1. Passenger Injured during an Active Ride
When a passenger is injured during an active Uber trip, California Public Utilities Code § 5433(b)(1) requires $1,000,000 in primary liability insurance. The coverage begins when the driver accepts a ride request and continues until the transaction or ride is completed, whichever is later.
Liability and Evidence in a Passenger Injury Claim
That does not mean an injured passenger automatically receives $1 million. Liability depends on who caused the collision, while compensation depends on the injuries and resulting losses. A passenger may have a claim against the rideshare driver, another motorist, or more than one responsible party. Trip receipts, app records, police reports, photographs, medical records, and vehicle data can help establish the driver's status and how the collision occurred. These records are particularly useful when an [Accident Injury](https://www.daeryunlaw.com/us/practices/detail/accident-injury) claim involves competing accounts of fault.
2. Rideshare Driver Hit by Another Vehicle
A rideshare driver can also be the injured party. If another motorist causes the collision, the driver's claim may involve the at-fault motorist's liability policy as well as coverage associated with rideshare activity.
Personal auto policies may limit or exclude coverage while a driver is engaged in rideshare work. The result depends on the policy language and any applicable rideshare endorsement, so a personal policy should not automatically be treated as unavailable in every case.
App status remains important. California Public Utilities Code § 5433(c) establishes primary TNC insurance requirements when a driver is logged into the platform but has not yet accepted a ride request. Screenshots, electronic logs, trip records, and platform communications can help establish exactly what the driver was doing when the crash occurred.
App Status and Insurance Coverage Tiers
California's insurance framework changes as a rideshare driver moves from personal driving to waiting for a request and then to an accepted trip.
| App Status / Period | Primary Liability Coverage | Required Statutory Minimums | Um/Uim |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Off | Personal Auto Policy | $30,000 / $60,000 / $15,000 | Depends on personal policy coverage |
| Period 1: App On, Waiting | Primary TNC Insurance | $50,000 / $100,000 / $30,000, plus at least $200,000 excess per occurrence | No separate TNC statutory minimum for this period |
| Period 2: Ride Accepted | Primary TNC Insurance | $1,000,000 Primary Liability | Policy-specific before passenger entry |
| Period 3: Passenger in Vehicle | Primary TNC Insurance | $1,000,000 Primary Liability | $60,000 per person / $300,000 per incident |
For an app-off driver, California's standard minimum automobile liability limits are $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. Those minimums have applied since January 1, 2025.
3. Pedestrian or Cyclist Struck by an Uber Vehicle
A pedestrian or cyclist hit by a rideshare vehicle may pursue a third-party injury claim when the driver is at fault. If the driver had already accepted a ride request, the $1 million primary TNC liability requirement may apply even if the passenger had not yet entered the vehicle.
Determining Fault in Pedestrian and Cyclist Claims
App status is only one part of the analysis. Insurers may also examine traffic signals, crosswalk location, right-of-way, visibility, phone records, surveillance footage, and witness accounts to determine how the collision occurred. California follows comparative fault principles, so an injured pedestrian or cyclist is not necessarily barred from recovery when some fault is attributed to that person. California Civil Code § 1431.2 preserves joint liability for economic damages among jointly liable defendants, while liability for noneconomic damages is generally several and proportional to fault.
4. Multiple-Vehicle Pile-Up Involving Rideshare
A chain-reaction collision can involve several drivers, insurers, and competing explanations about which impact started the sequence. When an Uber vehicle is involved, the driver's app status adds another coverage question.
Evidence and Multiple Sources of Liability
Physical damage patterns, roadway evidence, dashcam footage, traffic cameras, event data, and witness statements can help reconstruct the order of impacts. These details become especially important in a Multi-Vehicle Accident, where responsibility may be divided among several motorists.
Settlement documents also deserve close attention. Accepting payment from one insurer without reviewing the scope of a release can affect remaining claims. Identifying potentially responsible drivers and available policies before signing a release helps avoid overlooking another source of coverage.
5. Accident during the Driver'S Waiting Period
Period 1 begins when the rideshare driver is logged into the app and available to accept requests but has not yet accepted one. California Public Utilities Code § 5433(c) requires primary liability insurance of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident for bodily injury, and $30,000 for property damage.
Proving the Driver Was in Period 1
The 2026 framework also requires at least $200,000 in excess liability coverage per occurrence during this period. The statutory TNC coverage is primary and does not depend on first obtaining a formal denial from the driver's personal insurer.
App status can become a central factual issue. Timestamped screenshots, platform activity history, location data, and electronic communications may establish whether the app was active when the collision occurred. That evidence can determine which insurance tier applies.
6. Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Collision during an Uber Ride
When an uninsured driver causes a collision or leaves the scene, a different coverage issue arises. For passengers, California's TNC insurance framework requires uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident from passenger entry through passenger exit.
Evidence to Preserve after a Hit-and-Run
These claims can depend on evidence showing that an unidentified or uninsured vehicle caused the collision. After the crash, useful steps include:
- Request a police report and provide available identifying information about the other vehicle.
- Preserve app receipts, driver information, photographs, dashcam footage, and witness contact details.
- Report the collision through the appropriate rideshare and insurance channels without unnecessary delay.
- Keep medical records and related expenses documenting injuries and losses associated with the crash.
A hit-and-run does not necessarily eliminate available insurance recovery simply because the responsible driver cannot be identified. Reviewing potentially applicable Auto Insurance Claims coverage can reveal other sources of recovery.
17 Sep, 2026
