When you’re injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Georgia, filing a claim isn’t as straightforward as it is in other collisions. Unlike a regular car accident, rideshare collisions involve different types of auto insurance coverage, so who pays your compensation will depend on the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the crash. Did they have the app on or were they between Uber rides? Did they have a passenger in the vehicle?
This guide outlines what you should do after a crash. This includes steps to take at the scene, how and when to report the accident, and what insurance coverage rules apply to Uber and Lyft in Georgia. You’ll also learn why victims face frequent disputes between insurers and how a rideshare accident lawyer can help you take legal action when these companies refuse to pay.
What to Do Immediately After an Uber or Lyft Accident
When you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, safety should always come first, but you also need to collect evidence that could disappear once law enforcement arrives and everything is cleared away. This includes getting the names of all parties involved, as well as witnesses, and using your smartphone to document the accident scene.
- Ensure Your Safety and Call 911: Move yourself and anyone else in your vehicle (if applicable) to the side of the road if possible, away from moving traffic. Call 911 immediately so police and medical professionals can respond.
- Document the Accident Scene: Use your phone to take photos of the cars involved, any vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Include wide shots of the scene that show road conditions, traffic signs, or road signals. If you were riding in the Uber or Lyft, screenshots of the rideshare app showing your trip in progress can confirm your status as a passenger.
- Collect Information From Everyone Involved: Write down the rideshare driver’s name, phone number, and insurance company information. Get the names and contact details of other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who either witnessed or were involved in the crash. Any witnesses can be contacted later to provide independent accounts of what happened.
- Seek Medical Attention: Visit a doctor as soon as possible, even if you are uncertain you’ve been hurt. Some car accident injuries, like whiplash or internal bleeding, can take hours or even days to show symptoms. Medical records make it clear your injuries came from the accident and prevent insurance providers from questioning their cause.
How to Report a Rideshare Accident
Once you’ve taken steps to secure your safety and document the scene, you need to make official reports. Reporting an Uber or Lyft accident to the right parties ensures the crash is recorded, starts the insurance claim process, and helps prevent disputes later.
- Notify Law Enforcement: Call the police if you haven’t already done so at the scene. In Georgia, police reports are mandatory for accidents involving injuries, deaths, or property damage over $500. This report will contain detailed statements, diagrams, and an initial assessment of fault, which insurers rely on during their investigations. Make sure you get the police report number at some point.
- Report the Crash Through the Rideshare App: Both Uber and Lyft require you to report a crash through their apps. Open the app, go to the trip history, and follow the prompts to file an incident report. Submitting the report triggers the company’s insurance review, which is the first step toward accessing their coverage.
- Inform Your Own Insurance Company: Even if you weren’t driving, most policies require you to notify your insurer after an accident. Provide the time, location, and the fact that the crash involved a rideshare vehicle. This notice preserves your coverage rights if your insurance policy ends up contributing to your claim.
How Uber and Lyft Insurance Works in Georgia
Uber and Lyft divide their insurance coverages into distinct phases based on the rideshare driver’s status in the app. Each applicable phase has different liability limits, and the driver’s situation at the time of the accident determines which insurer must pay for your injuries and losses.
Phase 1: App Off
If the driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, the rideshare company provides no insurance coverage. The driver’s personal auto insurance is the only policy available. For example, if an off-duty driver rear-ends you while heading to the grocery store, you must file a claim with their private insurer.
Phase 2: App On, No Passenger Yet
When the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request, limited liability insurance coverage applies. In Georgia, Uber and Lyft both provide up to $50,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person, $100,000 for injury to multiple people, and $25,000 coverage for property damage. This third-party liability coverage is secondary, which means it only applies if the driver’s personal auto insurance denies or doesn’t fully pay the claim.
Phase 3: Passenger Accepted or Onboard
Once the driver accepts a ride request and is en route to pick up a passenger, or when the passenger is already in the car, Uber and Lyft provide up to $1 million in liability coverage. This includes injuries to passengers, people in other vehicles, and pedestrians. If another driver without personal auto insurance causes the crash, Uber and Lyft also provide uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which pays medical bills and other damages.
As you can see, the phase determines which insurer pays, and disputes are common when coverage shifts between personal and rideshare insurance policies. For instance, if a driver was logged into the app but had not yet accepted a passenger, Uber may argue that the driver’s personal auto policy should pay first, and not Uber's insurance policy.
This is why you should always find out if the driver had accepted a trip request and/or a passenger was in their car at the time of the crash. That single detail can mean the difference between a small liability limit and the full $1 million coverage. Gathering this information early also makes it more difficult for rideshare insurance carriers to shift responsibility later on.
