If you get hurt while riding in an Uber or Lyft, things can get confusing very fast. You may not know who will pay for your injuries. It might not be your fault. But the other person may also say the same. Rideshare companies have insurance, but they will not give money easily. This is why you need to understand your legal rights if you are in a rideshare accident.

This guide helps you know what you can do, who may be responsible, and how a rideshare accident lawyer can help you.

How Rideshare Accidents Happen

Rideshare drivers use their personal cars. But when they work for companies like Uber or Lyft, they pick people up and drop them off like a taxi. These drivers use apps and often rush from one trip to the next. Because of this, many accidents happen. Some common causes include:

• Driver using phone or app while driving
• Driver speeding to get more rides
• Not following traffic rules
• Bad roads or weather
• Other cars hitting the rideshare vehicle

If you are a passenger during the accident, you are not at fault. You have the right to ask for payment for your injuries.

Who Pays for Your Injuries?

After a rideshare accident, the main question is about insurance. Who pays your hospital bills, lost work time, and pain?

Here are the possible people or companies that may need to pay:

1. Rideshare Driver
   If the driver made a mistake, their personal insurance or Uber/Lyft’s insurance may pay.
2. Uber or Lyft
   These companies provide large insurance coverage, but only during certain times. If the app is off, the driver’s own insurance applies. If the app is on and the driver is waiting for a ride, limited insurance applies. If the driver is carrying a passenger or on the way to pick up, full insurance from Uber or Lyft applies.
3. Another Driver
   If a different driver hit your rideshare car, their insurance might be responsible.
4. More Than One Party
   In some accidents, both drivers may share the fault. The law in California uses “comparative fault,” which means two or more people can share the blame.

What to Do After the Accident

You should take these steps right away after a rideshare crash:

• Call 911 if anyone is hurt
• Take photos of the cars, road, and injuries
• Get names and contacts of all drivers and witnesses
• Save the rideshare trip details from the app
• Go to the hospital and keep all records
• Do not talk to any insurance company without a lawyer

Insurance companies may try to pay you less. They may also try to delay your claim. That’s why you need legal support.

Why You Need a Rideshare Accident Lawyer

This type of accident is not like a normal car crash. More parties are involved. The laws are more complex. The company may try to protect itself by blaming the driver or saying you were not hurt badly. A rideshare accident lawyer helps you fight this.

Your lawyer will:

• Collect proof of who caused the accident
• Talk to all insurance companies
• Make sure you get payment for medical bills, lost income, and pain
• Take the case to court if needed

The lawyer does all this while you recover. You don’t pay anything unless the lawyer wins your case. That is called a “contingency fee.”

What Can You Get Paid For?

In a rideshare accident, you may get payment for:

• Hospital and doctor bills
• Medicine and future treatment
• Lost job or income
• Car damage if you were driving
• Pain and suffering
• Disability or long-term injury

Your lawyer will study your case and tell you the real value. Many people accept low offers from insurance companies without knowing their full rights. That is a mistake.

Time Limit to File a Claim

In California, you have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. If you wait longer, you lose your chance. That’s why you must act early.

Sometimes the time is even shorter if a government car or public vehicle was involved. Your lawyer will guide you.

Final Thoughts

Rideshare accidents are rising every year. Many drivers work long hours, and they focus more on the app than the road. If you get hurt in one of these rides, you have the right to ask for help.

Do not let insurance companies delay or deny your claim. Do not wait too long. Talk to a lawyer who understands rideshare cases and knows how to fight big companies. That way, you get what you truly deserve.