Uber or Lyft accident vs a regular car accident: what is different in California

1. Who insures the car

In a regular crash, the driver’s personal auto policy applies. In a rideshare crash, the driver’s personal policy usually excludes commercial use, and coverage shifts to the transportation network company’s policy once the app is on. Which layer applies depends on the period: app off, waiting for a request, en route to a pickup, or passenger on board.

2. How much coverage exists

A typical Los Angeles driver carries the California minimum of $30,000 per person. During an accepted trip, Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in liability coverage for crashes their driver causes. That is the biggest practical difference, and it is why serious rideshare injuries are often fully compensated while identical injuries in an ordinary crash are capped by a small policy.

3. What happens when someone else is at fault

In an ordinary crash, you claim against the at-fault driver and then your own underinsured motorist coverage. In a rideshare crash during a trip, the TNC also provides UM/UIM coverage for passengers and the driver. Until 2026 that was $1 million. Senate Bill 371 reduced it to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident from January 1, 2026, so your own policy now matters in rideshare cases too.

4. Who the defendant is

Rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors, so claims are made against the TNC’s insurance rather than the company as an employer. In a regular crash involving a working driver, the employer is often directly liable under respondeat superior, which can open a larger commercial policy.

5. The evidence

The app records the driver’s status, trip timestamps, route and speed. That data decides which coverage period applied and often who was at fault, and it must be requested and preserved early. Ordinary crashes rely on police reports, witnesses and cameras.

6. The number of insurers

A rideshare claim can involve the driver’s personal insurer, the TNC’s commercial carrier, the other driver’s insurer and your own UM/UIM carrier, each pointing at the others. Sequencing the claims and keeping consent for UIM intact is a large part of the work.

What stays the same

• Two years to file a lawsuit, and six months for a government claim if a public bus or road is involved.
• The DMV SR-1 report within 10 days.
• Pure comparative fault.
• The Howell rule on medical bills.

Related reading

Our guide to Uber and Lyft accident insurance in California goes deeper on SB 371 and which policy applies in each period.

Broukhim Legal PC reviews personal injury and mass tort claims across Los Angeles County on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless money is recovered. Attorney Bejan Broukhim is licensed by the State Bar of California (No. 183036). Call (310) 731-4824 or request a free case review, in English or Spanish.