Help! I Was in a Rideshare Accident. Now What?

Were you recently in a rideshare accident and unsure of where to turn for help? Did you sustain injuries in that accident that are causing you to pay costly medical bills? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about what to do after a rideshare accident.

When you do so, you improve your chances of recovering compensation. You’ll be able to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and any other financial setbacks that you may have experienced.

Here’s a guide on what next steps you should take after being in an accident with Uber or Lyft and whether or not you should hire a rideshare accident attorney.

How to Determine Who Was at Fault

Here’s the good news: rideshare accidents aren’t much different than regular car accidents. In fact, they aren’t as complex as you might think.

However, it can be difficult to determine who was liable with so many different parties involved. For instance, there’s the passenger, the Uber/Lyft driver, maybe a pedestrian, or another motorist who was involved.

Determining fault is crucial because it will enhance your odds of getting compensation. For example, if you can prove that the rideshare driver was driving recklessly, you could receive compensation from the rideshare company’s insurance coverage.

If you’re unsure of who was at fault in your case, here are a few questions that can help you identify the liable party:

• Were you in transit when your rideshare was hit or hit by the other vehicle?
• Was the rideshare driver performing the service (driving you to your destination) when the accident occurred?
• Did your driver fail to follow the traffic laws?

In either case of Lyft accidents or Uber accidents, both companies take a similar approach to these types of accidents. Ultimately, there is a three-stage process to approaching rideshare accidents involving passengers. 

The Three Stages of Rideshare Accidents

If you were involved in a rideshare accident in California, then you might be able to receive compensation through the rideshare company’s liability coverage.

However, there are three separate stages that companies categorize in the rideshare pickup process. Essentially, it breaks down into three phases: before an assignment, on your way to an assignment, and while the passenger is in the car.

Stage One

该 first stage refers to whenever a rideshare driver has logged into the app but has yet to accept a customer’s ride request.

If an accident happens in the first stage, then you could be eligible for up to $100,000 in personal injury compensation. For example, this stage could occur at an airport after you have been picked up by your driver and the rideshare is rear-ended before the ride even begins. 

The key here is to assess whether or not the rideshare driver was at fault for the accident. If so, then their personal car insurance policy will need to cover the accident.

Stage Two

As the driver, if you’re in the second stage, then you have accepted a request from a customer and are on your way to pick up the passenger.

For example, if you get in a car accident on the freeway while on your way to pick up that passenger, this would be considered a second-stage accident in regard to Uber or Lyft’s policy.

This appears fairly straightforward. However, it can get tricky. Although you were technically using your car for commercial reasons, the service wasn’t actually being performed. In any case, your car insurance will not cover the accident. Also, the rideshare company will do all they can to avoid covering the damages, as well.

Stage Three

In the third stage, the rideshare driver is performing the agreed-upon service. They’ve picked up the passengers and are taking them from point A to point B.

Continuing with our previous example, the third stage would be when the driver has picked up the arriving airport passenger and gets into an accident while taking them to their hotel.

If that’s the case, then the driver and/or passenger might be eligible for the rideshare company’s $1 million liability coverage — and it’s important to note that this $1 million liability limit remains intact under 加州SB 371, effective January 1, 2026, when the Uber or Lyft driver is at fault. However, SB 371 significantly changed what happens when a third-party driver causes the crash.

In those situations, the UM/UIM coverage available to passengers was reduced from $1 million down to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. This distinction matters enormously when determining how much compensation may be available to you. The rideshare company will still put up a fight regardless — which is why having an experienced rideshare accident attorney in your corner is crucial.

Why You Need an Experienced Rideshare Accident Attorney

When it comes to rideshare accidents involving Uber or Lyft, you need an experienced rideshare accident attorney to represent you. Make sure you’re hiring a qualified attorney with legitimate experience in representing rideshare accident cases.

Upon the initial call, they’ll take the time to hear the specifics of your case. Afterward, they will get right to work on collecting evidence to support your claim. They can also use their experience to help you calculate maximum compensation.

More importantly, your rideshare accident attorney can take over communications with all other parties, so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries and returning to work. 

Whether you were injured as a passenger of a rideshare or as a rideshare driver, you do have rights. In addition, you could be eligible for compensation. You shouldn’t experience a financial setback due to someone else’s mistake.

Hire a Rideshare Accident Attorney for Your Case Today

If you were involved in an accident with Uber or Lyft, contact an experienced rideshare accident attorney to represent you.

If you are not sure whether your injuries or other damages qualify for a personal injury claim, contact DK Law for a free case assessment. We are available to assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week.