Uber and Lyft Accidents in California: Whose Insurance Pays?

Rideshare services are everywhere in California, and crashes involving them can be more complicated than ordinary car accidents. The biggest question is often which insurance policy applies. This is general information, not legal advice.

Coverage depends on app status

In California, Transportation Network Companies are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. The available coverage generally depends on what the driver was doing: whether the app was off, the driver was waiting for a request, or the driver was on the way to or transporting a passenger.

When a rideshare driver is actively transporting a passenger, a $1 million third-party liability policy is typically available.

Why it gets complicated

Multiple insurers may be involved, and they may dispute which policy applies. Identifying the driver’s app status and the correct coverage is often the key challenge in these cases.