A San Bernardino rideshare accident lawyer helps victims injured in Uber or Lyft crashes recover compensation from insurance companies. These attorneys handle complex cases involving multiple insurance policies, investigate faults, and negotiate with corporate legal teams to secure maximum settlements. You need specialized legal representation because rideshare accidents involve unique insurance coverage rules and corporate tactics designed to minimize payouts.
Rideshare accidents in San Bernardino can leave you facing mounting medical bills, lost wages, and insurance companies that refuse to pay fair compensation. Unlike regular car accidents, Uber and Lyft crashes involve complex insurance periods and corporate policies that determine how much coverage is available for your injuries.
Do I Have a Rideshare Injury Case in San Bernardino?
You have a valid rideshare accident case if you were injured in a collision involving an Uber or Lyft driver where someone else was at fault. This includes situations where the rideshare driver made a mistake, another driver hit your rideshare vehicle, or you were a pedestrian struck by someone working for these companies.
Your case qualifies for compensation in these common scenarios:
- Passenger injuries: You were riding in an Uber or Lyft when the driver caused a crash or another vehicle hit you
- Other driver accidents: A rideshare driver hit your car while you were driving or parked
- Pedestrian strikes: An Uber or Lyft driver hit you while you were walking or biking, situations where a pedestrian accident lawyer can help protect your rights
- Multi-vehicle crashes: Your rideshare was involved in a collision with multiple cars
The key factor is proving someone else caused the accident through careless or reckless behavior. We investigate every accident to gather police reports, witness statements, and camera footage that shows exactly what happened and who was responsible.
Who Pays After an Uber or Lyft Crash?
Multiple insurance policies can apply to your rideshare accident, making it confusing to know who will pay for your injuries. The responsible insurance company depends on who caused the crash and whether the rideshare driver was actively working when it happened.
You might collect money from the rideshare driver’s personal insurance, Uber or Lyft’s commercial policy, or another driver’s coverage. Sometimes all three policies can be involved in paying your claim.
| Accident Scenario | Primary Insurance Coverage |
| Rideshare driver causes crash while on a trip | Uber or Lyft’s $1 million policy |
| Another driver hits your rideshare | The other driver’s auto insurance |
| Rideshare driver causes crash while waiting for rides | Uber or Lyft’s limited coverage |
| Rideshare driver causes crash with app turned off | Driver’s personal auto insurance |
An experienced San Bernardino Uber accident lawyer can identify every available insurance policy and make sure you pursue the maximum compensation. We know how to handle cases where multiple insurance companies are involved and each one tries to avoid paying your claim.
How Do Uber and Lyft Insurance Periods Work?
California law requires rideshare companies to carry different amounts of insurance coverage based on what the driver was doing when your accident happened. Understanding these periods is crucial because it determines how much money is available to pay for your injuries.
A qualified Uber accident attorney in San Bernardino can obtain the app records that prove exactly which insurance period applied to your crash.
App Off
When the rideshare app is completely turned off, the driver is not working for Uber or Lyft. If a crash happens during this time, only the driver’s personal car insurance applies, just like any regular traffic accident. Uber and Lyft provide zero coverage when their app is off.
App On and Waiting
Once a driver turns on the app and becomes available to accept ride requests, limited insurance from Uber or Lyft kicks in. This coverage only applies to injuries the driver causes to other people, not to damage to the driver’s own car.
The minimum coverage amounts are:
- $50,000 for each person injured
- $100,000 total for all injuries in one accident
- $25,000 for property damage
On a Trip or En Route
From the moment a driver accepts your ride request until you exit the vehicle, Uber and Lyft’s full $1 million insurance policy protects everyone involved. This coverage applies whether you are the passenger, someone in another car, or a pedestrian.
This is when most San Bernardino rideshare accident attorney cases have access to maximum insurance coverage. The policy includes protection against uninsured drivers and comprehensive medical coverage.
What Is My Rideshare Accident Claim Worth?
Your claim’s value depends on the severity of your injuries and how the accident has affected your life. Every case is different, but we calculate your damages by looking at both your immediate costs and long-term needs.
You can recover money for several types of losses:
- Medical expenses: All costs for emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, medication, and future treatment needs
- Lost income: Wages you missed from being unable to work, plus reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your old job
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment in life
- Property damage: Repair or replacement costs for your vehicle and any personal items damaged in the crash
Serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, or spinal damage typically result in higher settlements because they require extensive medical treatment and cause lasting problems that a San Bernardino personal injury attorney can help document and value properly. We work with medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries and project your future care needs.
Contact Krasney Law for a free case evaluation to calculate your specific damages. Call us at (909) 380-7200 to discuss what your case might be worth.
What To Do After a Rideshare Crash
Taking the right steps immediately after your accident protects both your health and your legal right to compensation. The actions you take in the first few hours can make or break your case.
Step 1: Call 911 and Get a Report
Always call police to the accident scene, even for minor crashes. An official police report creates a permanent record of what happened and often includes the officer’s opinion about who caused the accident. This report becomes crucial evidence when dealing with insurance companies.
Step 2: Get Medical Care and Save Records
Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine initially. Some serious injuries like concussions or internal bleeding do not show symptoms for hours or days. Getting prompt medical care creates a clear link between the accident and your injuries.
