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Over $150 Million Recovered
Over 98% of Cases Won
California Uber Accident Lawyer
Uber and Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles and Across California — 50+ Years of Experience Representing Injured Passengers, Drivers and Others
If you were hurt in a crash involving an Uber or another rideshare vehicle, you are probably dealing with pain, medical appointments, a damaged car, missed paychecks and calls from insurance companies you have never heard of. An experienced Uber accident lawyer can take that weight off your shoulders and protect your right to full compensation. Whether you were an Uber passenger, driver, another vehicle’s occupant, pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist, your rights and available insurance depend on the circumstances. Walch Law is here to help you understand your options. Contact us today for a FREE consultation.
For more than 50 years, Walch Law has represented injured Californians and grieving families, recovering millions of dollars in personal injury and wrongful death cases. You may contact us now for your case evaluation. There is no charge to discuss your case. Simply fill out our contact form or call 866-INJURY-2 (866-465-8792). For after-hours assistance, dial “1.”
| Key Takeaways: Uber & Rideshare Accident Claims in California ● Insurance depends on the app: Coverage can change depending on whether the driver was offline, logged in and waiting for a request, driving to a pickup, or carrying a passenger. ● More than one party may be responsible: Claims can involve the Uber driver, another motorist, a vehicle owner, a government entity, or a company that maintained or built a vehicle part or road. ● Deadlines are strict: Most California injury and wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years, and claims against a government agency can require written notice in as little as six months. ● Your own words can hurt you: Recorded statements and early settlement offers from an insurer often work against injured people. ● Evidence disappears quickly: App screenshots, photos, dash-cam footage and witness names should be preserved right away. |
Why Uber and Rideshare Accident Claims Are Different from Ordinary Car Accident Claims
A typical two-car collision involves two drivers and two personal auto insurance policies. A rideshare crash is more layered. The driver is often an independent contractor operating a personal vehicle, the company that runs the app is a regulated transportation network company (TNC), and the insurance that applies can come from the driver’s own policy, a commercial policy carried for the company, or both.
In California, rideshare companies operate under rules set by the California Public Utilities Commission and the Public Utilities Code (beginning at section 5430), which require minimum insurance coverage that rises as the driver moves through the stages of a ride. Which stage the driver was in at the moment of impact is often the single most important fact in an Uber injury claim.
Those details matter because the value of your claim, the insurance company that must respond, and the evidence you need all follow from them. This is why we recommend speaking with a rideshare injury attorney before giving any statement to an insurer.
Who We Represent After an Uber or Rideshare Collision
Uber and Lyft Passengers
Passengers are usually the most clearly innocent people in a rideshare crash. You trusted a driver to get you home from a restaurant, to the airport, or to a hospital shift, and you had no control over how the car was driven. Passengers may be able to pursue claims against the rideshare driver, the driver of another vehicle, and, depending on the facts, available rideshare insurance, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Uber and Rideshare Drivers
Drivers hurt on the job face a separate set of questions: whose insurance pays for medical care, what happens to lost earnings, how the driver’s own policy and the company’s coverage interact, and what benefits may be available for on-the-job injuries to app-based drivers under California law. Rideshare drivers are sometimes pressured to accept quick resolutions that do not account for long-term injuries. We help drivers understand their options before they sign or say anything final.
Occupants of Other Vehicles Hit by an Uber Driver
If an Uber driver ran a red light on Ventura Boulevard, rear-ended you on a freeway, or turned left in front of you at a busy intersection, you may have a claim against the driver and the coverage that applied at that moment. Our firm also handles related collision types such as rear-end collisions and left-turn accidents involving rideshare vehicles.
Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Motorcyclists
People outside the vehicle are the most vulnerable in any collision. Drivers distracted by app notifications, navigation screens, and pickup instructions are a known hazard on busy California streets. Injured pedestrians and riders can pursue compensation for medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering, and in the worst cases a family may bring a wrongful death claim.
Understanding Uber Insurance Coverage in California
Rideshare insurance is commonly described in three “periods,” based on what the driver was doing in the app. The figures below reflect California’s statutory minimums and Uber’s published coverage descriptions. Insurance terms can change, so these should always be verified for your specific accident date.
| Driver’s status | What it means | General insurance picture |
| Offline / app off | The driver is using the car for personal purposes. | The driver’s personal auto policy applies; Uber’s rideshare policy generally does not. |
| Period 1: App on, waiting | Logged in and available, but has not accepted a trip. | California law requires liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. |
| Period 2: Trip accepted | Driving to pick up a rider. | California law requires $1,000,000 in liability coverage for the rideshare company’s policy; Uber also describes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for this period. |
| Period 3: Passenger in the car | Rider is on board until the trip ends. | Same $1,000,000 liability coverage, with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage described by Uber for passengers and drivers. |
In short: the higher coverage limits generally apply once a driver has accepted a ride request. Disputes over whether a driver was in Period 1 or Period 2 are common and the app data that answers the question is controlled by the company, not by you. That is one reason early legal help matters.
