Uber and Lyft accidents in Oregon
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.
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 Oregon’s modified comparative fault rule, a driver found 30% at fault recovers 70% of their damages — but a driver found more than 50% at fault recovers nothing.
The 2-year deadline (Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)) applies to rideshare crashes too.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays if my Uber or Lyft crashed in Oregon?
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 Oregon 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.