Accidents move fast. This guide doesn't. Every step below is attorney-reviewed, specific to Los Angeles, California law, and written in plain language instead of legal jargon — with each answer linked to its source, so you don't miss what matters.
This guide applies to California law only. Laws in other states differ significantly. Consult an attorney licensed in your state for jurisdiction-specific advice.
If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles, your compensation depends on which coverage phase was active at the time of the crash.
- Phase 3 (active trip): Uber and Lyft each carry $1M liability coverage under California PUC § 5431
- Phase 2 (app on, no passenger): $200K contingent coverage applies under CPUC Decision D.13-09-045
- Screenshot the app immediately to document which phase was active
- Report in-app before closing the trip, this preserves the coverage record
- Do not give any recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney
California law gives you 2 years to file under CCP § 335.1. Coverage phase is the single most important fact in your case, it determines which policy pays and how much is available.
Contact a rideshare accident attorney before your first insurer call.
Quick Answer — Source Index5§ 3 LAW◎ 2 GOVclaim-level sources
California PUC TNC Insurance: Public Utilities Code § 5431California PUC TNC Insurance: Public Utilities Code § 5431✓ Official (source-only)
California Statute of Limitations: [CCP § 335.1](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=335.1.&lawCode=CCP)
California SB 1107: Updated Min. Insurance (Jan. 2025)California SB 1107: Updated Min. Insurance (Jan. 2025)✓ Official (source-only)
CHP SWITRS: LA County Crash DataCHP SWITRS: LA County Crash Data✓ Official (source-only)
HCUP: Emergency Department Cost DataHCUP: Emergency Department Cost Data✓ Official (source-only)
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Step 1: Select accident type
What type of accident were you in?
Right now · first hours
At the scene
Medical first. Concussion, TBI, and internal injuries can surface hours after a crash. A worsening headache, confusion, repeated vomiting, or numbness means emergency care now (CDC head-injury danger signs).
- 1
Screenshot the Uber or Lyft app immediately, before exiting the vehicle. Your app status at the moment of the crash determines which coverage tier applies. If the app closes or the trip is cancelled, the coverage phase becomes disputed.
- 2
Photograph the rideshare vehicle's license plate, any rideshare signage, and the driver's name as shown in the app. These details confirm which platform's coverage applies.
- 3
Call 911. California requires a police report for any injury accident. The CHP or LAPD report will document the vehicle's rideshare affiliation and the responding insurer's information.
Do not
- ✕Close the rideshare app before screenshotting the active trip status.
- ✕Give a recorded statement to a rideshare company's insurer at the scene or within the first 72 hours.
First 72 hours
Report & preserve evidence
The difference between $30,000 of coverage and $1,000,000 is whether the driver had an active trip, and both the platform and its insurer have strong incentives to argue the lower tier. The documentation you create in the first 72 hours decides that argument. Platform trip data is also purged on a limited retention schedule.
- Report in-app. Both Uber and Lyft have built-in accident flows that create an official record and preserve trip data before it can be disputed by the platform.
- Send a preservation demand within 30 days. An attorney can compel the platform to retain GPS records, driver logs, and in-app activity logs before they are purged.
- See a doctor the same day. Rideshare insurers run specialized claims teams; same-day medical documentation is the baseline requirement to resist early offer pressure.
Why a rideshare crash is different
California's Public Utilities Code § 5431, enforced by the CPUC, creates the highest rideshare coverage requirements in the country, but the amount depends entirely on app status at the moment of impact:
- App off (Phase 1): only the driver's personal auto policy applies. California minimum $30,000/$60,000 under SB 1107.
- App on, waiting for a ride (Phase 2): $200,000 contingent coverage under CPUC Decision D.13-09-045.
- Active trip with passenger (Phase 3): $1,000,000 primary liability required under California PUC § 5431. This is the key tier for most rideshare victims.
- Insurers investigate phase before injuries. The platform's team pulls app logs immediately after a crash to argue the lowest possible tier. A preserved screenshot and an attorney-sent data demand counter that argument.
Los Angeles County recorded 54,347 injury traffic crashes in 2022, the highest of any county in California.
