You tapped the app, your Lyft showed up, and ten minutes later you were in a crash. Now you’re sore, shaken, and wondering something most people never think about until it happens: whose insurance pays for this?
It’s a fair question, and the answer isn’t obvious. A normal accident involves two drivers and two insurers. A rideshare accident can involve the driver’s personal policy, Lyft’s own coverage, the other driver’s policy, and your own no-fault benefits, all at the same time. Which one applies depends on small details, like what the driver’s app was doing when the car was hit.
In Patchogue, rideshares are part of daily life. People use them to get home from downtown on a Friday night, to catch a train, or to get to and from the ferry in summer. If you were hurt in one, here’s how these claims generally work.
Coverage depends on what the app was doing
The single biggest factor is the driver’s status in the app at the moment of impact. Roughly, it breaks down like this:
- App off. The driver is just a regular driver. Their personal auto policy applies, and Lyft’s coverage doesn’t.
- App on, waiting for a ride request. Lyft generally provides some liability coverage here, but it’s much more limited than what applies once a ride is underway.
- Ride accepted, driver heading to pick up the passenger, or passenger in the car. This is when the biggest coverage kicks in. Outside New York City, state law requires $1.25 million in liability coverage from the time a driver accepts a ride until the passenger gets out. Patchogue is well outside the city, so that rule is the one that matters here.
That last number is significant. A regular driver might carry a policy with limits of $25,000 or $50,000. When a serious injury is involved, the gap between that and $1.25 million can be the difference between a claim that covers your care and one that doesn’t.
Keep in mind that Lyft’s insurance terms are updated from time to time, and the exact coverage that applies to your accident depends on the facts. The only way to know for sure is to look at the actual policies.
Who can make a claim, and against whom
You don’t have to be the passenger to be affected by a Lyft crash. The picture changes a bit depending on where you were:
- If you were a passenger, you didn’t cause the crash, and you can generally look to the Lyft driver’s coverage if the driver was at fault, or to the other driver’s insurance if they were. Sometimes both are involved.
- If you were in another car that a Lyft driver hit, your claim is against the Lyft driver and whatever coverage applies to them at that moment.
- If you were a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a Lyft vehicle, the same coverage questions apply.
- If you drive for Lyft and got hurt, the other driver’s insurance, your own policy and Lyft’s coverage may all come into play, and the rules for drivers differ from those for passengers.
Who was at fault matters just as much as the insurance. If a different driver ran a light and hit the Lyft, that driver’s policy is the first place to look. If the Lyft driver was texting or speeding, then the Lyft driver’s coverage is in play. Sometimes it’s a mix of both, and New York’s comparative fault rules mean each party’s share of the blame can reduce what they owe.
What to do at the scene, and in the app
The basics are the same as any crash. Call 911, get medical help, and make sure police come and write a report. Take photos of both vehicles, the road and your injuries. Get the other driver’s information and names of any witnesses.
A few things are specific to rideshares:
- Screenshot your trip details, or save the receipt, as soon as you can. That proves you were in the car and shows the driver, the vehicle and the time.
- Note the driver’s name, license plate and the car’s make and color.
- Report the crash through the Lyft app, but keep it short and factual. Don’t speculate about fault.
- Be careful with calls from any insurance adjuster, including one working for Lyft. Their job is to limit what the company pays.
Remember New York’s no-fault system as well. As a passenger you can generally turn to no-fault benefits for early medical bills and part of your lost earnings, no matter who caused the crash, but the paperwork has deadlines. The no-fault application is usually due within 30 days, so don’t wait. And if you want to go after compensation for pain and suffering, your injury will generally need to meet New York’s “serious injury” standard.
Why it’s worth talking to a lawyer
Rideshare cases have more moving parts than ordinary car accident claims. There can be several insurers, each hoping another one will take the hit, and the coverage that applies can change based on a detail like when the driver accepted the ride. A lawyer’s job is to sort that out, request the app records and insurance policies, and make sure nobody is left holding the bag, especially you.
If you’re hurt, you shouldn’t have to figure all of this out while you’re recovering.
Beck Law, P.C. helps people injured in rideshare crashes across Suffolk County, including Patchogue. You can read more about the firm’s Lyft accident work or call (516) 388-7785 for a free case evaluation. Calls are taken 24/7, and you pay nothing unless the firm recovers money for you.
