-1 within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed or property damage exceeds $1,000 (Vehicle Code § 16000). These duties fall on the drivers, not on an injured passenger or pedestrian. |
| If the injured person is a minor | The two-year deadline is generally paused until the child turns 18 (Code of Civil Procedure § 352). Government claim deadlines are treated differently and should not be assumed to pause. |
Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents — and Who Pays in California
Rideshare collisions tend to follow a pattern set by the job itself: a driver watching an app, hunting for a rider, and stopping wherever the pin drops. The cause usually maps onto a specific traffic law, and the coverage maps onto what the app was doing at that moment.
Distraction from the app
Accepting a request, reading a pickup note and following turn-by-turn directions all pull a driver’s eyes off the road. California bans holding a phone while driving and bans texting outright (Vehicle Code §§ 23123, 23123.5). Trip data and app timestamps can often establish what a driver was doing at impact.
Unsafe pickups and drop-offs
Double-parking, stopping in a traffic lane or bike lane, and letting passengers out on the traffic side put riders, cyclists and passing drivers at risk. Passengers are sometimes struck while getting in or out of the vehicle.
Sudden stops, U-turns and lane changes
A driver trying to reach a rider may brake hard, swing across lanes or turn mid-block. Rear-end and sideswipe collisions follow, and low speed does not mean low injury.
Speeding and unsafe speed
The basic speed law (Vehicle Code § 22350) prohibits driving faster than is safe for conditions, even under the posted limit. Pressure to finish one trip and start the next does not change what safe means.
Fatigued and impaired driving
Long shifts and late-night hours produce fatigue, and fatigue produces the same delayed reactions as impairment. Driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher is illegal (Vehicle Code § 23152), and impairment by cannabis or medication counts too.
Crashes caused by another driver
Often the rideshare driver did nothing wrong and a third driver caused the collision. The claim then starts with that driver’s insurer, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may matter if that policy is missing or too small.
App off or waiting for a request
With the app off, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. With the app on and no ride accepted, a lower tier of rideshare coverage applies. Insurers know the injured person usually cannot prove which stage it was, which is why the records matter.
On the way to a rider or carrying a passenger
Once a ride is accepted, and for as long as a passenger is on board, $1,000,000 in commercial liability coverage applies (Public Utilities Code § 5433). These cases involve more insurers and more paperwork, and they reward early, careful documentation.
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Rideshare Accident Injuries We Represent
We represent everyone an Uber or Lyft crash can injure: passengers, people in the other vehicle, pedestrians and cyclists. The injury drives the value of the claim, and documentation from day one is what keeps an insurer from disputing it.
Soft tissue injuries
Whiplash, sprains, strains and disc irritation are common in the sudden stops and rear-end impacts rideshare trips produce. Adjusters routinely argue they are minor or pre-existing, which is exactly why consistent treatment records matter.
Traumatic brain injury
A back-seat passenger can strike a window, headrest or door. A concussion does not require losing consciousness, and headaches, light sensitivity and trouble concentrating often surface days later.
Spinal cord and back injuries
Herniated discs, nerve impingement and vertebral fractures can require injections, surgery, or lifelong management. Complete or partial paralysis changes the entire structure of a claim, including future care costs.
Fractures and orthopaedic trauma
Broken wrists, ribs, hips and legs frequently mean surgery, hardware and months of rehabilitation. Pedestrians and cyclists hit at a pickup or drop-off are especially exposed.
Internal injuries and organ damage
Internal bleeding and organ trauma can be life-threatening and are not always obvious at the scene. This is the main reason we urge same-day medical evaluation even when you feel able to walk away.
Catastrophic and permanent injuries
Amputation, severe burns, disfigurement and injuries requiring lifetime attendant care call for life-care planning and economic expert analysis to value properly.
Wrongful death
When a rideshare crash is fatal, California law allows specified surviving family members to bring a wrongful death claim (Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60), and the estate may bring a separate survival action.
Psychological injuries
Post-traumatic stress, anxiety about riding or driving, and depression are real consequences of a serious collision and are compensable when properly diagnosed and documented.
After an Uber or Lyft crash in California: what to do
Get to safety and call 911
Move out of traffic if you safely can and ask for police and medical help. Make sure the report notes that a rideshare vehicle was involved and names the company.
Screenshot the trip before it disappears
The trip receipt, driver name, vehicle, route and timestamps are the proof of which insurance stage applied. Save them the same day.
Get checked the same day
Adrenaline masks injury. Head, neck and back symptoms often appear a day or two later, and a gap in treatment is the first thing an adjuster points to.
Photograph everything
Every vehicle, the street, signals and signs, and your visible injuries. Photograph each driver’s licence, insurance card and plate, and any Uber or Lyft marking on the vehicle.
Get witness names and numbers
Independent witnesses disappear quickly and are very hard to find later. If you were a passenger, other riders in the vehicle are witnesses too.
Report it in the app, factually
Report the crash through Uber or Lyft, but keep it to what happened. Do not speculate about fault or play down your injuries.
Do not give a recorded statement
You are not required to give the rideshare company’s insurer or another driver’s insurer a recorded statement. They are taken early for a reason, and used later to narrow your injuries and shift fault.
Keep every record
Bills, referrals, prescriptions, mileage to appointments, pay stubs showing missed work, and a short daily note on pain and limitations.