Rideshare vehicles are concentrated in the highest-density corridors, downtown LA, Hollywood, and LAX, where injury crash rates are most severe.
Source: California Highway Patrol SWITRS (switrs.dot.ca.gov)
Legal detailsKey numbers for this case typeCalifornia PUC coverage tiers by app status, the 2-year filing deadline, and evidence-preservation windows, with sources.▼
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rideshare liability, active trip (Phase 3) | $1,000,000 | statuteCalifornia Public Utilities Code § 5431(as of 2025) |
| Rideshare liability, app on, no passenger (Phase 2) | $200,000 contingent coverage | .gov ✓CPUC Decision D.13-09-045(as of 2013) |
| California statute of limitations, personal injury | 2 years from accident date | statuteCalifornia Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1(as of 2025) |
| Average ER visit cost: Los Angeles County | $4,100 | .gov ✓HCUP (hcupnet.ahrq.gov)(as of 2023) |
| California minimum auto insurance (as of Jan. 1, 2025) | $30,000/$60,000 | statuteCalifornia Vehicle Code § 16056 (SB 1107)(as of 2025) |
| Minor soft tissue injury multiplier: Los Angeles | 1.5x–3x medical costs | firm dataAttorney estimate · Yosi Yahoudai, J.D. · CA Bar #250679(as of 2025) |
| Moderate injury (surgery/fracture) multiplier | 3x–6x medical costs | firm dataAttorney estimate · Yosi Yahoudai, J.D. · CA Bar #250679(as of 2025) |
Settlement ranges are estimated from Los Angeles County rideshare accident claims, 2020–2025. Multi-tier insurance coverage complicates valuation. Reviewed by Yosi Yahoudai, J.D., California Bar #250679. Individual results vary.
First 2 weeks · before you sign
Protect the claim before you sign anything
- Keep the trip receipt, app screenshots, and all medical records in one folder. The coverage-tier determination is made from this documentation, and it can be re-litigated at any point.
- Rideshare accidents often involve two insurers (the platform's commercial carrier and the driver's personal carrier). Filing against the wrong one first can delay your claim by months and reduce total recovery.
A quick settlement offer is information to weigh against your full and future costs, not something this page can tell you to accept or reject. The correct moment to evaluate any offer is after you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and understand all future care costs. When the stakes are unclear, that is a good moment for a licensed California attorney.
Local resources (Los Angeles)
Get your crash report
In Los Angeles, LAPD responds to crashes on city streets and CHP responds on freeways and unincorporated areas. Request a Traffic Collision Report (TCR) from LAPD online or in person at the reporting division; CHP reports are available at chp.ca.gov. Allow 7 to 10 business days for the report to be finalized. The report number is required for every insurance claim.
Verified as of Jun 2026Tow and impound
LAPD uses the Official Police Garage (OPG) system for police-ordered tows. Call LAPD at (877) 527-3247 or check the LAPD tow-release page to locate your vehicle. Bring ID, proof of ownership, and insurance. Daily storage fees accumulate quickly.
Verified as of Jun 2026Body shop
You choose your own repair shop. California Insurance Code § 758.5 prohibits an insurer from requiring a specific shop. Ask for an itemized estimate and OEM parts. Document damage with photos before the vehicle is moved or repaired.
Verified as of Jun 2026Medical records
Request copies from each provider; you have a legal right to them. Keep one folder with every bill, imaging report, and visit summary. These records form the foundation of your damages calculation.
Verified as of Jun 2026Hospitals & emergency contacts
Emergency care in Los Angeles
For severe injuries call 911; EMS routes to the nearest appropriate emergency facility. Los Angeles County has multiple Level I trauma centers. Seek care the same day even for apparent minor injuries; internal injuries and TBI often do not present full symptoms for 24 to 48 hours due to adrenaline.
Verified as of Jun 2026Police and crash reports
Call 911 for any injury crash. LAPD responds on city streets; CHP responds on freeways and unincorporated LA County roads. Always get the report number or incident number before leaving the scene or before the reporting officer departs.
Verified as of Jun 2026Common mistakes to avoid
- 1
Closing the app before screenshotting the active trip.
- 2
Filing only against the driver's personal auto policy.
- 3
Waiting more than 72 hours to seek medical care.
