Uber accident settlement — which policy pays, and how much

Three coverage periods, three different policies

Uber and Lyft structure their insurance in three periods, based on the driver's app status at the moment of the crash:

• App completely off: no rideshare coverage applies at all. Only the driver's personal auto policy responds, at whatever limits that policy carries.
• App on, waiting for a ride request: a limited contingent policy applies, but typically only if the driver's personal policy denies the claim — commonly around $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage.
• Ride accepted, en route to pickup, or passenger onboard: the rideshare company's commercial policy becomes primary, typically $1,000,000 in combined liability coverage, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage up to $1,000,000 in many cases.

Exact contingent-period limits vary by state and can change — verify current figures on Uber's or Lyft's own insurance pages before relying on a specific number for your state.

Proving which period applied

Because the applicable policy depends entirely on app status at the moment of the crash, trip logs and timestamps from the rideshare app are the central piece of evidence. An attorney typically requests these records directly from Uber or Lyft early in the claim — the company's own data settles the question of which policy responds faster than any other evidence would.

If you were the passenger

As a rideshare passenger, you're covered by the $1,000,000 commercial policy for the entire ride, from acceptance through drop-off. The main question in your claim is which driver was at fault for the collision — your Uber or Lyft driver, or another vehicle — not whether you share any fault, since you weren't driving.