Talk to a lawyer before accepting anything
An early offer usually arrives before the full picture of your injury exists. Once you sign a release, the claim is over, including for treatment you have not had yet.
Speak With a California Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, you do not have to handle the claim alone. Akhavan Law Firm can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you take the next step with confidence.
Call +1 310-694-8999 today to request a free consultation with a California rideshare accident lawyer. The sooner you get guidance, the easier it may be to protect trip evidence, manage insurance communication, and move your claim forward.
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Schedule a Free Consultation with a California Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
Do not wait to get legal help after a serious Uber or Lyft accident. Akhavan Law Firm can review your case, explain your options, and help you take the next step toward recovery.
No Win, No Fee — How Our Contingency Fee Works
You pay us nothing up front. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you, and if we recover nothing, you owe us no attorney’s fee.
California requires contingency fee agreements to be in writing and to state the fee rate, how costs affect your recovery, and that the rate is negotiable and not set by law (Business & Professions Code § 6147). You receive a signed copy before we begin.
We also explain case costs plainly — filing fees, records, expert witnesses — and how they are handled, before you decide whether to hire us. The consultation itself is free, with no obligation to proceed.
Working with our firm
We are a California personal injury firm led by founding attorney Edwin Akhavan, California State Bar #270338. We handle Uber and Lyft accident claims across the state, from disputed liability cases to catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters. Our main office is in Beverly Hills and we keep offices throughout California, so a local meeting is usually possible without a long drive. We work with clients in English and Spanish.
Rideshare Accident Help Across California
This page covers the statewide rules. For the courts, police agencies and roads where your crash actually happened, start with the office closest to you.
Related practice areas
Some crashes fall under their own rules. If yours involved one of these, that page will be more specific:
Reviewed by Edwin Akhavan, Founding Attorney, California State Bar #270338
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Common questions answered
An Uber or Lyft crash raises questions quickly: whose insurance applies, who pays the medical bills, and how long you have to act. Below are plain answers to the questions we hear most from passengers, drivers and pedestrians injured in rideshare accidents across California. They are general information; a free consultation is the place to talk about your own situation.
Uber and Lyft Accident Questions We Hear Most
What should I do immediately after an Uber or Lyft accident in California?
Call 911 and get a police report, then get checked by a doctor the same day even if you feel able to walk away. Before you leave, screenshot the trip in the app — the receipt, driver name, vehicle and timestamps — because that helps prove which insurance stage applied.
Photograph the vehicles and the scene, get witness names and numbers, and report the crash through the app without speculating about fault.
Who pays after an Uber or Lyft crash in California?
It depends on what the driver’s app was doing. If the app was off, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. If the app was on and the driver was waiting for a request, at least $50,000 per person plus $200,000 in excess coverage applies.
If the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger on board, $1,000,000 in commercial liability coverage applies (Public Utilities Code § 5433). If another driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurer is the starting point.
Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover me if I was a passenger?
Yes. While a passenger is on board, $1,000,000 in primary liability coverage applies. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage also applies, but Senate Bill 371 reduced it from $1,000,000 to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for policies in effect from January 1, 2026, so your own UM/UIM coverage matters more than it used to.
Passengers are also rarely blamed for the crash, which usually makes fault a simpler part of the case.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in California?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1), and vehicle damage claims within three years (§ 338). If a public bus or other government vehicle was also involved, you generally have only six months to file a government claim (Government Code § 911.2). Insurance policies can have shorter notice deadlines, so call early.
What if I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver while driving, walking or cycling?
You can bring a claim just as a passenger can. Which coverage responds depends on the driver’s app status at impact, and you will not have the trip record yourself, so it has to be requested and preserved. Get the driver’s name, plate and insurance details, note any Uber or Lyft marking on the vehicle, and tell the police the driver was working for a rideshare company.
What if the rideshare driver was not at fault?
You still have a claim against whoever was. We pursue the at-fault driver’s policy, and if that driver was uninsured or underinsured, the rideshare company’s uninsured motorist coverage can apply while a passenger was on board, along with your own UM/UIM coverage. Identifying every policy matters more in these cases than in an ordinary collision.
What if the crash was partly my fault?
You can still recover. California follows pure comparative fault, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility rather than eliminated. If you are found 20% at fault, you recover 80% of your damages. Insurers often push for a larger share of blame than the evidence supports, which is one reason to have a lawyer document the facts.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Usually the claim is made against the insurance coverage the company is required to carry rather than against the company itself, because drivers are classified as independent contractors. There can be exceptions depending on the facts, such as claims that the company was negligent in keeping a dangerous driver on its platform. We evaluate both paths.
What does it cost to hire Akhavan Law Firm?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, so we are paid only if we recover money for you. There is no hourly billing and no fee if we do not win. The consultation is free, and we can meet you at the office, at home or at the hospital.
Do you help Spanish-speaking clients?
Yes. Se habla español. Our team handles consultations, documents and case updates in Spanish, and this page is also available in Spanish.
Areas We Serve
Akhavan Law Firm APC handles Uber and Lyft accident claims throughout California. Our headquarters is in Beverly Hills and we have eleven more offices across the state, so you can meet an attorney close to home. Visit the office nearest you or call us today for immediate legal assistance.