How to Protect Your Personal Injury Claim
You need to protect your claim from the day of the crash onward, until your case resolves. This isn’t an exaggeration: Small mistakes can delay your compensation payment or even reduce the value of your case. You can minimize the risk of disputes by observing the guidelines below.
- Limit Statements to Insurers: When insurance adjusters call, write down their name, company, and claim number before saying anything else. Politely refuse a recorded statement until you’ve had a chance to speak to a car accident lawyer.
- Follow Medical Advice: Visit a doctor within 24 to 48 hours if you haven’t already been checked. Continue attending each follow-up appointment and store your prescriptions and discharge notes in one place. Any gaps in medical treatment give insurers an opening to argue that your injuries were unrelated to the crash.
- Build an Evidence File: Save photos of the scene, property damage, and visible injuries in a single digital or physical folder. Add app screenshots that confirm the trip status, driver name, and time stamps to show you were in a rideshare vehicle. Your lawyer will act to preserve video from dashcams or nearby businesses, since many systems automatically delete footage within days.
- Prove Lost Income: Collect pay stubs from the 13 weeks before the crash and continue saving stubs after it. Ask your employer for a signed letter on company letterhead confirming the dates you missed, your hourly rate or salary, and any overtime you lost. If you’re self-employed, gather invoices and bank statements that demonstrate reduced income during your recovery.
- Document Costs of Vehicle Repairs: Obtain at least two written estimates from licensed repair shops and keep the final invoice once the work is complete. Photograph the damage before and after repairs, including the license plate and VIN sticker, to show continuity. Request that the shop save any damaged parts until your claim is finished, then store them yourself or capture detailed photos for your records.
When to Contact a Georgia Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Some rideshare accident claims in Georgia involve multiple insurers pointing fingers at each other. This means you may face long delays while these companies argue about which insurance policy applies to your case. If you’ve suffered any injuries, even those that seem minor at first, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer right away to protect your claim.
- When Coverage Is Disputed: If Uber or Lyft argues that the driver’s personal insurance policy should pay, you may be stuck waiting while the insurers trade blame. A lawyer can obtain the driver’s trip data to prove the driver was logged in or had an active ride. That proof can trigger the higher insurance limits and get your claim moving forward.
- When Injuries Are Severe: A broken bone, head injury, or spinal injury brings treatment costs that can quickly exceed $50,000. The higher $1 million liability coverage is critical in these cases, and insurers resist paying it without strong evidence. A car accident lawyer ensures that medical records, lost wage documents, and expert evaluations are included in your demand.
- When Settlement Offers Are Low: Insurers routinely offer a quick settlement that barely covers your medical expenses. An experienced lawyer can calculate the real value of your claim, including long-term treatment and lost income. With that calculation, they can push for a settlement that reflects your actual losses instead of an insurer’s bottom line.
If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Georgia, contact The Champion Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C. for a free consultation. Getting legal representation means your claim is handled properly from the start and you have the best chance of a favorable outcome.
Common Causes of Rideshare Crashes
According to one 2024 study, one-third of surveyed rideshare drivers in the United States reported being involved in a work-related accident. Several clear factors increase this risk.
- Driver Fatigue: Lyft and Uber drivers who reported driving while tired had more than three times the odds of being in a crash. Long hours behind the wheel make it harder to react quickly and judge traffic conditions. Fatigue also builds up over time, especially for drivers who rely on rideshare work as their main income.
- High Daily Trip Volume: Completing ten or more trips per day raised accident odds by nearly 84%. The pressure to accept frequent Uber rides can push drivers to stay on the road longer than is safe. Constant pickups and drop-offs also increase exposure to traffic hazards throughout the day.
- Unfamiliar Roads: Drivers who frequently traveled on unfamiliar routes faced 72%higher odds of being in a collision. Reliance on GPS apps doesn’t eliminate risk, since distractions and sudden turns can cause collisions. Navigating new areas also makes it harder to anticipate traffic patterns and road conditions.
- Age of Driver: Older Uber drivers had a higher likelihood of being in an accident, with a 55% increase in odds for every additional ten years of age. Age-related factors like slower reaction time and reduced vision may play a role. Combined with long shifts, these risks can be more pronounced in rideshare work.
Speak to a Georgia Rideshare Accident Lawyer Now
An accident in an Uber or Lyft can be hard to resolve, but calling the police immediately after the collision, gathering evidence, and seeking medical treatment all create a foundation for a strong claim. The Champion Firm can investigate the driver’s status, confirm the right insurance policy, and push for the settlement you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. For more information or to schedule your free consultation, call 404-999-1030.
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