Uber or Lyft Crash in LA or Orange County? Whose Insurance Pays

Rideshare is how much of Southern California gets to the beach, the airport and the bars on a Saturday night. From LAX to Santa Monica and John Wayne Airport to Newport, Uber and Lyft cars fill the 405, I-5 and PCH. When one crashes, the insurance picture is more layered than an ordinary wreck. I'm Frank Stucki, Esq., MBA. Here's how it works, in plain English.

It depends on what the app was doing

California law sets different insurance requirements for rideshare drivers depending on their status at the moment of the crash:

• App off: The driver's personal auto policy is usually the starting point. Some personal policies exclude rideshare use, which can leave gaps.
• App on, waiting for a ride: A lower tier of rideshare coverage applies.
• Ride accepted through drop-off: The highest level of coverage applies.

That's why pinning down the app status early matters so much.

Who's protected?

• Passengers are often in the strongest position once a ride is accepted. The rideshare company must also carry uninsured and underinsured coverage while a passenger is in the car, which can matter if another driver caused the crash and has little insurance.
• Other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians hit by a rideshare car can bring a claim like any other crash. The question is which policy responds.
• Rideshare drivers get hurt too. Their coverage can depend on their personal policy, any rideshare endorsement and the company's coverage, and many are surprised by what's included.

Prove the app status

The rideshare company holds the trip data, and getting it usually takes a formal request. Help yourself now:

• Screenshot the trip, driver, car and route in the app.
• Save the receipt email and in-app messages.
• Photograph the rideshare sticker on the windshield.
• Ask the driver whether they were on a trip, and write down the answer.
• Get the police report number from the city police, CHP or sheriff.

Don't wait on deadlines

Deadlines apply, and some are much shorter, especially if a public road condition played a part. Ask early.

California cases are handled together with California-licensed co-counsel.

Read the full guide: https://pchinjurylaw.com/resources/rideshare-crashes-los-angeles-orange-county

Call (310) 299-9PCH

Frank Stucki, Esq., MBA

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

By Frank Stucki

Frank is a trial attorney licensed in Nevada, Washington, and Utah, handling personal injury, institutional abuse, and catastrophic injury cases. California and other states are handled with local co-counsel.

View Frank Stucki's Lawggle Profile