# Rideshare accidents: how Uber and Lyft insurance works

> How Uber and Lyft accident claims work: why the driver's app status decides whose insurance pays, state minimums, and what to save after a crash.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/rideshare-accidents/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

After an Uber or Lyft crash, whose insurance pays depends on what the driver's app was doing at that moment. With the app off, only the driver's personal auto policy applies. With the app on and the driver waiting for a request, state law requires lower limits, such as $50,000 per person in California. Once a ride is accepted, California, Texas and Florida all require $1,000,000 in liability coverage until the trip ends.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Liability coverage during an accepted ride, California | $1,000,000 | Death, injury and property damage |
| Liability coverage during a ride, Texas and Florida | $1,000,000 | Per incident in both states |
| App on and waiting, California | $50,000 / $100,000 / $30,000 | Per person / per incident / property, plus $200,000 excess |
| App on and waiting, Texas | $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 | Per person / per incident / property |
| App on and waiting, Florida | $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 | Per person / per incident / property |
| Uninsured motorist coverage for passengers, California | $60,000 per person, $300,000 per incident | From entering to leaving the car |

## Why the app status decides who pays

State laws call Uber and Lyft transportation network companies, or TNCs. Their drivers use their own cars, and a personal auto policy is written for personal driving, not for carrying paying passengers. Texas law, for example, says a personal auto policy may exclude any loss while the driver is logged on to a rideshare app or engaged in a prearranged ride.

To close that gap, states require insurance for the time the driver is working, and they split that time into stages. The driver, the company, or both together can provide it. In practice, the first question in any rideshare claim is simple: what did the app show at the moment of the crash?

| Stage | What the driver is doing | Insurance that usually applies |
|---|---|---|
| App off | Using the car for personal reasons | The driver's personal auto policy only |
| App on, waiting | Logged on and available, no ride accepted | Rideshare coverage at lower state minimums |
| Ride accepted to drop-off | Driving to the pickup or carrying a passenger | Rideshare coverage of at least $1,000,000 in the three states below |

In Texas and Florida, the ride stage begins when the driver accepts a request and ends when the last rider leaves the car. In California, it runs from accepting the request until the ride is complete.

## What three state laws require

The amounts below are legal minimums. The companies' own policies may carry more; the insurer handling the claim can tell you the policy limits that apply.

### California

California's Public Utilities Code § 5433 requires $1,000,000 of primary coverage for death, injury and property damage from the moment a driver accepts a ride. While the driver is logged on and waiting, the minimums are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $30,000 for property, plus at least $200,000 of excess coverage kept by the company.

The company must also provide uninsured motorist coverage for passengers: $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, from the moment a passenger gets in until they get out. The law changed on January 1, 2026, so older articles may show a higher figure.

### Texas

Chapter 1954 of the Texas Insurance Code sets the waiting-stage minimums at $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for property. During a prearranged ride, the policy must provide $1,000,000 per incident. Uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection apply as Texas law requires for any auto policy.

Two rules help injured people. If the driver's own policy has lapsed or falls short, the company must provide the coverage from the first dollar of the claim. And the company's coverage does not depend on the driver's personal insurer denying the claim first.

### Florida

Florida Statutes § 627.748 uses the same structure: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for property while the driver waits, and $1,000,000 during a ride. Because Florida is a no-fault state, the policy must also include personal injury protection in both stages.

## Who can claim, and against whom

### Passengers

A passenger is rarely at fault, so the question is who caused the crash. If the rideshare driver did, the claim goes to the ride-stage coverage. If another driver did, that driver's liability insurer is usually the first stop.

> **Example:** A Lyft passenger in California is hurt when an uninsured driver runs a red light and hits the car. The other driver has no insurance to claim against, so the passenger may turn to the rideshare uninsured motorist coverage, and possibly to their own policy if it covers them as a passenger.

### Other drivers

If a rideshare driver hits your car, the stage matters most. App off means a claim against the driver's personal insurer. App on means the rideshare coverage at the waiting-stage or ride-stage limits. Your own policy may also help, such as collision coverage for your car while the claim is sorted out.

### Pedestrians and cyclists

People on foot or on a bike claim against the same coverage as other drivers. In no-fault states, your own auto policy's personal injury protection may pay first, even though you were not in a car. Our [pedestrian](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/pedestrian-accidents/) and [bicycle](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/bicycle-accidents/) guides cover the details.

### The rideshare driver

Drivers hurt while working face their own questions: whether their personal policy excludes rideshare use, what the company's policy covers for the driver, and whether any work-injury benefits apply. Texas and Florida law both say the company does not control drivers except as agreed by written contract. Our guide to [company vehicle accidents](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/company-vehicle-accidents/) explains how work status changes a claim.

