Which insurance applies depends on the app
Georgia law sets minimum coverage that rideshare companies must provide, and it changes by phase. When the driver has the app off, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies, and many personal policies exclude commercial driving. When the app is on and the driver is waiting for a request, a lower tier of rideshare coverage applies. From the moment a ride is accepted until the passenger is dropped off, a $1 million liability policy is in force.
The companies know the exact second a trip was accepted. Getting that data, and pinning down the phase, is the first thing we do. Then we identify every other policy in play: the at-fault driver’s personal coverage, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and any coverage on other vehicles involved.
We represent everyone except the companies
You were a paying customer in someone else’s car. Whether your driver or another driver caused the crash, you have a claim, and the $1 million policy is usually in play.
Hurt while driving for Uber or Lyft by another motorist’s negligence. Your claim may involve the other driver’s insurer, the rideshare company’s UM/UIM coverage and your own policy.
Hit by a rideshare vehicle. Your recovery depends on proving the app status at the time, which the company would rather not disclose.
When a rideshare crash is fatal, Georgia’s wrongful death law allows the family to recover the full value of the life lost. Learn more.
What to do after an Uber or Lyft crash
- 1
Screenshot the trip. The app shows the driver, the route, the time and the trip status. Capture it before it disappears from your history.
- 2
Report it in the app and to police. Both companies have in-app crash reporting. A police report is still essential.
- 3
Get the driver’s information and the other driver’s. Name, phone, personal insurance, plate number.
- 4
Get medical care the same day. Delays in treatment are the first thing any insurer uses against you.
- 5
Decline recorded statements. Uber, Lyft and their insurers may all call. Politely refer them to your attorney.
- 6
Do not accept a quick payment. Rideshare insurers sometimes offer fast, small settlements to passengers. Signing one ends your claim.
Your car, if you were the driver or in another vehicle
Rideshare drivers’ cars are their livelihood, and time off the road is lost income. Our in-house vehicle damage specialist handles the total-loss valuation or diminished value claim alongside your injury claim, and we press for a rental so you are not stranded. More on the vehicle side.
Common questions
I was a passenger. Do I have to prove who was at fault?
No. As a passenger you are almost never at fault. Our job is to identify which drivers were negligent and which policies respond. You may have claims against more than one insurer.
Will Uber or Lyft pay directly?
The companies carry insurance through third-party carriers and treat drivers as independent contractors. Your claim is handled by those insurers, which is why the app-status question matters so much.
How long do I have?
Generally two years from the crash for injuries. Trip data and dashcam footage can be gone far sooner. Contact us early.