What Do I Do If My Car Was Hit by an Uber or Lyft Driver?

The massive growth of rideshare apps in recent years has offered us plenty of benefits, but it also presents a few notable problems. For instance, what happens when an Uber or Lyft driver hits your car? Do you pursue compensation from them or from the rideshare service?

Protecting your rights after a rideshare accident requires an understanding of what to do right after a collision, what kind of insurance coverage rideshare companies have, and which policy applies to your particular accident. Continue reading to learn about what to do. If you still have questions, contact The Scott Pryor Law Group for a free consultation.

Immediate Steps to Take After Being Hit by an Uber or Lyft Driver

Your actions directly after a rideshare accident can weigh heavily on the outcome of your case. Be sure to:

Check for Injuries: Make sure everyone involved is okay. If anyone sustained serious injuries, call 911 immediately.
Move to a Safe Location: If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic to avoid further collisions. Turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.
Call 911: If you haven’t already, call 911 and report the accident. The responding officer will create a crash report containing key information for building your claim.
Gather Information: Collect names, contact info, license and plate numbers, and insurance details of all involved parties, and record the Uber or Lyft ride details. If anyone witnessed the accident, collect their names and contact information.
Document the Scene: Take photos and videos of the vehicle damage, accident debris, skid marks, traffic signs and signals, visible injuries, and the Uber or Lyft app’s trip receipt.
Seek Medical Attention: See a healthcare provider right away, even if you feel fine. Your doctor’s visit will create official documentation linking your injuries to the accident.
Contact an Attorney: A skilled rideshare accident attorney can protect your rights and help you avoid critical errors as you pursue your claim. Contact one right away.

Understanding Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage in 2025

Rideshare companies maintain layered insurance policies to protect drivers and passengers. Coverage depends on the driver’s status during the accident.

Driver Offline

If the driver isn’t logged into the app, the rideshare service’s insurance policies do not apply. The accident should be treated like any other between private citizens. In an at-fault state like Georgia, that means you’d pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance policy.

Driver Online, Waiting for a Ride Request

If the driver is logged into the app but not driving to pick up or drop off a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide limited liability coverage. This coverage usually only applies if the driver’s personal insurance denied the claim. The rideshare companies’ coverage typically includes:

$25,000 per person for property damage
$50,000 per person for bodily injury
$100,000 per accident for bodily injury

Driver En Route or with Passenger

Once the driver accepts a ride request, rideshare insurance typically increases whether they already have a passenger in the car or they’re headed to pick them up. Policies often cover $1 million in liability and also provide uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.

Reporting the Accident to Uber or Lyft

When an Uber or Lyft driver hits your car, you should report the accident to both the rideshare company and your own insurance provider. Here’s how to do that:

Notify Your Insurance Company

Most insurance policies require you to report an accident in a timely fashion. Avoid breaching your contract by letting your insurer know right away. Only offer basic facts about the accident, avoid speculation, and don’t forget to tell them the at-fault driver was working for a rideshare company at the time of the crash.

File a Report with Uber or Lyft

Visit the company’s website and look for the “Report an Accident” section. You’ll need the driver’s name, license plate number, and trip details if available. You’ll also be able to submit more details about the accident if you have them.

Keep All Correspondence

Save copies of every email, text, and any other message between you, the rideshare company, and insurance adjusters. Consistent documentation holds these companies accountable and helps verify that you acted quickly and truthfully.

Contact a Lawyer Early

Your attorney can help you accurately report the accident to your insurer and the rideshare company. They can also handle all communications with insurance adjusters and the rideshare company to protect your rights and prevent them from minimizing your payout. Contact one as soon as possible.

Determining Liability and Fault in Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare accidents can involve several potentially liable parties, sometimes more than one at the same time. Common liable parties in these accidents include:

The Uber or Lyft Driver: If the driver was impaired, fatigued, distracted, speeding, or behaving recklessly, they may bear responsibility for the accident.
Other Drivers: If the accident involved multiple vehicles, it’s possible that a third driver shares responsibility for contributing to the accident by tailgating or failing to signal.
The Rideshare Company: Rideshare companies have a legal responsibility to carefully vet drivers and monitor app usage. When they fail to meet those responsibilities, they may be liable for any ensuing damage.
Government Entities: If poor road conditions or infrastructure issues contributed to the accident, the municipality or government agency responsible for maintaining the roads may bear some responsibility.

Filing Insurance Claims After a Rideshare Accident

To file a claim after a rideshare accident, you must:

Gather Evidence: Your attorney will obtain police reports, interview witnesses, seek surveillance footage, gather medical and financial records, and consult experts to build a substantial body of evidence.
Submit the Claim: You file a claim with the appropriate insurance company, providing all of your evidence. Include the rideshare driver’s app status at the time of the accident if you know it.
Negotiate a Fair Settlement: Once the insurer receives the claim, they’ll typically investigate the accident and make a settlement offer. Your attorney will then work to negotiate a settlement that reflects the full value of your claim.
Take Your Claim to Court, If Necessary: If the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, your attorney will file a lawsuit and take the claim to court, where they’ll fight for a favorable verdict on your behalf.

Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group

If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a rideshare driver, you need a skilled attorney to protect your rights. The Scott Pryor Law Group has extensive experience in holding rideshare drivers and companies accountable when their negligence causes someone else harm. We’ll fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on your recovery. Contact us today for your free consultation.

Scott Pryor

Managing Attorney | CEO

Scott is a U.S. Marine Veteran. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is listed in the top 1% of trial attorneys in the nation by the Litigator Awards. He is also a member of Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association—Champion Level and sits on the Communications Committee of GTLA and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.