Overview of Rideshare Accidents
Reviewed by Kara H. North, Managing Attorney at Moxie Law Group. Reviewed December 19, 2023.
If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Utah, whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation, and Moxie Law Group’s rideshare accident lawyers can sort out which insurance policy applies and pursue it for you. We work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win.
Rideshare claims are complicated because coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. When the app is on and a ride is accepted, Uber and Lyft carry up to $1 million in liability coverage, but when the app is off, only the driver’s personal policy applies. We identify the right policy and deal with the rideshare company and its insurer so you are not left absorbing the cost of someone else’s mistake.
Common Causes of Uber and Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, many of which are similar to those seen in other motor vehicle accidents. Distracted driving is a leading cause, as rideshare drivers often rely on their phones and apps to accept ride requests and navigate to destinations. The pressure to complete more trips can also lead to speeding or failing to follow traffic laws, increasing the risk of a crash. Fatigue is another common issue, as many rideshare drivers work long hours or drive late at night. Other contributing factors include impaired driving, poor vehicle maintenance, and hazardous weather conditions. Identifying the cause of a rideshare accident is essential for determining liability and building a strong personal injury claim. A skilled rideshare accident lawyer can thoroughly investigate the circumstances, collect evidence, and help you pursue an injury claim against the responsible parties.
Steps to Follow After an Uber Accident
If you’re involved in an Uber accident, taking the right steps immediately afterward can protect your rights and strengthen your personal injury claim. First and foremost, seek medical attention. Even if you feel fine, some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Next, gather as much evidence as possible from the accident scene, including photos of the vehicles, your injuries, and the surrounding area. Collect contact information from witnesses and make sure a police report is filed, as this documentation can be crucial when dealing with insurance companies. Avoid discussing fault or making statements to other parties involved, as these can be used against you later. Instead, contact an experienced Uber accident lawyer who can handle communications with the insurance company and guide you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. Your attorney will help you pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, ensuring your rights are protected every step of the way.
An Experienced Uber Accident Lawyer Can Help You Win Significant Compensation
If you’ve been injured due to a negligent Uber driver, you need an experienced Uber accident lawyer who’s ready to fight for your rights. Though it may sound overwhelming, hiring an experienced Uber accident attorney can be the best way to ensure you’re fairly compensated for your medical bills and other injury related expenses. Even if you aren’t sure whether or not you’ve got a good personal injury claim, it’s still a good idea to meet with an Uber accident lawyer to discuss your options regarding compensation. If you’ve been in a car crash or car accident involving a negligent Uber driver, don’t accept the insurance company’s initial settlement offer without at least consulting an Uber accident lawyer.
A personal injury attorney can provide specialized legal guidance for Uber accident victims, helping you navigate the complexities of your claim and maximize your compensation.
Still unsure? Here are ten reasons to consider speaking with an Uber accident lawyer before you start trying to handle a claim by yourself.
1. You Don't Have to Hire that Uber Accident Attorney Just Because You Went to the Consultation
When you begin speaking with an Uber accident attorney, the consultation should be free from pressure. You do not have to hire an Uber accident lawyer who you don’t trust just because you went to a consultation. Experienced Uber accident attorneys usually give potential clients free consultations to help the client decide whether or not they’d benefit from hiring an Uber accident lawyer. During the consultation, the Uber accident lawyer will review the case and help the potential client better understand their options regarding fair compensation. If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, an Uber accident lawyer can help you get on the path to fair compensation. Even if you never want to hire an accident lawyer, you should at least attend the consultation so that you have a full understanding of all your options.
2. The Consultation is Free at Moxie Law Group
Most personal injury attorneys give accident victims a free consultation to help them determine whether or not they’d benefit from working with a personal injury law firm. The Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at our firm are experienced in handling Lyft and Uber accident claims. Because it’s a free consultation, accident victims have nothing to lose by reviewing their case with a Lyft accident lawyer. At Moxie Law Group, our Uber accident attorneys are dedicated to using our free consultations to inform accident victims of their rights and help them achieve the financial compensation they deserve. When you’ve sustained serious injuries in an Uber accident, you don’t want to leave any option unexplored, especially if you’re struggling to pay for injury related expenses such as medical bills. By attending a free case review with one of our rideshare accident lawyers, you’re ensuring that you have researched all of your options. If you’ve been in an Uber accident, you’ve got nothing to lose by meeting with a rideshare accident lawyer.
