Free Consultation
Washington Uber Accident Lawyers
After an Uber or Lyft accident, your priority should be getting the medical care you need and recovering from your injuries. Instead, you may find yourself trying to figure out which driver was responsible, which insurance company should pay, and whether Uber or Lyft provides coverage at all.
Rideshare accidents can involve the driver’s personal insurance, coverage provided through Uber or Lyft, another driver’s policy, or several policies at once. Which coverage applies may even depend on what the rideshare driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash.
You should not have to untangle all of that while dealing with an injury.
For more than 40 years, Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner has helped injured people throughout Washington navigate serious accident claims. A Washington Uber accident lawyer can investigate what happened, identify who may be responsible, and determine which insurance coverage may be available to compensate you.
Why Are Uber and Lyft Accident Claims Different?
An Uber accident is still a motor vehicle accident. Drivers must operate their vehicles safely, and Washington’s rules governing fault and compensation still apply. What makes rideshare accidents different is the additional layer of insurance.
Uber and Lyft drivers generally use their personal vehicles to provide rides through the companies’ apps. The available insurance coverage may change depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the collision.
The key questions may include:
- Was the rideshare app turned off?
- Was the driver logged in and waiting for a ride request?
- Had the driver accepted a ride and started toward the passenger?
- Was a passenger already in the vehicle?
- Did the rideshare driver or another motorist cause the collision?
Those details can affect which insurance policy you need to pursue and how much coverage may be available.
What Insurance Applies After a Washington Uber Accident?
The insurance available after an Uber or Lyft accident depends heavily on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the collision. Washington law requires different levels of coverage during different stages of rideshare driving.
When an Uber or Lyft driver is not logged into the rideshare app, the driver is using the vehicle for personal purposes. The driver’s personal auto insurance generally applies just as it would after another Washington car accident.
The Driver Is Logged In and Waiting for a Ride
The insurance picture changes once the driver logs into the app and becomes available to accept passengers. Under Washington law, coverage during this period must include at least:
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person,
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and
- $30,000 in property damage liability coverage.
Washington law also requires certain PIP and underinsured motorist coverage during this period. This coverage remains in effect while the driver is logged in and waiting for a request, but has not yet accepted a ride.
The Driver Has Accepted a Ride and Is Going to the Passenger
Once a driver accepts a ride request, significantly higher coverage applies. Washington requires $1 million in combined liability coverage during a “prearranged ride.” Uber also states that it maintains at least $1 million in third-party liability coverage when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger or completing a trip.
A Passenger Is in the Uber or Lyft
The $1 million liability coverage continues while the passenger is being transported.
Washington law also requires $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in underinsured motorist coverage from the time a passenger enters a rideshare vehicle until the passenger exits.
Having $1 million in rideshare insurance does not necessarily mean the policy will pay every person injured in an Uber or Lyft accident. Who caused the collision, your role in the accident, and the rideshare driver’s app status can all affect where you seek compensation.
If You Were an Uber or Lyft Passenger
As a passenger, you are rarely in a position to cause the collision. The more difficult question is often which driver was responsible.
If your Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash, the rideshare liability coverage in effect during the trip may apply to your injuries. If another driver caused the collision, you may have a claim against that driver’s liability insurance.
If You Were Driving for Uber or Lyft
An injured rideshare driver may have several potential sources of coverage depending on who caused the accident and what the driver was doing at the time. If another motorist caused the collision, you may have a claim against that driver. Other coverage may also apply if the responsible driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Washington rideshare drivers may also be eligible for workers’ compensation when they are injured after accepting a trip, while traveling to pick up a passenger, or while the ride is in progress.
If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hit You
You do not need to be using Uber or Lyft yourself to have a claim involving rideshare insurance.
If an Uber or Lyft driver causes a collision with your vehicle, bicycle, or while you are a pedestrian, the driver’s app status can determine which liability coverage applies. A driver who has accepted a ride may have substantially more liability coverage available than a driver who is simply logged into the app and waiting for a request.
