You were just trying to get home—or finish one more ride—when everything changed in an instant. Maybe another driver slammed into your rideshare vehicle. Maybe your Uber driver lost control. Now you're facing surgery, a hospital stay, and months of recovery. As medical bills pile up, one question looms: Who's responsible?
When a crash causes catastrophic injuries, identifying the correct party (or parties) to hold accountable is crucial. That’s where experienced rideshare injury lawyers like Pete Olson come in. With decades of experience standing up to insurance companies and powerful corporations, the team at Pete Olson Injury Law knows how to dig deep into the details to build a case that gets results.
Keep reading to learn how your attorney can help determine fault in Uber and Lyft accidents, what kinds of evidence matter most, and why securing legal help is so important after a rideshare crash.
Why Is Determining Fault in a Rideshare Crash So Complicated?
Most car accidents involve two drivers. However, when rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are involved, liability often has multiple layers: drivers, other motorists, rideshare platforms, and even commercial insurance providers.
Here’s why rideshare accidents can be complex:
- The driver may not be acting independently. Rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors, but the platform they’re using—Uber or Lyft—could also bear responsibility depending on the driver’s status during the crash.
- Multiple victims are often involved. A rideshare crash could injure not only the passenger but also the driver, other motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists.
- Different insurance applies at different times. Rideshare companies offer different levels of insurance coverage depending on whether the driver is offline, waiting for a ride, or actively transporting a passenger.
For individuals recovering from catastrophic injuries, determining fault and identifying all possible sources of compensation is crucial from the outset.
What Evidence Helps Prove Fault in an Uber or Lyft Crash?
You can’t establish fault through guesswork. The sooner you gather critical evidence and preserve it, the stronger your case will be.
Important types of evidence in rideshare injury cases include:
- Ride and app data. This can confirm whether the driver was logged into the app and whether they had accepted or were in the process of completing a ride at the time.
- Dashcam and surveillance footage. Videos may capture the moment of impact or behavior leading up to the crash.
- Eyewitness statements. Passengers, other drivers, or bystanders may have seen key details that support your claim.
- Police reports. These often include the officer’s preliminary assessment of fault and any citations issued.
- Crash scene reconstruction. Experts can determine who is likely to have caused the collision based on vehicle damage, angles of impact, and skid marks.
When injuries are serious, you can’t rely on the insurance company to uncover the full truth. Their goal is to limit payouts—not find out what really happened.
What Are the Most Common Uber and Lyft Accident Scenarios?
Some rideshare crashes are more common than others, and each presents its own set of liability questions.
Another Vehicle Hits Your Uber or Lyft
If you're a passenger and another car hits your rideshare vehicle, that outside driver is usually at fault. Their insurance company would typically be responsible for damages—unless they’re uninsured or underinsured, in which case Uber or Lyft’s backup coverage may apply.
Your Uber or Lyft Driver Causes the Crash
When the rideshare driver runs a red light, speeds, or follows another car too closely, they may be held responsible. If a passenger is in the car at the time, Uber or Lyft provides up to $1 million in liability coverage to compensate for injuries.
The Rideshare Driver Hits a Pedestrian or Cyclist
In these cases, you have to determine whether the driver was off duty, waiting for a ride request, or actively transporting someone. If they were on a trip, the rideshare company’s highest level of insurance would generally apply.
Accidents During Pickup or Drop-Off
Injuries often happen when passengers enter or exit the vehicle. If a driver pulls over unsafely or another vehicle hits you while you're getting in or out, liability could be split between the driver and the approaching vehicle.
Even if the facts seem straightforward, multiple parties may try to shift blame or deny responsibility altogether. That’s why experienced legal representation is essential.
Why Identifying the Right Defendant Matters
After a catastrophic injury, identifying the correct defendant isn’t just important—it’s everything. If you only pursue the at-fault driver’s personal insurance and ignore applicable rideshare coverage, you may walk away with far less than you need for medical care, future treatment, and long-term recovery.
Rideshare insurance policies are highly specific:
- When the app is off, only the driver’s personal insurance applies.
- When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, Uber and Lyft offer limited liability coverage (up to $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident).
- When the driver has accepted a ride or is carrying a passenger, the company provides up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage.
Knowing when each policy applies—and how to trigger it—requires detailed investigation and familiarity with how these companies operate.
When Serious Injuries Are Involved, the Stakes Are Higher
If you’ve been hospitalized, undergone surgery, or faced long-term disability after a rideshare crash, your case is more than a simple accident claim. It’s about holding the right parties accountable so you can rebuild your life.
Uber and Lyft are billion-dollar companies that fight hard to avoid liability. Insurance adjusters are trained to look for gaps in coverage, shift blame, or downplay injuries. That’s why seriously injured people need a law firm like Pete Olson Injury Law—someone who knows how to cut through the red tape and fight for what’s right.
With nearly 30 years of experience and a track record of multimillion-dollar results, Pete Olson stands up for injured Tennesseans who are too often overlooked or underestimated by powerful insurers and corporate defendants.
Understanding Your Legal Options After a Catastrophic Rideshare Crash
Determining fault in an Uber or Lyft accident can be anything but straightforward. Whether you were a passenger, another driver, a pedestrian, or a cyclist, multiple layers of liability may apply—and missing one can cost you the compensation you need.
The more serious your injuries, the more important it is to get the investigation right, preserve the right evidence, and hold the right parties accountable. Knowing your options can be the first step toward protecting your future.