3. You've Got Everything to Gain
If you were involved in a rideshare accident due to a negligent Lyft driver, there’s a good chance that you’d benefit from working with a Lyft accident attorney. Insurance companies aren’t trying to pay car accident victims for all of their injuries. Instead, the insurance company is dedicated to making a profit and protecting their interests–which may not necessarily align with your interests. Generally speaking, the insurance company wants you to accept the lowest settlement possible. Ideally, the insurance company will find a way to deny coverage, leaving you without anything. An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can work with the insurance company to get you a fair settlement. Most people who work with an attorney get a much higher settlement than they would if they tried to handle their Lyft accident claim by themselves.
4. How Do You Know That Settlement Is Fair?
If you were injured in an Uber accident, and the insurance company has offered you a settlement that’s paid for all your medical treatment, you may be thinking that settlement is fair. If you’re one of the few people fortunate enough to get an initial offer that covers all your medical treatment, you should still consult an attorney before accepting the offer. Again, car insurance companies generally want to give you the minimum. Personal injury attorneys generally want to get you the maximum. Even if the offer covers the cost of your serious injury, you may be entitled to additional compensation for items such as lost wages, and pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether or not the settlement you’ve been offered really is fair. In almost all cases, the personal injury lawyer will be able to significantly improve your compensation award.
5. What if the Rideshare Company is Liable?
Generally speaking, employers are liable for what their employees do when the employee is acting within the course and scope of their employment. However, in Uber accident cases, it’s typically very difficult to sue Uber. This is because rideshare drivers are generally independent contractors. Because independent contractors aren’t technically employees, rideshare companies aren’t generally liable for car accidents that their drivers cause. In these cases, it is crucial to identify the at-fault party and the party responsible for damages, as this determines who may be held legally accountable and which insurance coverage applies. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft generally try pretty hard to make getting compensation from their insurance policy next to impossible. In most cases, these companies rely on the driver’s personal auto insurance to compensate the accident victim. If the rideshare company does have some liability for the car accident, having a personal injury professional can help you get the compensation you deserve. When multiple parties have liability, an attorney can help you find out who’s liable for your injuries.
6. This Is What Insurance Was Intended to Do
When people think of speaking to an attorney after an Uber accident, their minds tend to immediately go to two places: personal injury lawsuit and bankrupting the Uber driver all because an accident occurred. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Not all personal injury claims end up turning into lawsuits. In fact, most claims are able to be settled outside of court. Also, though you’d technically be suing the Uber driver, their insurance company would be the one to pay in most scenarios–assuming they have insurance, of course. Uber and Lyft provide coverage through their insurance policies, and understanding the available insurance coverage is crucial for accident victims. So in most cases, you don’t have to worry about bankrupting your Uber driver because you filed a claim after an Uber accident. Your Uber driver has insurance for this very purpose: when the insured causes injury to another person, the insurance company covers the cost of that person’s injury. In most cases, when people file personal injury claims, they’re using insurance as it was intended to be used.
7. Insurance Companies Know the Law
The moment you file an Uber accident claim, the insurance provider will be looking for reason to deny you coverage or offer you a lower settlement. Just because the at-fault driver has a lot of liability coverage or bodily injury coverage, doesn’t mean that your insurance claim is going to be settled quickly or without a fight. Just because the insurance policy is large enough to cover your property damage and injury-related expenses doesn’t mean that it will. Insurance companies know the law, and they’re more than happy to use this knowledge to protect their bottom line. If you’ve been injured due to a negligent driver, you can be almost certain that the insurance company’s best interests do not align with yours. If you have been injured in an Uber vehicle, having someone who knows the law stand up for your rights just makes sense–especially when dealing with insurance companies.
8. You Don't Pay Out of Pocket
If you’ve sustained serious injuries in an accident involving an Uber, Moxie Law Group can help you seek compensation without having to pay anything out of pocket. Not only do we offer a free case evaluation to those injured in an Uber, we also work on contingency. Working on contingency helps passengers injured in rideshare accidents get compensation without having to worry about how they’ll pay for legal representation. Here’s how it works: if you were injured in an uber, and during the consultation we decide that we can help you win the compensation you deserve, we’ll get started on your case without asking for anything upfront. Once you get your settlement or a judgment in your favor, a pre-negotiated portion of that settlement or judgment will cover your legal fees.