- 4
Accepting an in-app settlement prompt from Uber or Lyft.
- 5
Giving the rideshare driver's insurer a recorded statement.
Can you handle this yourself?
Do you need a lawyer for this?
When you want a verified local attorney
Rideshare cases turn on the phase determination, and the platform's investigation team has a head start the moment the crash is reported in-app. The verified partner firm for Los Angeles can take it from here. One firm, credential-checked. No lead auction.
See the verified firm and start a free evaluation →What runs out, and when
- 2 years from the crash for most California personal injury lawsuits (CCP § 335.1). Missing this date permanently bars your claim.
- 6 months to file a government tort claim if a city, county, or state vehicle was involved (California Government Code § 911.2). This is a hard deadline courts almost never extend.
- 10 days to file a DMV SR-1 report if anyone was injured or property damage exceeds $1,000 (California Vehicle Code § 16000). Failure can result in license suspension.
- Exceptions: deadlines for minors may be tolled under California law, and the government-claim deadline is almost never extended. The discovery rule can delay the 2-year clock for late-onset injuries. Verify your specific situation with a licensed California attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays if I'm injured as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft in Los Angeles?▼
If your trip was active (Phase 3), Uber and Lyft are each required by California law to carry $1 million in primary liability coverage. As a passenger, your fault is typically zero. You file directly against the rideshare company's insurer, not the driver personally. An attorney confirms coverage and files the correct claim.
What is California's rideshare insurance law?▼
California Public Utilities Code § 5431, enforced by the CPUC, requires rideshare companies to carry $1 million in primary liability coverage during an active trip and $200,000 in contingent coverage when the app is on with no passenger. California was the first state to enact TNC insurance laws and sets the highest coverage requirements in the US.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in California?▼
California's statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the accident date under CCP § 335.1. However, rideshare companies preserve trip data for a limited window. Contact an attorney within 30 days to ensure GPS records, driver logs, and in-app safety reports are preserved before they are deleted.
What if the Uber driver was off-duty and caused the accident?▼
If the app was completely off (Phase 1), only the driver's personal auto insurance applies, not Uber's or Lyft's policy. California now requires a minimum of $30,000/$60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage under SB 1107. If your damages exceed those limits, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may apply.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly in California?▼
You can pursue a claim against the platform's insurer directly. Suing Uber or Lyft as a corporate entity is more complex: California courts treat TNC drivers as independent contractors, limiting direct corporate liability. If the platform failed to screen a negligent driver, additional claims may be viable. An attorney evaluates this per case.
Does California's comparative negligence law affect my rideshare claim?▼
Yes. California follows Pure Comparative Negligence, meaning your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. As a rideshare passenger, your fault is almost always zero. If you were another driver injured by a rideshare vehicle, your share of fault will be assessed and will reduce your recovery proportionally, but will not eliminate it entirely.
What should I do immediately after a rideshare crash in Los Angeles?▼
Screenshot the Uber or Lyft app before anything else, this preserves your coverage phase record. Call 911 and report in-app. Photograph both vehicles, injuries, and the scene. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer. Contact an attorney within 24 hours to send a data preservation demand before trip records are deleted.
Can I file a claim against both the rideshare company and the driver?▼
You file against the rideshare insurer, not typically as a direct corporate lawsuit. Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors under California law, limiting direct corporate liability. During an active Phase 3 trip, the $1M platform policy applies directly. An attorney determines which claim structure maximizes your total recovery.
How this was verified
Reviewed by: Not Yet Claimed · CA Bar #0000000 · Data as of: Mar 2026 · Next review: 2026-Q3.
What we did not verify: the facts of your specific crash, or any outcome.
Sources & Citations
- statute[1] California PUC TNC Insurance: Public Utilities Code § 5431 ↗
- statute[2] California Statute of Limitations: CCP § 335.1 ↗
- statute[3] California SB 1107: Updated Min. Insurance (Jan. 2025) ↗
- .gov[4] CHP SWITRS: LA County Crash Data ↗
- .gov[5] HCUP: Emergency Department Cost Data ↗
This guide applies to California law only and provides legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and apply differently to each situation. For advice about your case, talk to a licensed California attorney.
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