You Deserve the Truth About Rideshare Accident Liability
You requested a ride. You got in the car. You trusted that someone else was responsible for getting you safely to your destination. Then something went wrong—and suddenly, no one seems to want to take responsibility.
Rideshare accidents are more complicated than ordinary car accidents, and the companies behind them have spent years and millions of dollars making sure it stays that way.
Why Rideshare Claims Are Different
When you’re injured in a crash involving an Uber or Lyft driver, you’re not just dealing with one person’s insurance policy. You’re dealing with a layered system designed to limit what these companies pay out.
Whether the driver was actively transporting a passenger, waiting for a ride request, or logged off the app entirely determines which coverage applies—and the difference can mean tens of thousands of dollars. Here’s how the coverage generally breaks down:
- Driver logged off. Only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies, and most personal policies exclude commercial activity.
- Driver logged in, waiting for a ride. A limited contingent policy from the rideshare company may apply, but coverage is minimal.
- Driver en route to pick up or actively transporting a passenger. The rideshare company’s full commercial policy applies, typically up to $1 million.
That middle tier is where most disputes happen. Consider this scenario: a driver has just dropped off a passenger and is waiting for his next request when he runs a red light and T-bones another vehicle. Is his personal insurance on the hook? The rideshare company’s? The answer isn’t straightforward—and both sides will fight to make it the other’s problem.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
Liability doesn’t always stop with the driver, either. Imagine a passenger injured when her Uber driver is rear-ended by a distracted motorist. She may have claims against both the at-fault driver and, depending on the circumstances, the rideshare company itself. If a mechanical defect contributed to the crash, the vehicle manufacturer could also be in the picture.
Ohio’s comparative negligence standard means you may still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault—as long as your share doesn’t exceed 50%.
Seek Justice After a Rideshare Accident
The point is this: rideshare accident cases involve overlapping insurance policies, corporate legal teams, and multiple potentially liable parties. Insurance companies—both the driver’s and the rideshare company’s—will point fingers at each other while you wait for answers.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your rideshare accident claim. When a negligent driver and a billion-dollar company try to avoid accountability, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so I can evaluate your case right away.
