With the increase of usage with rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, there has been an increase in rideshare car accidents. If you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft driver’s car and you are injured because of a car accident, you might be wondering who is at fault and responsible for your injuries. Rideshare services have certain protocols to determine the compensation available and our Arizona car accident lawyers know how to get you the settlement you deserve.
Rideshare Insurance Requirements in Arizona
Under Arizona law, companies like Uber and Lyft are classified as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). The coverage available to you depends entirely on what stage the rideshare trip was in when the crash happened.
App On, No Ride Accepted
When a driver is logged into the Uber or Lyft app but hasn’t yet accepted a ride, Arizona law requires them to carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage.
Ride Accepted or Passenger Onboard
Once a ride is accepted. or if a passenger is already in the vehicle, the coverage expands significantly. At that point, rideshare companies must provide at least $250,000 in coverage per incident, which includes uninsured and underinsured motorist protection, and up to $1 million in liability coverage while the passenger is in the car.
The rideshare driver has accepted a ride and is on the way to pick up the customer. In this status, the liability coverage goes up to $1 million. Once the driver has picked up the customer, during the entire ride until after drop off, the amount of liability coverage is up to $1 million for injuries. The rideshare company car insurance during this status would also include property damage and uninsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver doesn’t have any.
If the rideshare driver is not logged on the rideshare app which means they will not receive any coverage. The driver would be considered ‘off the clock’ and would have to use their own coverage or the other driver’s insurance to pay for damages.
These statuses help determine the amount of compensation that is able to be claimed and where that settlement money is coming from. Normally, if the at-fault driver was on the clock at the time of the accident, you would be seeking compensation from their company’s insurance. Rideshare accidents are different in this way because Uber or Lyft drivers are not employees of those companies. But Uber and Lyft are still required to offer minimum insurance coverage for each of their respected drivers in case of an auto accident.
Even with these insurance requirements in place, there are situations where the coverage simply doesn’t stretch far enough to meet your medical and financial needs.
When Rideshare Coverage Isn’t Enough: Using UM/UIM & Your Policy
If the rideshare’s insurance doesn’t fully cover your injuries, your own Uninsured (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) policy might fill the gap. Arizona insurers must offer this coverage, though drivers can choose to reject it.
To tap into UIM, you must notify your insurer within three years of the accident—or when you realize the at-fault driver’s coverage isn’t sufficient. That notice can ensure you don’t lose that protection later on.
Knowing what insurance applies is one part of the puzzle. The other is understanding what that coverage can actually pay for, and how much your claim may be worth under Arizona law.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Rideshare Crash?
After an Uber or Lyft crash, the question becomes: what will actually be covered? In Arizona, compensation can include more than just your hospital bill. You may be able to recover for:
- Medical costs — ER visits, surgeries, rehab, and ongoing care
- Lost income — wages you missed and future earning potential if you can’t return to the same work
- Pain and suffering — the physical pain, stress, and emotional toll of the crash
- Property damage — repairs or replacement for your car, phone, or personal items
- Wrongful death damages — if a loved one was lost, coverage for funeral expenses and loss of support
Insurers won’t explain the full scope of what’s available, which is why having someone fight for your recovery matters.
Of course, before compensation can be paid, liability has to be sorted out. Determining who was responsible, and how fault is shared is a key step in every rideshare case.
Who Is Liable in an Uber or Lyft Accident?
Liability in rideshare crashes depends on who caused the accident and what the driver was doing at the time. Arizona is a fault-based state, which means the driver or party responsible for causing the crash is financially responsible for the damages.
- If the rideshare driver is at fault: Their status in the app controls what insurance applies. If they were logged in and transporting a passenger, Uber or Lyft’s insurance will generally step in.
- If another driver is at fault: The at-fault driver’s insurance is usually the first source of recovery, but Uber or Lyft’s coverage may provide additional protection if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
- If fault is shared: Under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence law, more than one party can share responsibility. Even if you’re partially at fault, you can still recover damages—your compensation is just reduced by your percentage of fault.
Because multiple insurers may point fingers to avoid paying, proving liability often requires gathering police reports, app data, witness statements, and sometimes expert accident reconstruction. That’s why what you do in the moments right after the crash can heavily influence how liability is proven and what evidence supports your claim.
After the Crash: Your First Steps
After the crash, everything can feel like a blur—sirens, flashing lights, a driver asking if you’re okay. In that moment, it’s easy to overlook details that could shape your entire claim. Here’s what to focus on right away:
- Check for injuries and call 911 immediately.
Even if injuries seem minor, having police and emergency medical services on scene creates a formal record—one both Uber and Lyft will ask for if you report the crash. That report is crucial for insurance coverage and legal claims. - Document the scene thoroughly.
Use your phone to take photos of every detail:- Vehicle damage (yours, theirs, and the rideshare car)
- Rideshare driver’s app screen showing they were “on trip” or had accepted a ride
- Road conditions, street signs, license plates, injuries
If anyone witnessed the crash, ask for their name and contact info—Uber and Lyft rarely track down witnesses themselves.
- Report the crash through the rideshare app—immediately.
Both Uber and Lyft have in-app crash reporting features. For Uber, go to “Your Trips” > Select the ride > Help > I was in an accident. Lyft has a similar option under “Ride History”. If the driver fails to report the incident—or lies about it—it can delay or even jeopardize your access to the company’s insurance. Your own report creates a record they can’t ignore. If you’re a driver in the crash, Lyft and Uber both offer driver-specific support teams, but you must start the process through the app. - Get checked by a medical professional—even if you feel “fine.”
Some injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, don’t show up right away. The adrenaline masks pain. Getting a medical evaluation not only protects your health—it anchors your injury claim with medical documentation.
Rideshare insurance adjusters will ask for these records, and without them, they may question your injuries or deny treatment coverage. - Contact an experienced Arizona rideshare attorney early.
Accidents involving Uber or Lyft are legally different. Their drivers are classified as independent contractors, their insurance coverage depends on app activity, and the companies are quick to push blame elsewhere.
Once you’ve taken care of your health and gathered the right documentation, the next stage is putting that information to work through the insurance claims process.
Filing Your Uber/Lyft Insurance Claim: What Comes Next
Here’s how to move forward strategically:
- Your attorney files swiftly with Uber or Lyft’s insurer—this triggers that commercial coverage.
- If necessary, we activate your own UM/UIM carrier.
- If other drivers are involved, we negotiate or file against their policies.
- Should the rideshare’s $1 million limit run out, we explore additional avenues through personal policies or uninsured coverage.
- In complex blame-sharing cases, we collect evidence to prove drivers’ fault shares and protect your share of recovery.
Getting hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash is already overwhelming. Trying to navigate medical bills, insurance loopholes, and rideshare policies on your own only makes it harder. That’s where we come in.
At Esquire Law, we’ve handled accident cases including rideshare ones across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Tucson and the surrounding Arizona communities. Our car accident lawyers team knows how Uber and Lyft operate, how their insurance companies push back, and exactly what it takes to hold them accountable.
We don’t just file claims, but investigate aggressively, build clear timelines, and fight for every dollar you’re owed. Whether you’re a passenger, driver, or another motorist caught in the crash, we’ll guide you through every step.
No fees unless we win. No stress about the process. Just your recovery, protected.
Ready to speak with someone who actually listens? Call Esquire Law today for a free consultation. We’re here to help you move forward, starting now.