9. You Might Not Have Options
If you were injured by the negligence of an Uber or Lyft driver, you may not have any other option to get the compensation you need in order to recover. Though insurance companies sometimes do offer enough to cover the cost of property damage and medical expenses, this is a very rare occurrence. In some cases, the only way to get the compensation you need in order to recover is to hire an attorney who will fight for you. If your Uber accident occurred due to the negligence of a rideshare driver, and you’re not getting anywhere with the insurance company, you may need to hire an attorney to avoid being overwhelmed by injury related expenses.
10. An Uber Passenger Is Almost Never Liable
When Uber drivers cause an Uber accident, the passenger is almost never liable for the Uber accident. Unless the passenger does something to directly cause the accident, Uber and Lyft drivers are usually liable for any Uber accidents their negligence causes, and their insurance should cover accidents caused by their negligence. If you have been in an Uber accident, or any other car accident, and you were a passenger, you may be able to get compensation for your injuries. Since the chances of passengers being liable for Uber accidents is relatively low, the chances of getting compensation are higher for passengers who sustained injury in Uber accidents and vehicle accidents. This means that the case may be more likely to get settled, and if it does go to trial, the plaintiff may be more likely to succeed because passengers generally aren’t liable for accidents.
Statute of Limitations for Filing Uber Accident Lawsuits
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit after an Uber accident in Utah, time is of the essence. The statute of limitations generally gives you four years from the date of the accident to file a claim, but certain circumstances can affect this deadline. Missing the statute of limitations means you could lose your right to seek compensation entirely, regardless of the strength of your case. That’s why it’s important to consult with an Uber accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. An experienced accident lawyer can help you understand the specific deadlines that apply to your situation, ensure all necessary paperwork is filed on time, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Don’t risk your chance at fair compensation by waiting too long. Reach out to a qualified attorney to protect your rights.
Types of Damages You May Recover After an Uber Accident
After an Uber accident, you may be entitled to recover a wide range of damages, depending on the circumstances of your case. Economic damages typically include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage resulting from the accident. In addition, you may be eligible for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases where the at-fault party’s conduct was especially reckless, punitive damages may also be awarded. Navigating the process of claiming these damages can be challenging, especially when dealing with insurance companies that may try to minimize your payout. An experienced Uber accident lawyer can help you identify all the damages you’re entitled to, negotiate for a fair settlement, and fight for the maximum compensation possible. With the right legal support, you can focus on your recovery while your attorney handles the complexities of your personal injury claim.
Uber Accident? Don't Make These Mistakes
Those who drive for companies like Uber and Lyft can cause accidents that severely injure their passengers. Though passengers aren’t generally liable for injuries they’ve sustained in due to negligent Uber drivers, passengers can do things and make statements that damage their chances of receiving fair compensation for their injuries. After an Uber accident, it is crucial to obtain an accident report from the police to support your insurance claim and any legal procedures. You should also collect evidence supporting your claim, such as taking photos, gathering witness statements, and keeping all relevant documentation. Seeking prompt medical care is essential to ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented, which can help protect your rights and facilitate the claims process. Additionally, report the incident through the rideshare app to ensure proper documentation and to support your insurance and legal claims. Unfortunately, our society doesn’t place much of an emphasis on ensuring that victims of accidents protect themselves from damaging their claims. If you’ve sustained injury in an accident, make sure you follow these tips.
1. "I'm Not Injured."
If you’ve been in an accident, the last thing you should say at the accident scene is, “I’m not injured.” Don’t ever say that you’re not injured at the scene of an accident, because you cannot tell with any certainty whether or not you’re actually injured. When you’ve been injured, it may take days for your injuries to become apparent. If they ask whether or not you’re injured, do not tell them that you’re not injured. Once you’ve said that you’re not injured, it may be difficult to walk that statement back. Let’s say that you’re injured in an accident and you don’t think you’re injured immediately after the accident. So when the other driver asks you if you’re okay, you tell the other driver and the police that you’re not injured. Then, two days later, you start to feel pain. You try to file a claim, but the insurance company is arguing that you must have been injured in another manner because the police report says that, at the scene, you said that you weren’t injured. Remember, insurance companies will be looking for ways not to compensate the injured.
2. Not Getting Medical Treatment
If you’ve been injured, you may have a responsibility to seek medical treatment. Here’s a good example: let’s say you break your arm in an accident. However, instead of going to the hospital, you try to fix it with some ice and rest. Unfortunately, an infection develops and your bone can no longer grow back to the way it used to be. Now your medical bills are much higher than they would have been if you had gone to the hospital in the first place. In this case, would the driver who caused the accident have to pay you additional compensation for your higher medical bills? Probably not. In the aforementioned scenario, you likely had a duty to mitigate your injuries to the fullest extent reasonably possible. If you willfully ignored medical advice, refused treatment, or delayed treatment, the insurance provider may try to use that fact to deny coverage. If you have been injured, get medical attention as soon as possible.
