The app is on. The ride request just came in. The driver hits “accept,” turns onto the next street, and then it happens. A crash. No passenger in the car yet, but the trip is officially underway. What now? Insurance questions come fast. And whether you’re the driver, another driver, or a pedestrian, the answer depends on the timing. A rideshare accident attorney knows this moment is critical.
Avrek Law has assisted numerous clients in obtaining compensation following Uber and Lyft accidents. These incidents often differ from typical collisions due to the unique insurance structures of rideshare companies. The Insurance Information Institute notes that when the rideshare app is active and a ride has been accepted—even if no passenger is in the vehicle—the insurance coverage increases significantly. This shift means higher liability limits, involvement of multiple parties, and enhanced legal protections for victims. However, securing these protections requires prompt and informed legal action.
Rideshare Coverage Kicks In Once a Ride Is Accepted
Once a driver accepts a trip, Uber and Lyft activate their highest insurance coverage. This means up to $1 million in liability, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and property damage protection.
The trip doesn’t have to begin. The coverage applies from the moment the ride is accepted to the moment the passenger exits the car. A crash during that window falls under this expanded policy.
Still, rideshare companies don’t volunteer payouts. A ridesharing accident lawyer helps gather the right proof—screenshots, time logs, phone data, and dashcam footage—to confirm the exact moment the crash occurred.
Timing and app data can change everything in your injury case.
Who Pays After the Crash?
Uber and Lyft both use third-party insurance providers. That means you’re not dealing with the driver’s personal insurer when a ride is active—you’re dealing with corporate insurance.
If the rideshare driver caused the crash, the rideshare company’s insurance should pay. If another driver was at fault, their policy applies first. If they’re uninsured, the rideshare company’s policy can still help.
A skilled Uber accident lawyer knows how to work both sides—holding Uber accountable for coverage while pushing back on third-party claims that try to shift blame.
If the driver is seriously hurt or another vehicle’s driver or passengers are injured, things move quickly. Medical costs pile up. Paychecks stop coming. And that’s when a rideshare accident attorney makes the biggest difference—keeping insurance companies from passing the blame.
What If the Driver Was Picking Someone Up?
If a crash happens during the pickup phase—meaning the driver has accepted a ride and is on the way to the passenger—the full coverage still applies.
That matters for everyone involved: cyclists hit during the route, pedestrians crossing at the wrong moment, or drivers struck while the rideshare driver rushes to a pickup location.
A Lyft accident lawyer will confirm what phase the driver was in. Period 1 (app on, no ride accepted) has much lower coverage—usually $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident. Period 2 (ride accepted, en route to passenger) kicks coverage up to $1 million. Getting this right can be the difference between medical bills being paid or denied.
Common Scenarios a Rideshare Accident Attorney Handles
A ridesharing accident lawyer regularly sees these crash types:
- The driver is rushing to pick someone up and rear-ends another car
- A pedestrian is struck while crossing during a ride pickup
- Another driver T-bones the Uber driver at an intersection
- A cyclist gets clipped while the driver’s attention is on the GPS
Each situation requires a careful look at timing, app data, and fault. That’s why screenshots matter. So does pulling crash reports quickly and locating street camera footage before it gets erased.
The best rideshare accident lawyer starts this process immediately to make sure the evidence supports the claim, before the other side tries to change the story.
What You Need To Know as a Driver After a Crash
Handling a wreck is stressful. Handling one while logged into the app is even worse. Questions come fast, and the rideshare company may ask for a statement. Here’s what matters most as a driver after a crash:
- Get medical attention immediately
- Don’t delete or log out of the app until after documentation
- Take photos of the damage, location, and traffic signals
- Screenshot ride details and app status
- Call a lawyer before giving a detailed statement
Even if the driver is clearly not at fault, app data and GPS logs help confirm liability. An Uber accident attorney knows how to get that data early, before the rideshare company tightens access.
Riders and Third Parties Can Also File Claims
Passengers aren’t the only ones protected by rideshare insurance. If someone walking, biking, or driving gets hit while the app is in use, they can file a claim too. That includes people injured during the pickup phase, even if they weren’t the intended passenger.
A Lyft accident lawyer makes sure third-party victims understand their rights and aren’t forced to rely only on the driver’s personal policy.
These cases often involve layers of coverage: personal policies, Uber/Lyft commercial coverage, and uninsured motorist protection. Sorting them out takes legal support.
How Fault Gets Decided in App-Use Crashes
Fault works the same way it does in other crashes—by looking at actions before the wreck. But app usage adds a layer.
If the rideshare driver was looking at GPS, distracted by the app, or made a rushed maneuver to find a rider, that context matters.
A ridesharing accident lawyer will check phone logs, request telematics data, and gather scene evidence to prove who made the wrong move.
And if another driver caused the crash, the lawyer will still use rideshare coverage if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. These options protect victims from being left with bills they didn’t cause.
Let a Rideshare Accident Attorney Help You Move Forward
A crash during the pickup window is serious business. There may not be a passenger in the car yet, but the liability clock is already ticking. That means more coverage—and more legal complexity.
Avrek Law has worked with thousands of rideshare victims, from drivers to passengers to pedestrians. Every claim is backed by proof, pushed forward with urgency, and built on experience from over 50 years of results.
Whether your crash happened during a quick pickup run or just before a rider stepped in, don’t leave the claim to chance. Let a rideshare accident attorney handle the next steps and protect what matters.
Call 24/7 at 866-598-5548, fill out the form, or start a live chat for a free case review. Your story deserves more than a quick denial. Make sure it’s told right.