Las Vegas Uber, Lyft and Rideshare Accident Lawyers
Gallagher & Lipshutz represents people injured in Uber and Lyft crashes in Las Vegas, Henderson and Summerlin, with particular focus on passengers injured during active rides. Our rideshare accident attorneys also handle claims when another driver hit the rideshare vehicle, when a rideshare driver caused a crash, when a rideshare driver was hurt while working, or when insurance companies dispute which policy should pay. Las Vegas has heavy rideshare use around the Strip, Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, T-Mobile Arena, downtown, and casino properties. These claims often involve tourists, rental vehicles, out of state drivers, and more than one insurance company.
As a passenger, you are usually not the person accused of causing the crash. The harder question is usually which insurance policy pays. Rideshare claims often turn on app status, trip status, who accepted the ride, when the ride began, whether you were already in the vehicle, whether the rideshare driver or another driver caused the crash, and whether another policy must pay first. Those details can decide whether the claim is handled under a personal auto policy, a rideshare policy, or another driver's insurance.
We offer free consultations for people injured in rideshare crashes. Call (702) 381-3770 or contact Gallagher & Lipshutz before giving a recorded statement or accepting a rideshare insurance company's offer. The app may make the ride look simple, but the insurance rules can be anything but simple. Nevada gives most injury victims two years to file — see our Nevada injury claim deadlines page.
Injured as an Uber or Lyft Passenger: Your Right to Recover
If you were a passenger, you usually have a claim against the at fault driver or the insurance policy that applies to that driver. The at fault driver may be your Uber or Lyft driver, another driver, or both. A passenger normally did not control speed, route, lane changes, traffic signals, vehicle maintenance, or the other driver's conduct. That often makes the right to recover clearer than it is for drivers who may be accused of causing the crash.
The insurance part can still be disputed. The claim may involve the rideshare driver's personal policy, Uber or Lyft's rideshare policy, another driver's policy, or uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. The crash date, active trip status, policy forms, Nevada law in effect on that date, and each insurance company's coverage position all come into it.
How Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage Works: Nevada's Three Periods
Rideshare insurance depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. Nevada law, NRS 690B.470, splits a rideshare driver's day into three periods. Each period has its own minimum. Every one of these policies is liability coverage, which means it pays for injuries the rideshare driver causes. If another driver causes the crash, that driver's insurance pays, not these policies.
When the app is off, the driver is a private driver. Only the driver's personal car insurance applies, and it must carry Nevada's ordinary minimums of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries the driver causes. Most personal policies do not cover rideshare driving at all, so a driver who was between rides with the app closed is treated like any other driver.
When the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request, a rideshare policy must cover injuries the driver causes at these minimums: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash and $25,000 for property damage. Uber and Lyft usually provide this policy, and the company's policy has to pay if the driver's own policy has lapsed or falls short.
From the moment the driver accepts a ride until the passenger gets out of the car, the rideshare policy must cover at least $1,000,000 for injuries and property damage the driver causes in one crash. That period covers the drive to pick you up, the ride itself and the moment you step out. It is the period that applies to almost every injured passenger. That money is not available if the rideshare driver was not at fault. The law lets the driver, the company or both supply the policy. The rideshare company that pays for it is not treated as the owner of the car.
Coverage for uninsured and underinsured drivers is optional under the statute. Whether the rideshare policy protects you when the other driver had no insurance depends on the policy Uber or Lyft bought. That is one of the first things we check.
For an injured passenger on an active trip, the $1 million policy is the central coverage when the Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash. If another driver caused it, that driver's insurance is the first policy reviewed. The rideshare policy comes back into play only if it includes uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and the other driver was uninsured, underinsured or left the scene.
Opening an Uber or Lyft Accident Claim
An injured passenger can usually report the crash in the Uber or Lyft app or through the company's online accident reporting process. Uber's rider accident reporting page can be found here, and Lyft's accident reporting page can be found here. Reporting through the app or online helps create a record that the crash happened during a rideshare trip, but it does not replace a civil injury claim or a complete insurance review.
The claims process can be slow and complicated. Uber, Lyft, the rideshare driver, another driver, and multiple insurance companies may all need information, and each may wait for someone else to act first. It is usually best to get an attorney involved early so the correct claim is opened, the trip records are obtained, and the insurance companies are pushed to identify the coverage that applies.
When Another Driver Hit Your Uber or Lyft
If another driver hit the Uber or Lyft, that driver's insurance is usually the first policy to evaluate. Nevada drivers must carry at least $25,000 of injury coverage for each person hurt in a crash, up to a total of $50,000 per accident, plus $20,000 for property damage. If three people are injured in one crash, they share the $50,000, with no more than $25,000 going to any one person, which is often far too little for a serious injury. See Nevada's minimum car insurance statute, NRS 485.185, and the Nevada Division of Insurance summary.
If that driver was uninsured, underinsured, or left the scene, the claim may require review of other coverage under the rideshare policy and any other policy that might apply. Each insurance company may try to point to another company first. Trip data, police reports, insurance pages, and policy language decide the claim, because a passenger should not be stuck in a loop where every company says someone else should pay.
Common Problems in Rideshare Passenger Claims
Common disputes include whether the driver was logged into the app, whether the ride had been accepted, whether the passenger was already in the vehicle, whether a third party or the rideshare driver caused the crash, whether uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage applies, and whether the crash caused the injuries being claimed. Insurance companies may also ask for broad medical authorizations or recorded statements. A broad medical authorization can let the insurance company search far beyond the records needed for the crash.
A rideshare passenger should be careful not to guess about speed, impact angles, traffic signals, or what the drivers saw. Say what you know, keep your records, and let the physical evidence fill in the gaps. If you were visiting Las Vegas and returned home after the crash, keep the Nevada emergency room papers, discharge instructions, trip receipt, travel records, follow up medical records, and wage loss proof from your home state.
