Accidents move fast. This guide doesn't. Every step below is attorney-reviewed, specific to New York City, New York 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 NYC TLC-licensed for-hire vehicles under New York State law.
When an Uber or Lyft driver hits you, or you're a passenger in a rideshare collision, the insurance coverage depends on the app status at the time of the crash:
- App off: Driver's personal auto policy applies (NY minimum $25k/$50k)
- App on, waiting for a ride: TLC-mandated $75,000/$150,000 coverage minimum
- Passenger in car (en route): $1,250,000 TLC-required liability minimum, this is the key coverage tier for most rideshare victims
New York's no-fault rules still apply. You file an NF-2 with your own insurer within 30 days. To sue for pain and suffering, your injuries must meet the serious injury threshold under Insurance Law § 5102(d).
Quick Answer — Source Index3§ 2 LAW◎ 1 GOVclaim-level sources
NYC TLC For-Hire Vehicle Rules § 59A-16NYC TLC For-Hire Vehicle Rules § 59A-16✓ Official (source-only)
NY Insurance Law § 5102: Serious Injury ThresholdNY Insurance Law § 5102: Serious Injury Threshold✓ Official (source-only)
NYPD Collision Data 2024NYPD Collision Data 2024✓ Official (source-only)
Check My Case Value & Protect My Claim
Free · No obligation · 24/7 intake open
⚡ Free · No Obligation
See If You Qualify in 60 Seconds
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 later. A worsening headache, confusion, repeated vomiting, or numbness means emergency care now (CDC head-injury danger signs).
- 1
Screenshot the app immediately, both yours (showing the active trip) and, if possible, the driver's. App status at the moment of the crash determines which coverage tier applies.
- 2
Photograph the TLC plate number (separate from the standard license plate). It identifies the vehicle's TLC license and confirms which coverage rules apply.
- 3
Call 911. The NYPD report will list the vehicle's TLC number and the responding insurer's information.
Do not
- ✕Close the rideshare app before screenshotting the trip status.
- ✕Give a recorded statement to a rideshare company's insurer at the scene.
First 72 hours
Report & preserve evidence
The difference between $75,000 of coverage and $1.25 million is whether the driver had accepted a trip, and both the platform and its insurer have strong incentives to argue the lowest tier. The documentation you create in the first 72 hours decides that argument.
- Report the trip 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.
- File NF-2 within 30 days with your own insurer, regardless of fault. New York no-fault applies to rideshare crashes the same as standard collisions.
- See a doctor the same day. Rideshare insurers run specialized claims teams; same-day medical documentation is essential.
Why a rideshare crash is different
NYC's TLC licensing system creates the highest rideshare liability minimums in the country, but the coverage depends entirely on app status at the moment of the crash:
- App off: the driver's personal policy applies (NY minimum $25k/$50k).
- App on, waiting for a ride: TLC-mandated $75,000/$150,000 minimum.
- Passenger in the car (en route): $1,250,000 TLC-required liability minimum. This is the key tier for most rideshare victims.
- Black cars and livery vehicles carry different policies than Uber/Lyft and raise different coverage arguments. The TLC plate establishes which ecosystem you are in.
NYC has over 80,000 TLC-licensed for-hire vehicles, the highest concentration in the US.
TLC-licensed vehicles include Uber, Lyft, Via, yellow taxis, black cars, and livery vehicles. Each has different insurance minimums under TLC rules, the standard rideshare active-ride minimum is $1.25M.
Source: NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) 2024 Annual Report
Legal detailsKey numbers for this case typeTLC coverage tiers by app status, the NF-2 deadline, and New York filing deadlines, with sources.▼
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| TLC coverage, passenger in vehicle (en route) | $1,250,000 liability minimum | statuteNYC TLC Rules § 59A-16 |
| TLC coverage, app on, awaiting ride | $75,000 / $150,000 minimum | statuteNYC TLC Rules § 59A-16 |
| TLC coverage, app off | Driver's personal policy only ($25k/$50k NY minimum) | statuteNY Insurance Law § 3420 |
| NYC TLC-licensed vehicles | 80,000+ | .gov ✓NYC TLC 2024 Annual Report(as of 2024) |
| NY no-fault PIP limit | $50,000 per person | statuteNY Insurance Law § 5102(a) |
| NY statute of limitations | 3 years (CPLR § 214) | statuteCPLR § 214 |
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.
- 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.