Insurers sometimes argue that a driver was “off the clock,” that another policy should pay first, or that a passenger’s claim belongs in arbitration under the app’s terms of use. We review the facts, request the trip data and evaluate every possible source of recovery. For a deeper look, see our guides on Uber insurance in California and Uber injury accident insurance information.
| Quick Facts: Where the money can come from ● The rideshare driver’s personal auto insurance ● The rideshare company’s commercial insurance (depends on the app period) ● The at-fault driver’s insurance if another vehicle caused the crash ● Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) ● Your own medical payments (MedPay) and collision coverage ● Other responsible parties, such as a vehicle owner, a repair shop, or a public entity responsible for a dangerous roadway |
Who Can Be Held Legally Responsible?
- Negligent Drivers: Drivers who speed, drive distracted, run red lights, or follow too closely may be liable.
- Other Responsible Parties: Liability may also extend to another driver, vehicle owner, employer, public agency, or potentially the rideshare company, depending on the facts.
- Uber’s Liability: A driver’s independent-contractor status does not automatically determine whether Uber may be held responsible.
- California Comparative Negligence: Under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975), 13 Cal.3d 804, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages are $100,000 and you are 20% at fault, you may recover $80,000.
- Insurance Company Tactics: Insurers may try to shift blame to reduce payouts. Understanding your legal rights can help you respond to these arguments.
What to Do After an Uber or Rideshare Accident
- Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Call 911 if anyone is injured. Some serious injuries may not show symptoms right away.
- Report the Accident and Document the Scene: Contact the police or CHP, photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, injuries, and traffic signals, and collect witness contact details.
- Preserve Uber Trip Information: Screenshot the driver’s details, license plate, trip information, and receipt before the information becomes difficult to access.
- Report the Crash and Keep Medical Records: Notify Uber through the app, follow your doctor’s treatment plan, and keep all medical records, prescriptions, and bills.
- Consult a Rideshare Accident Lawyer: Speak with a lawyer before accepting a settlement or providing a detailed recorded statement to an insurer.
Types of Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
California law allows injured people to seek compensation, called damages, for the losses an accident causes. Depending on your case, damages may include:
- Medical expenses: emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, physical therapy, medication and future treatment.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity, including time away from work as a rideshare driver or in another job.
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property damage: repair or replacement, towing and storage, rental car costs and loss in value.
- Scarring, disfigurement and permanent impairment.
- Wrongful death damages, including funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support and loss of companionship, when a family loses a loved one.
Common injuries in rideshare collisions include whiplash and neck injuries, traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, broken bones, shoulder and knee injuries and psychological trauma. Learn more on our pages about whiplash injuries and wrongful death claims.
California Deadlines That Can Affect Your Uber Injury Claim
Time limits are among the most important and least understood parts of a rideshare case. The general rules include:
- Personal injury: two years from the date of injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1).
- Wrongful death: generally two years from the date of death (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1).
- Property damage: generally three years (Code of Civil Procedure section 338).
- Claims against a government entity: a written claim is often required within six months for injury claims (Government Code section 911.2), for example, when a dangerous roadway or a public vehicle was involved.
- Rideshare terms of use: passengers may have agreed to contractual provisions, including arbitration. A lawyer should review how these terms apply to you.
Some deadlines can be extended in limited situations, such as when the injured person is a minor, but you should never assume an exception applies. Please do not risk losing or waiving any of your rights.
Where Rideshare Accidents Happen in California
California is one of the busiest rideshare markets in the country and crashes occur wherever heavy traffic, nightlife and airport trips overlap. Rideshare collisions are reported in every part of the state: on major freeways and interstates in Southern California, the Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento and the Central Valley and on busy surface streets near downtown districts, entertainment venues, college campuses and airports.
We help injured clients throughout California, including Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, and San Diego Counties, the San Fernando Valley, the Bay Area, the Central Valley and the Sacramento region. Airport pickups, late-night trips from bars and event venues and rush-hour congestion all raise the risk of serious collisions and the same California insurance rules and deadlines apply wherever your accident happened.
Why Choose Walch Law for Your Uber Accident Case?
Uber accident claims can involve multiple insurance policies, app data, arbitration clauses and disputes over liability. An experienced lawyer can help you:
- Identify applicable insurance coverage and preserve critical evidence.
- Handle insurance communications and protect your claim.
- Work with medical providers and experts to assess your injuries.
- Calculate damages, including medical expenses, lost income and future care.
- Meet legal deadlines and pursue litigation when necessary.
For more than 50 years, Walch Law has represented Californians in personal injury and wrongful death cases. While every case is different and results cannot be guaranteed, we are committed to helping injured people understand their rights and pursue compensation. If you or a loved one was injured in an Uber accident, contact us promptly to discuss your options. We are available 24/7.
- Toll-Free: 866-INJURY-2 (866-465-8792) — after hours, dial 1
- Local: 818-222-3400 — after hours, dial 1
- Online: Complete our quick contact form
- Email: info@WalchLaw.com