A rideshare crash looks like any other wreck — until you reach the insurance. Whether a $1 million policy or almost nothing covers you can come down to one thing: what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of impact.
This is a plain-English guide. Hurt in a rideshare crash and ready to talk to a lawyer?
See Kyle’s Car Accidents practice →Uber and Lyft changed how Georgia gets around — and they also changed what happens when there’s a crash. Behind every ride is a layered insurance system that most passengers never think about until they’re hurt. The good news: when a rideshare trip is underway, a large $1 million commercial policy is usually in play. The catch: that coverage switches on and off depending on exactly what the driver was doing.
The key isn’t the company — it’s the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash. That single fact decides whose insurance pays, and how much is available. Here’s how it breaks down.
Rideshare coverage is built in “periods.” The further along the ride, the more coverage is generally available.
| Period | What the driver was doing | Coverage that generally applies |
|---|---|---|
| Period 0 | App off — not working | The driver’s personal auto insurance only |
| Period 1 | App on, waiting for a ride request | Limited contingent liability (commonly around $50k/$100k/$25k) |
| Period 2 | Ride accepted — driving to pick you up | $1,000,000 third-party liability |
| Period 3 | Passenger in the car — trip underway | $1,000,000 liability (+ contingent comp/collision) |
Verify before relying on these figures. Coverage amounts and terms are set by Uber and Lyft (which can differ) and by Georgia’s rideshare insurance rules, and they change over time. The numbers above reflect the common structure — your specific claim must be confirmed against the policies in effect at the time of the crash.
Common questions
It depends on what the driver was doing when the crash happened — their app status decides whose insurance applies and how much is available.
If the app was off, the rideshare company isn’t involved and only the driver’s personal policy applies. If the app was on but no ride had been accepted, the company provides limited contingent coverage. Once the driver has accepted a ride or has a passenger aboard, Uber and Lyft generally carry a $1 million third-party liability policy. Establishing that status early — through app data and trip records — is one of the most important steps in a rideshare case.
Generally from the moment the driver accepts a ride through the end of the trip — Periods 2 and 3.
The largest coverage kicks in once the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger and stays in effect until the passenger is dropped off. During that window, the rideshare company’s $1 million third-party liability policy is typically the primary coverage for people injured by the driver’s fault. Because that’s far more than most personal auto policies, confirming the trip was active can dramatically change what’s available to you.
$1,000,000 in coverage
From the moment a driver accepts your ride until you’re dropped off, Uber and Lyft generally carry a $1 million liability policy. The hardest part is often proving the app was active at impact — which is exactly the evidence that disappears if no one preserves it.
Common questions, continued
That’s the gap — Period 1 usually carries far less coverage than an active trip.
When a driver has the app on but hasn’t yet accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft typically provide only limited contingent liability — commonly in the range of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, far below the $1 million that applies once a trip begins. For a serious injury, that difference is enormous, which is why pinning down the driver’s exact status at impact is critical. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may also come into play to fill the gap.
OCGA § 9-3-33 — deadlineGet checked out, document the trip, and be careful with insurers — as a passenger, you’re almost never at fault.
Seek medical care, report the crash through the app, and save everything: the driver’s details, the other vehicles, photos, and screenshots of your trip showing the ride was active. As a passenger you generally have a strong claim, and the $1 million policy usually applies — but you may be caught between several insurers (the rideshare driver’s, the other driver’s, and the company’s). Before giving any recorded statement, it’s worth a free call with a lawyer.
Yes. If a rideshare driver caused your crash, the same period-based coverage applies to you as another motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian.
You don’t have to be inside the Uber or Lyft to use its coverage. If the at-fault driver was on an active trip, the company’s $1 million liability policy can apply to anyone they injure. The same investigation matters: establish the driver’s app status, preserve the trip data, and identify every policy that could respond — including your own UM/UIM coverage if the available limits fall short.
OCGA § 51-12-33 — faultGenerally two years from the date of the crash — but the digital evidence can vanish much sooner.
Georgia’s statute of limitations gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. In rideshare cases there’s an added urgency: the app data and trip records that prove the driver’s status are controlled by the company and don’t last forever. The sooner a lawyer can demand that evidence be preserved, the stronger your claim.
OCGA § 9-3-33 — statute of limitationsHurt in an Uber or Lyft crash?
Rideshare coverage questions get complicated fast — start with where your case stands. Free and confidential.
This page is general legal information about Georgia law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Rideshare insurance amounts and terms are set by Uber, Lyft, and Georgia law and can change — confirm the coverage in effect at the time of your crash. Deadlines apply, and every case is different; speak with a licensed Georgia attorney about your specific situation. Statutory references include OCGA §§ 9-3-33 and 33-7-11.
Rideshare cases hinge on evidence the company controls — and on knowing which of several policies should pay. Kyle moves fast to preserve the proof and pursue every source of recovery. Free, confidential, and no fee unless he wins.