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. When the stakes are unclear, that is a good moment for a licensed attorney.
Local resources (New York City)
Get your crash report
NYPD responds to injury crashes and files an MV-104AN report. Download it at collisionreport.nypdonline.org after about 7 business days, or request older reports from the NY DMV with form MV-198C.
Verified as of Jun 2026Tow & impound
If NYPD ordered the tow, call 311 or check nyc.gov to locate the borough tow pound holding your vehicle. Bring ID, proof of ownership, and insurance. Daily storage fees add up.
Verified as of Jun 2026Body shop
You choose your own repair shop. Under NY Insurance Law § 2610, the insurer cannot require a specific shop. Ask for an itemized estimate and OEM parts.
Verified as of Jun 2026Medical records
Request copies from each provider; you have a right to them. Keep one folder with every bill, scan, and visit summary.
Verified as of Jun 2026Hospitals & emergency contacts
Level I trauma centers (NYC)
Bellevue (Manhattan) · Elmhurst (Queens) · Kings County (Brooklyn) · Lincoln (Bronx). For severe injuries call 911; EMS routes to the nearest trauma center.
Verified as of Jun 2026Police & crash reports
Call 911 for any injury crash; NYPD must respond and file the MV-104AN. Non-emergency questions: 311. Always get the report or incident number before leaving the scene.
Verified as of Jun 2026Common mistakes to avoid
- 1
Not capturing the app status at the scene.
- 2
Filing against the wrong insurer first.
- 3
Missing the NF-2 30-day deadline because you assumed the rideshare policy pays.
Can you handle this yourself?
Do you need a lawyer for this?
When you want a verified local attorney
Rideshare cases turn on the app-status coverage determination, and NYC's TLC ecosystem adds black-car and livery wrinkles most firms never see. The verified partner firm for New York City can take it from here. One firm, credential-checked. No lead auction.
See the verified firm & start a free evaluation →What runs out, and when
- 30 days from the crash to file your no-fault NF-2 application (NY Insurance Law § 5106). Missing it can forfeit up to $50,000 in PIP benefits. The most urgent New York deadline.
- 3 years from the crash for most New York injury lawsuits (CPLR § 214). Strict.
- 90 days to file a Notice of Claim if a government vehicle was involved (MTA bus, NYPD, sanitation truck), then 1 year and 90 days to sue (Gen. Mun. Law § 50-e).
- Exceptions: deadlines for minors can be tolled under CPLR § 208, and government-claim deadlines are almost never extended. Verify your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays if I'm hurt as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft in NYC?▼
If the trip was active (driver had accepted your ride), Uber and Lyft each carry a $1.25M TLC-mandated liability policy that covers passengers. Your own no-fault PIP ($50k) pays first for medical bills regardless of fault. If your injuries meet the serious injury threshold, you can pursue the $1.25M policy for pain and suffering damages.
What if the Uber driver was hit by another car, who is responsible?▼
If a third-party driver caused the collision, their personal liability policy is the primary defendant. The rideshare company's $1.25M policy may still provide excess coverage. Your own no-fault PIP pays your immediate medical bills. The at-fault third-party driver and the rideshare insurer may both be named in a personal injury suit.
How long do I have to sue after an NYC rideshare accident?▼
3 years from the accident date under CPLR § 214, same as standard auto accidents. If an NYC government vehicle (MTA bus, city vehicle) contributed to the crash, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days, with a lawsuit within 1 year and 90 days.
Does New York's no-fault law apply to Uber and Lyft accidents?▼
Yes. New York's no-fault system applies to all motor vehicle accidents in New York State, including rideshare vehicles. You file NF-2 with your own insurer within 30 days. To sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, your injuries must meet the serious injury threshold under § 5102(d).
How this was verified
Reviewed by: Not Yet Claimed · NY Bar #0000000 · Data as of: Jun 2026 · Next review: 2026-Q3.
What we did not verify: the facts of your specific crash, or any outcome.
Sources & Citations
- statute[1] NYC TLC For-Hire Vehicle Rules § 59A-16 ↗
- statute[2] NY Insurance Law § 5102: Serious Injury Threshold ↗
- .gov[3] NYPD Collision Data 2024 ↗
This guide applies to New York 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 New York attorney.
Check My Case Value & Protect My Claim
Free · No obligation · 24/7 intake open
⚡ Free · No Obligation
See If You Qualify in 60 Seconds
Step 1: Select accident type
What type of accident were you in?