3. Swearing off Attorneys Forever
So many people have this idea that attorneys are awful and they’ll never hire one. When it comes to personal injury, swearing off attorneys forever can be the biggest mistake an accident victim makes. Attorneys almost always get their clients a bigger settlement than the client would have gotten by working with the insurance provider by themselves. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to refuse to hire an attorney before you even attend the consultation. An attorney will have a deep understanding of the law and they can help walk you through your best options so you can make an informed decision regarding your personal injury claim. If you’ve sustained injury in a wreck, meet with an injury attorney as soon as you can.
Utah Uber Accident FAQs
What should I do after an Uber accident in Utah?
After an Uber accident in Utah, first make sure everyone is safe and call 911 if necessary. Get medical care right away, even for injuries that may seem minor. Collect contact and insurance information from all parties involved, take photos of the crash scene if possible, and contact an Uber accident lawyer before you speak with insurance companies.
Can I pursue compensation if an Uber driver caused my accident?
Yes. If an Uber driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other related losses. An attorney can help determine which insurance policies apply and work to recover the full compensation you deserve.
Why should I hire a lawyer for an Uber accident claim in Utah?
An Uber accident claim can involve complex insurance issues because there may be multiple policies and companies involved. A lawyer can handle communications with insurers, investigate the crash, collect evidence, explain your legal options, and fight to protect your rights while you focus on recovery.
Do you handle Uber accident cases for Spanish speakers?
Si. Se habla español. Our team helps Spanish-speaking Uber and rideshare accident victims across Utah, from the free consultation through settlement or trial.
Utah Uber Accident FAQs
What makes an Uber accident claim different?
Uber crashes involve extra insurance layers. Uber carries substantial coverage that can apply while a driver is on the app, so a Utah Uber accident lawyer can pursue those policies alongside the driver’s own insurance.
What if I was hurt as an Uber passenger?
Passengers are almost never at fault and can usually recover whether the Uber driver or another driver caused the crash. The main question is which coverage applies, not whether you were to blame.
Does Uber’s insurance apply in Salt Lake City?
It can, depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. A Salt Lake City Uber accident attorney can identify the right phase of coverage and pursue it.
What should I do after an Uber crash?
Get medical care, screenshot your trip details, report the crash, collect information, and speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurer.
MOXIE LAW GROUP’S EMPATHY, INTEGRITY, TENACITY
Here to Help You
Whether it’s negligent Uber drivers, negligent truck drivers, negligent transportation network companies, Lyft accidents, or something else, Moxie Law Group is here to help you get the compensation you need in order to recover. We proudly serve clients in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah, offering local expertise and accessibility. Our firm has extensive experience handling Uber/Lyft accident cases and is highly skilled in Uber/Lyft legal claims. Most rideshare drivers spend significant time on the road, which increases the risk of accidents and the need for proper insurance coverage. Uber drivers may use their personal vehicle or a rental car, and third-party liability insurance applies in both situations. Don’t wait until it’s too late to file your claim. Get the information you need in order to make an informed decision regarding your personal injury claim. Moxie Law Group is dedicated to promoting safety within our communities. Whether that means holding negligent Uber drivers responsible for the injuries they’ve caused, or providing the education necessary for the injured party to make an informed decision about their claim. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait until the insurance provider has tried everything in the book to get you to settle for less than you deserve. Boost your chances of getting fair compensation by contacting an injury attorney as soon as possible.
Educating Our Communities
Property damage coverage, liability coverage, negligent Uber drivers, and stipulations. It all sounds pretty complicated and overwhelming. But when you hire a firm like Moxie Law Group, your claim doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Uber and Lyft drivers are covered by third-party liability insurance once they accept a ride request and are en route to pick up a passenger, which is important for your uber lyft accident claim. Be sure to track all transportation costs related to medical treatment and recovery, as these expenses are important for insurance and legal claims.
You can get started today by sending us a text, or calling our office. You don’t even have to leave your house to get started on your claim. In fact, you can get started on your injury claim from the comfort of your own home. Getting started on your injury claim doesn’t have to be a financially draining event either. In fact, at Moxie Law Group, you don’t have to pay us anything until you win a settlement or a judgment in your favor. Contact us today to find out how we can help you win big.
Most Importantly, Our Experience Speaks for Itself