Step 3: Capture Trip Screens and Photos
Take screenshots of your ride details in the Uber or Lyft app before the information disappears from your phone. Also photograph the accident scene, all vehicle damage, your visible injuries, and the license plates of every car involved.
Step 4: Report in the App Without Statements
Use the rideshare app to report the accident to the company, but do not give detailed statements to their representatives or insurance adjusters. Simply state that an accident occurred and that you were injured.
Step 5: Preserve App Logs and GPS Data
Your phone’s app history and the driver’s GPS records prove the driver was working when the crash happened. This data can disappear quickly, so it is important to preserve it immediately after your accident.
Step 6: Call Krasney Law for Free Help
Contact our office as soon as possible so we can begin investigating your case and preserving critical evidence. We handle all communication with insurance companies while you focus on getting better. Call (909) 380-7200 for immediate assistance.
Why Hire Krasney Law for an Uber or Lyft Claim?
Rideshare accident cases involve complex insurance issues that require specific experience to handle properly. Unlike large firms where your case gets passed around, we provide direct, personal attention to ensure you receive maximum compensation.
Our advantages include:
- Proven rideshare experience: We have successfully handled hundreds of Uber and Lyft accident claims throughout San Bernardino and know exactly how these cases work
- App and policy knowledge: We understand how rideshare companies operate, what their insurance policies cover, and how to counter their tactics to minimize payouts
- Maximum recovery focus: Our team investigates every potential source of compensation, including multiple insurance policies and third-party liability
- No upfront costs: You pay nothing unless we win your case, and our contingency fee structure aligns our interests with yours
As your San Bernardino Lyft accident lawyer, we fight against corporate insurance teams that have one goal: paying you as little as possible. We level the playing field by using our experience and resources to secure fair compensation.
At Krasney Law, your case receives personal attention from experienced attorneys who know your name and understand your specific situation. We are not a billboard firm that treats clients like numbers.
How Long Do I Have To File in California?
California’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline applies to most rideshare accident cases, but some situations have shorter time limits.
However, waiting too long to contact an Uber accident lawyer in San Bernardino can seriously damage your case. Critical evidence like app data gets deleted, witnesses forget important details, and insurance companies become less willing to negotiate fair settlements.
Some evidence has even shorter preservation periods:
- App trip data may not be stored indefinitely and could become unavailable over time.
- Traffic camera footage that could prove distracted driving (often requiring a San Bernardino distracted driving accident lawyer to preserve): Often erased within weeks of recording
- Witness memories: Become less reliable as time passes
Starting your case early allows us to secure all available evidence while it is still fresh and accessible.
Will I Need To Go to Court or Pay Upfront Fees?
Most rideshare accident cases settle through negotiations with insurance companies without ever going to court. We are skilled negotiators who know how to deal with corporate insurance teams and their tactics to minimize settlements.
However, we are always prepared to take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation. Our willingness to go to court often motivates insurance companies to make reasonable settlement offers.
You will never pay any money upfront to hire Krasney Law. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we successfully recover money for you through settlement or trial verdict. Our fee comes as a percentage of whatever we collect, so there is no financial risk to you.
This arrangement ensures that we are fully committed to getting you the best possible result because our payment depends on your success.
San Bernardino Rideshare Accident FAQ
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft if Their Driver Hit Me?
You typically cannot sue Uber or Lyft directly because their drivers are independent contractors, but you can file claims against their commercial insurance policies. These policies provide up to $1 million in coverage when drivers are actively working.
What Happens if the Rideshare Driver Was Not Working?
You can still recover compensation through the driver’s personal auto insurance policy, though the coverage limits may be much lower than Uber or Lyft’s commercial policy. We investigate all available insurance sources.
Can I Get Money if I Was Partially at Fault?
California’s comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the accident. Your final settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault, which is why understanding the average settlement for a car accident helps set realistic expectations for your case.
How Do You Prove the Driver Was on the App?
We obtain digital records directly from Uber or Lyft through legal subpoenas that show the driver’s exact status at the time of your accident. These records cannot be altered or deleted by the driver.
What if the Driver Refuses to Report the Accident?
You can still file a successful claim even if the driver fails to report the crash to their rideshare company. We have legal methods to obtain trip data and force the insurance company to investigate your claim.
How Long Do Rideshare Cases Take to Resolve?
The timeline for resolving a rideshare accident case can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the situation and the severity of the injuries involved. We never rush to settle until we know the full extent of your injuries and future needs.
What Does Hiring a Rideshare Lawyer Cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if we successfully recover compensation for you. You only pay if we win, and the consultation is always free.
Can I Still Sue if a Government Vehicle Was Involved?
Yes, but claims against government entities have special rules and much shorter deadlines, often just six months. Contact us immediately at (909) 380-7200 if a police car, bus, or other government vehicle was involved in your rideshare accident.
Don’t let Uber or Lyft’s insurance companies take advantage of you during this difficult time. Call Krasney Law at (909) 380-7200 for your free rideshare accident consultation today. We have helped hundreds of San Bernardino accident victims get the full compensation they deserve, and we are ready to fight for you.