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Coverage depends on the app status
California requires transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to carry $1 million in primary liability coverage from the time a driver accepts a ride request until the ride is complete or the driver completes the transaction in the app, whichever is later (Public Utilities Code 5433). That covers the trip to pick you up and the ride itself.
While the driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride, the required coverage is at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage. Our page on whose insurance applies between rides goes into that period in more detail.
- App off: the driver’s own policy is usually the starting point
- Logged in, waiting for a ride: lower required minimums
- Ride accepted through drop-off: $1 million primary liability coverage
If you were the passenger
Passengers are often covered by the $1 million policy, because the ride had been accepted. If another driver caused the crash and has too little insurance, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply. Since January 1, 2026, the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage the rideshare company must provide for passengers is $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, down from $1 million.
Your own auto policy may also help. California policies must include uninsured motorist coverage unless the policyholder signed a written agreement to delete or lower it (Insurance Code 11580.2). Check your declarations page to see your limits, since this coverage can add to what the rideshare policy pays. See Uber passenger injured: who pays for more on passenger claims.
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If an Uber driver hit you
If you were in another car, walking or biking and a rideshare driver hit you, the same app-status rules decide which coverage applies. A ride in progress usually means the $1 million policy. A driver waiting for a request means the lower minimums. Read a Lyft driver hit me while I was driving; the coverage rules are the same for both companies.
Fault is decided the usual way, from the evidence about how the crash happened. In California, your own share of fault reduces your damages in proportion but does not bar recovery (Li v. Yellow Cab Co.). In Washington, rideshare coverage of at least $1 million applies from when a driver accepts a ride until the passenger leaves the vehicle (RCW 46.72B.180).
Evidence to save
Take screenshots of the trip in your app: the driver’s name, the car, the route and the time. If you were not the passenger, ask the driver whether they were logged in or carrying a passenger, and write down the answer. Photos of the cars and the scene, and witness names and phone numbers, matter as much as in any crash.
Report the crash through the app as well as to police. Keep the police report number. Our page on how to get an Uber or Lyft accident report explains how to request records. A lawyer can also ask the company to preserve trip data, such as GPS records and the times the driver logged in and accepted the ride.
What to do now
Get medical care and keep every record. Save your screenshots, photos, witness names and phone numbers, and claim numbers in one place. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to any insurer before you talk to a lawyer. Keep receipts for medical care, transportation and missed work.
Deadlines: a California injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the injury, and in Washington the general limit is three years (RCW 4.16.080). Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form. We can sort out which policy applies and handle the insurers so you can focus on getting better.
Common questions
Does Uber’s insurance cover passengers in California?
Yes, in most cases. Once a driver accepts a ride, California requires $1 million in primary liability coverage until the ride ends. Since January 1, 2026, the required uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for passengers is $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. A lawyer can check which policies apply to your crash.
Who pays if the Uber driver was not on a trip?
If the driver was logged in but had not accepted a ride, California requires at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage. If the driver was offline, the claim usually starts with the driver’s own insurance.
Can I sue Uber after an accident?
Whether a claim can be brought against the company itself depends on the facts. The question most claims start with is which insurance policy applies, which turns on the app status. A lawyer can review the facts. See Uber accident claims for more on how these cases work.
How long do I have to file an Uber accident claim in California?
The general deadline for a California personal injury lawsuit is two years from the injury. If a government vehicle or road was involved, a written claim is generally due within six months. Uninsured motorist claims have their own steps. Start early, because app and trip data may not be kept forever.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Hit by a semi truck: what to do · Hit by another driver when you have no car insurance · Hit by another driver when you have no driver’s license · Car accident compensation in California · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
- Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b)(1)-(2), (c)(1)-(2) (as amended by SB 371, Stats. 2025, ch. 314)
- Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.2(a)(1)-(3), (b)(1)-(2), (f)
- Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, 828-829; CACI No. 405
- RCW 46.72B.180(1)(b) (recodified from RCW 48.177.010 by Laws 2022, ch. 281, § 35); RCW 48.177.005(6)
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1
- RCW 4.16.080(2)
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.