Uber and Lyft accidents in California
A rideshare crash can involve three insurance policies: the driver’s personal policy, the rideshare company’s commercial policy, and your own. Which one pays depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash.
The three periods that decide coverage
App off: the driver is a private motorist and only their personal policy applies. App on, waiting for a request: the rideshare company’s contingent coverage applies, with lower limits. Ride accepted or passenger aboard: the company’s commercial policy applies, and Uber and Lyft both carry $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage for this period.
California’s rideshare insurance law
While a Uber or Lyft driver is carrying a passenger or heading to a pickup, California requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage. When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, the required coverage drops to $50,000 / $100,000 / $30,000 plus a $200,000 excess policy.
Source: Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433
If you were a passenger
A passenger is rarely at fault, and the commercial policy is in force for the whole ride. If another driver caused the crash, their insurer is also responsible — a passenger can have claims against both drivers.
Evidence specific to rideshare crashes
Screenshot the trip in your app — the receipt shows the route, time and driver. The company holds GPS and app-status data that establishes which coverage period applied; a formal request to preserve it should go out early.
Fault and deadlines
Under California’s pure comparative fault rule, a driver found 30% at fault recovers 70% of their damages, and a driver found 80% at fault still recovers 20%.
The 2-year deadline (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1) applies to rideshare crashes too.
Real California results
Documented California verdicts and settlements from public court records.
| Case | Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
Alejandra Gonzalez v. County of Los Angeles Los Angeles County, 2026 · Car accident | Car accident | $1,500,000 settlement |
Jennifer Orta v. Matthew Bogy San Bernardino County, 2026 · Intersection crash | Intersection crash | $659,626 verdict |
Tito Flores v. CDS Equipment Los Angeles County, 2025 · Truck accident | Truck accident | $1,500,000 settlement |
Unger v. Greenberg Los Angeles County, 2023 · Car accident | Car accident | $600,000 settlement |
Cruz Luis v. Estate of Molloy Los Angeles County, 2025 · Rear-end collision | Rear-end collision | $1,425,000 settlement |
Real cases, shown as recorded in public court records. Verdicts are jury awards; settlements are agreed payments. They are other people’s cases and not predictions of what your case is worth. Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays if my Uber or Lyft crashed in California?
While a passenger is aboard, the rideshare company’s commercial policy — $1,000,000 in liability coverage for both Uber and Lyft — applies to injuries the rideshare driver caused.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
The companies classify drivers as independent contractors, so claims usually proceed against the driver and the company’s insurance rather than the company itself. An attorney can assess whether an exception applies.
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This page is general information about California law, reviewed September 2026. It is not legal advice, laws change, and the right answer for your claim depends on its facts. CaseChecker.ai is not a law firm; it connects people with independent attorneys licensed in their state.