Not every accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver is the rideshare driver’s fault. Another motorist may have caused the collision, or responsibility may be shared among multiple drivers.
Washington follows a pure comparative fault system. If more than one person contributed to the crash, fault can be allocated among them, and your compensation may depend on each party’s share of responsibility.
The important first step is identifying everyone who may be responsible and every insurance policy that may provide coverage. A rideshare accident attorney in Washington can investigate both rather than assuming the rideshare company’s insurance is automatically responsible for the claim.
Washington follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means more than one person can share responsibility for a rideshare accident, and being partly at fault does not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation.
Under Washington’s pure comparative negligence laws, your compensation can be reduced according to your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages but were found 20% responsible for the collision, your recovery would generally be reduced by 20%.
Fault in an Uber or Lyft accident may rest with the rideshare driver, another motorist, or multiple drivers. Determining responsibility may require reviewing the collision report, photographs and video, witness statements, vehicle damage, and other evidence.
The rideshare driver’s app data can also be important. While it does not establish who caused the crash, it can help determine what the driver was doing at the time and which insurance coverage may apply.
What Compensation Can You Recover After an Uber or Lyft Accident?
The compensation available after a rideshare accident depends on the injuries and losses caused by the collision. A claim may include compensation for:
- Medical bills and future treatment,
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity,
- Property damage and other out-of-pocket expenses,
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress, and
- Permanent disability or other long-term effects of an injury.
A serious injury may continue creating expenses long after the initial medical bills arrive. Before you resolve your claim, you should understand not only what the accident has already cost you, but also how your injuries may affect your health, work, and daily life in the future.
Rideshare claims can become complicated when several drivers, insurance companies, and layers of coverage are involved. You need to know which policy applies before you can make informed decisions about your claim.
An Uber car accident lawyer can help by:
- Determining the rideshare driver’s app status at the time of the crash;
- Identifying the insurance policies and coverage limits that may apply;
- Preserving trip, app, and other evidence related to the collision;
- Investigating fault when multiple drivers may be responsible;
- Documenting your injuries and financial losses; and
- Handling negotiations with the insurance companies involved.
Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner brings more than 40 years of experience handling injury claims throughout Washington. We help you understand your options, deal with the insurance companies, and make informed decisions about what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Washington Uber Accidents
Does Uber Have $1 Million in Insurance in Washington?
Yes, but the $1 million coverage does not apply to every accident involving an Uber driver.
Washington requires $1 million in combined liability coverage during a prearranged ride, which begins after a driver accepts a ride request. Lower coverage limits apply while a driver is logged into the app but waiting for a request.
Can You Sue Uber After an Accident in Washington?
It depends on how the accident happened and who may be legally responsible. A claim involving insurance maintained by Uber is not necessarily the same as a lawsuit establishing that Uber itself was negligent. An Uber car accident lawyer can investigate the driver’s status, the cause of the collision, and the parties and insurance policies that may be involved.
What If Another Driver Causes an Accident While You Are an Uber Passenger?
You may have a claim against the driver who caused the collision. Other coverage may also be available if that driver is uninsured or does not have enough insurance to cover your losses.
Washington requires rideshare insurance to include $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in underinsured motorist coverage while a passenger is inside the vehicle.
How Long Do You Have to File an Uber Accident Lawsuit in Washington?
Washington generally gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Insurance claims and other notice requirements may have different deadlines, so you should not assume you have three years to begin the claims process.
Speak with a Washington Uber Accident Lawyer Today
After an Uber or Lyft accident, you may be dealing with several drivers, insurance policies, and companies at once. Knowing which coverage applies can make a significant difference in how you pursue your claim.
For more than 40 years, Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner has helped injured people throughout Washington navigate complex injury claims. We investigate what happened, identify potential sources of insurance coverage, and help you understand your options before you make decisions about your case.
You stay in control. We provide the guidance and support you need to move forward.
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact our Washington Uber accident lawyers for a free case evaluation.
Legal Resources Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal resources during the content development process:
