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Written by Adrianos Facchetti, Esq. · Last updated: November 2026If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash in Glendale, a Glendale rideshare accident lawyer can figure out which insurance policy should pay and fight for your full recovery. The answer depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash: offline, waiting for a ride request, or on a trip. You generally have two years to file a lawsuit.
Glendale is one of the busiest rideshare markets in the San Fernando Valley and Northeast Los Angeles. The Americana at Brand and the Glendale Galleria draw a steady stream of pickups, and drivers stop, double-park and pull in and out of traffic all along Brand Boulevard, Colorado Street and Central Avenue. As a Glendale personal injury lawyer since 2006, Adrianos Facchetti represents passengers, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists hurt in these crashes.
Your first consultation is free, and there is no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. Reach us at (626) 793-8607, day or night.
Why Uber and Lyft Accidents Are More Complicated Than Regular Car Crashes
A normal crash involves two drivers and their insurance. A rideshare crash adds more layers:
- ●The driver is not an employee. Uber and Lyft treat drivers as independent contractors, which creates coverage gaps and disputes that a trucking or delivery company crash would not have.
- ●The coverage changes minute to minute. How much insurance applies depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of impact.
- ●Several insurers may be involved. The driver’s personal policy, Uber’s or Lyft’s commercial policy, another driver’s policy and your own policy can all come into play.
How Uber and Lyft Insurance Works in California
California requires rideshare companies to carry insurance in three periods, based on the driver’s status in the app (Public Utilities Code § 5433).
| Driver’s app status | Which insurance applies |
|---|---|
| App off | Only the driver’s personal auto policy |
| Period 1: app on, waiting for a ride request | Limited coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for injuries, often disputed |
| Periods 2 and 3: ride accepted, or passenger in the car | Uber’s or Lyft’s $1 million liability policy |
Period 1 is the most contested. Insurers argue about whether the driver was truly logged in, and the personal insurer may deny the claim, saying the driver was working. That is why proof of app status, covered below, matters so much.
The 2026 Change to Uninsured Motorist Coverage
California’s SB 371 reduced the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage Uber and Lyft must carry, from $1 million to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per crash (CalMatters). That coverage protects passengers when an uninsured or underinsured driver causes the crash. With less available, it is even more important to find every other policy that may apply, including the at-fault driver’s and your own.
Can You Sue Uber or Lyft After an Accident?
Usually the claim is made against Uber’s or Lyft’s insurance, not the company itself. Because drivers are classified as independent contractors, the companies are generally not responsible for a driver’s mistakes the way an employer would be. Their commercial insurance is what pays when the driver was on a trip or heading to a pickup.
In some situations, a claim against the company itself may be possible. A lawyer can review whether your facts support it. Learn more in our post on suing Uber or Lyft after a crash.
Who May Be Responsible After a Glendale Rideshare Crash?
The Rideshare Driver
Checking the app for new requests, running a light on Colorado Street to reach a pickup, or rear-ending a car near the Galleria while rushing are all driver negligence, no matter the app status.
Uber’s or Lyft’s Commercial Insurance
When the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger, the platform’s $1 million policy is usually the main source of coverage. Claiming it requires proof of the driver’s app status and trip details.
Another Driver Who Caused the Crash
Not every rideshare crash is the rideshare driver’s fault. If another driver ran a light or rear-ended the rideshare car, that driver’s insurance is the primary target. If that driver had little or no insurance, rideshare and personal uninsured motorist coverage may help.
More Than One Party
Fault is often shared. Under California’s comparative fault rules, the rideshare driver and another driver can both be responsible, and we pursue each source of coverage.
What If You Were a Passenger?
Passengers are in the strongest position of anyone in a rideshare crash. You were not driving, so you are not at fault, and if the driver had accepted your ride, the platform’s $1 million policy applies.
You may claim against the at-fault driver, whether that is your rideshare driver or another motorist, and against the platform’s commercial insurance. Be careful with quick offers from the rideshare company’s claims team. They often come before you know how serious your injuries are.
What If a Rideshare Driver Hit You?
You do not have to be a passenger to have a claim. If an Uber or Lyft driver hit your car, struck you in a crosswalk near a pickup zone, or clipped your bike on Brand Boulevard, you have the same rights as anyone hurt by a careless driver. The insurance available depends on the driver’s app status.
- ●Drivers hit by a rideshare vehicle: see our Glendale car accident lawyer page
- ●Pedestrians struck near pickup areas: see our Glendale pedestrian accident lawyer page
- ●Cyclists: see our Glendale bicycle accident lawyer page
Hurt in an Uber or Lyft in Glendale?
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Evidence That Proves the Driver Was Working
The driver’s app status is often the central fight in a rideshare case. Evidence that helps:
- 1Your trip receipt: screenshot the trip, driver name, route and times right away.
- 2Rideshare app records: driver activity logs can be obtained from Uber or Lyft through the legal process.
- 3GPS data: the app tracks the driver’s location and trip status.
- 4Phone records: these can confirm whether the app was active.
- 5The police report: officers sometimes note that the driver was working for Uber or Lyft.
- 6Dashcam footage: many rideshare drivers use dashcams.
- 7Photos and witnesses: vehicle damage, Uber or Lyft stickers, and what people saw.
!
Screenshot your Uber or Lyft trip details now, before they change.The driver’s app status decides which insurance pays, and that proof can be hard to get later.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Glendale
- 1Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine.
- 2Screenshot your trip in the app before anything changes.
- 3Get the driver’s name, insurance and plate, plus the other driver’s information if another car was involved.
- 4Report the crash in the Uber or Lyft app.
- 5Photograph the scene, the vehicles and your injuries.
- 6Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurer, including the rideshare company’s.
Common Injuries in Rideshare Crashes
- ●Whiplash and neck injuries
- ●Back injuries and herniated discs
- ●Concussions and brain injuries
- ●Broken bones
- ●Shoulder and knee injuries
- ●Internal injuries
- ●Anxiety and emotional distress
Passengers in the back seat are often relaxed or looking at their phones and do not brace for impact, which can make injuries worse. For permanent or life-changing injuries, see our Glendale catastrophic accident lawyer page.
How Much Can You Sue Uber or Lyft For?
There is no set amount. The value of your claim depends on your injuries and losses, and on how much insurance is available, which depends on the driver’s app status. During an active trip, up to $1 million in liability coverage may be available. Compensation can include:
- ●Medical bills, now and in the future
- ●Lost wages and reduced ability to earn
- ●Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- ●Property damage to your car, bike or belongings
- ●Rehabilitation and long-term care
If a rideshare crash took a loved one’s life, the family may have a claim. See our Glendale wrongful death lawyer page.
A few of the firm’s results in vehicle crash cases:
| Result | Case type |
|---|---|
| $5,000,000 | Auto vs. truck crash |
| $850,000 | Freeway rear-end crash |
| $500,000 | Rear-end auto collision (underinsured motorist claim) |
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See all case results.
How Long Do You Have to File a Rideshare Accident Claim?
In California, you generally have two years from the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (CCP § 335.1). If a city vehicle, Metro bus or dangerous public road was involved, a government claim is due within six months. App records and video can disappear long before then, so start early.
What Percentage Do Rideshare Accident Lawyers Take?
Most work on a contingency fee, a percentage of what is recovered, often around a third. With us, there is no upfront cost, and if we do not recover money for you, you owe no attorney’s fee. Your exact percentage and how case costs are handled are spelled out in writing before you sign. Read more about what percentage personal injury lawyers take.
Talk to a Glendale Rideshare Accident Lawyer Now
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Why Rideshare Accident Victims Choose Adrianos Facchetti
- ●Insurance disputes are our focus: app-status fights and multi-policy claims are where rideshare cases are won
- ●Uninsured motorist experience: including a $500,000 underinsured motorist recovery
- ●You work with the attorney: cases are handled personally, not passed off to case managers
- ●Recognized by peers: Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent; California State Bar No. 243213
- ●English, Spanish and Portuguese
Glendale Rideshare Accident FAQs
Can I sue Uber if I was in an accident?
Usually you claim against Uber’s insurance rather than Uber itself, because drivers are independent contractors. If the driver was on a trip or heading to a pickup, Uber’s $1 million policy generally applies.
What if the driver was between rides?
If the app was on but no ride was accepted, a smaller layer of rideshare coverage applies, and only after the driver’s personal insurance. These claims are often disputed, so proof of app status matters.
Does my own insurance cover me as a passenger?
It may. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and medical payments coverage, can add protection, especially now that required rideshare uninsured motorist coverage is lower.
What should I not tell the insurance company?
Don’t guess about fault, downplay your injuries, or give a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer. Stick to basic facts and let your attorney handle the rest.
What if I was hurt while driving for Uber or Lyft?
You may have a claim against an at-fault driver, plus coverage through the rideshare company’s policies. Drivers’ situations differ, so get a free review of your specific facts.
How long does a rideshare accident case take?
Many settle within several months to a year. Cases with disputed app status, serious injuries or multiple insurers can take longer.
Will Uber or Lyft deactivate the driver if I file a claim?
Your claim is against insurance, not a complaint about the driver’s job. The companies make their own decisions about drivers, and that is not something you control.
Talk to a Glendale Rideshare Accident Lawyer for Free
Rideshare insurance is confusing by design. Let us sort out which policy pays while you focus on recovering.
When you reach out, we will:
- 1Review the crash and your injuries in a free, confidential consultation.
- 2Lock down the trip records and app status evidence before it disappears.
- 3Take over with every insurer, the rideshare company’s included.
We also help people hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes in Burbank and across Los Angeles County.
Call (626) 793-8607 or send us a message with a few details about your Uber or Lyft crash. Hablamos español. Falamos português.
General information only, not legal advice. Every case is different.