## Evidence to save

Rideshare claims turn on timing, so the trip record in the app matters as much as photos of the cars.

- **Screenshots of the trip.** Capture the driver's name and photo, the car and license plate, the pickup and drop-off points, the times and the route map before anything changes in the app.
- **The receipt.** In Florida, the company must send each rider an electronic receipt listing the origin and destination, the total time and distance, and the total fare. Save it, and forward it to an email folder for the claim.
- **The driver's app status.** In Texas, after a collision, the driver must tell the people involved, their insurers and the police, on request, whether they were logged on to the app or on a prearranged ride. Write down what the driver says, and the time.
- **Scene evidence.** Photos of all vehicles, the road and any injuries, plus names and phone numbers of witnesses and the officer's report number.

> **Tip:** If the app has a way to report a crash, use it and screenshot the confirmation. Keep the trip in your history; do not delete the app while the claim is open.

## How to start a rideshare accident claim

1. **Get care and call the police.** Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and ask that a police report be made. Get checked by a doctor the same day.
2. **Save the trip.** Screenshot the ride details, receipt and driver profile before you leave the scene, if you can do so safely.
3. **Ask about insurance and app status.** Get the driver's personal insurance details and ask whether they were logged on or on a ride.
4. **Report the crash to the company.** Use the app or the company's website, and ask for the name of the insurer and a claim number.
5. **Tell your own insurer.** Your policy likely requires prompt notice, and your own coverage may pay some costs first.
6. **Keep a claim file and watch the deadline.** Store photos, bills, letters and a log of every call in one place, and check your state's [filing deadline](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/).

A rideshare claim can involve a first party claim with your own insurer and a third party claim against the driver's or company's insurer at the same time. The [claim process guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/) explains how those run side by side.

## Common problems

**Disputes over the app status.** The insurer may question whether the driver was logged on or on a ride. The company's own records are the best evidence, which is one reason injured people sometimes hire a lawyer: in a lawsuit, those records can be requested formally.

**Two insurers pointing at each other.** The driver's personal insurer may cite a rideshare exclusion while the company's insurer questions the stage. Texas and Florida law both say the company's coverage cannot depend on the personal insurer denying the claim first.

**The deadline keeps running.** The filing deadline is the same as for any car crash: 2 years in California, 2 years in Texas and 2 years in Florida for most injury claims. Talks with insurers do not pause it.

## FAQ

### Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover passengers?

Yes, during a ride. From the time a ride is accepted until it ends, California, Texas and Florida require at least $1,000,000 of liability coverage. In California, the company must also provide uninsured motorist coverage for passengers of $60,000 per person.

### Who pays if a rideshare driver hits me with no passenger in the car?

It depends on the app. If the driver was logged on and waiting for a request, the waiting-stage coverage applies, such as $50,000 per person in Texas. If the app was off, only the driver's personal policy applies.

### What if another driver caused the crash while I was in an Uber?

Your claim is usually against the at-fault driver's liability insurance. If that driver has no insurance or too little, uninsured motorist coverage may help, either the rideshare coverage or your own policy, depending on the state and the policy terms.

### Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?

Whether the company itself can be liable, beyond the insurance it must carry, depends on state law and the facts. Texas and Florida law say the company does not control drivers except as agreed by written contract. A licensed attorney in your state can tell you whether a claim against the company is possible.

### How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim?

The same deadline applies as for other car crashes in your state: for most injury claims, 2 years in California, 2 years in Texas and 2 years in Florida. Look up your state in our [state-by-state guide](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/).

### Why do screenshots of the trip matter?

They show the app status, the time and the route, which decide which insurance applies. Apps can change what they display later, so a screenshot taken right after the crash is often the clearest proof.

## Sources

- [California State Assembly, committee analysis of SB 371 (2025)](https://acom.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2025-07/sb-371-cabaldon-analysis.pdf) — the 2026 change to passenger uninsured motorist coverage
- [Texas Legislature, Insurance Code chapter 1954](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.1954.htm) — lapse of coverage, relation to personal insurance, company control of drivers
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 627.748](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.748.html) — rideshare insurance, receipts and company control of drivers
- [California Legislature, Public Utilities Code § 5433(c)(1)](https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-puc/division-2/chapter-8/article-7/section-5433/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Insurance Code § 1954.053](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.1954.htm#1954.053), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Insurance Code § 1954.052](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.1954.htm#1954.052), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Insurance Code § 1954.151(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.1954.htm#1954.151), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Insurance Code § 1954.056(b)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.1954.htm#1954.056), checked October 29, 2026
- [California Legislature, Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1](https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-ccp/part-2/title-2/chapter-3/section-335-1), checked October 29, 2026
- [Texas Legislature, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(a)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes § 95.11(5)(a)](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/95.11), checked October 29, 2026