Rideshare Drivers Injured While Working
Uber and Lyft drivers are hurt in the same crashes as their passengers, and their claims are harder. When another driver caused the crash, the claim starts with that driver's insurance, and it runs into the same $25,000 minimum that limits every Nevada crash claim. Whether the rideshare policy adds uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage depends on the period the driver was in and on the policy the company bought, and the driver's own personal policy usually excludes anything that happened while the app was on. Uber and Lyft treat drivers as independent contractors, so workers' compensation is generally not available either. A rideshare driver with a serious injury needs the coverage identified early, including any optional coverage in the rideshare policy and any uninsured motorist coverage on the driver's own car.
Rideshare Accidents in Henderson, Summerlin and at the Airport
The same Nevada law and the same three insurance periods apply wherever the crash happened in Clark County, but the police report and the evidence come from different places. A crash on the Strip, downtown, at Allegiant Stadium or in Summerlin is investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. A crash in Henderson, including Green Valley, the Lake Las Vegas resorts and the casinos along I-215, is investigated by the Henderson Police Department, which keeps its own reports. A crash on I-15, US-95 or the 215 Beltway is usually handled by the Nevada Highway Patrol. Our guide to getting your Las Vegas crash report covers each agency.
Harry Reid International Airport has designated rideshare pickup areas and constant rideshare traffic, and airport crashes have their own evidence: the designated rideshare pickup areas, the airport's cameras and the trip record showing an airport pickup or drop-off. Casino properties in Summerlin, Henderson and on the Strip likewise have valet and rideshare lanes covered by surveillance cameras, and that video is overwritten quickly. Our rideshare accident attorneys contact the properties with cameras pointing to where the crash happened in the first days after a crash.
How We Prove App Status and Coverage
Coverage in a rideshare case often turns on app status. A passenger should save the ride receipt, map, pickup time, driver name, license plate, vehicle description, payment receipt, and any in app messages. Those records help show that the passenger was on an active trip, which is the key coverage fact in many Uber and Lyft passenger claims.
More evidence may come from subpoenas or insurance requests. That evidence can include trip logs, GPS data, driver status, crash reports, claim letters, and policy declarations. A subpoena is a court backed request for records or testimony. If a third party driver caused the crash, the claim may also need that driver's insurance information, vehicle ownership records, and any uninsured or underinsured motorist policy language that might apply.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Las Vegas
If you were injured as an Uber or Lyft passenger in Las Vegas, the steps you take right after the crash can help establish trip status, identify the right insurance, and protect your claim. Here is what to do.
Step 1: Check for Injuries
Check yourself and other passengers. Ask for medical help if you feel pain, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or any symptom that concerns you.
Step 2: Call 9-1-1
Call the police if anyone is injured, the crash blocks traffic, a driver leaves, or driving while intoxicated is suspected. Follow the responding officers' instructions.
Step 3: Report in the App
Report the crash to Uber or Lyft through the app, but keep your own records. The app report is not a substitute for your evidence.
Step 4: Screenshot Trip Details
Save screenshots of the driver, vehicle, plate, route, pickup time, trip status, receipt, and messages. These help prove you were a passenger on an active trip.
Step 5: Take Pictures
Photograph the vehicles, damage, plates, roadway, rideshare decal if visible, crash location, and your injuries.
Step 6: Get the Drivers' Information
Take pictures of each driver's driver's license, insurance, and registration. Get phone numbers and vehicle information from the rideshare driver and any other driver involved.
Step 7: Find Witnesses
Get witness names and phone numbers before they leave. Ask whether any nearby business or hotel may have video.
Step 8: Go to the Doctor
Get medical care promptly and tell the doctor you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash. Keep discharge papers, bills, and follow up instructions.
What are my rights as a Lyft passenger injured in Las Vegas?
As a passenger you rarely share fault, so you generally have a claim against whichever driver caused the crash — your Lyft driver, another driver, or both — and against the insurance that covers that driver. On an active trip, the $1 million rideshare policy Nevada requires under NRS 690B.470 is usually the central coverage. You can recover medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering, and you have two years from the crash to file suit under NRS 11.190(4)(e).
Can I sue Uber or the driver after a rideshare accident in Las Vegas, NV?
Yes, you can bring a claim against the driver who caused the crash. If your Uber driver was at fault during an active trip, that claim is usually paid by the $1 million rideshare insurance Nevada requires under NRS 690B.470. Suing Uber itself is harder, because Uber treats drivers as independent contractors, but your insurance claim does not depend on winning that argument. Most claims settle with the insurers; a lawsuit is filed when they will not pay fairly, and it must be filed within two years.
Who is liable for injuries in an Uber accident in Las Vegas?
The driver who caused the crash is liable, and the insurance that covers that driver pays. If your Uber driver was at fault during an active trip, the $1 million rideshare policy required by NRS 690B.470 applies. If another driver was at fault, that driver and that driver's insurer are liable first, with the rideshare policy's optional uninsured motorist coverage as a possible second layer. Uber itself is rarely liable directly, because Nevada law does not treat the company as the owner of the car and Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors, but a passenger's claim does not depend on holding Uber liable; it depends on identifying the right policy and proving the injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue if I was injured as an Uber passenger in Las Vegas?
Yes, if another person or company is responsible for the crash and your injuries. The claim may be against the rideshare driver, another driver, or an insurance policy that applies to the trip. As a passenger, you are usually not the person blamed for the crash.
Can I sue if I was injured as a Lyft passenger?
Yes. As a Lyft passenger, the main issues are usually fault, app status, active trip status, insurance coverage, proof that the crash caused the injury, and damages. The claim may involve Lyft's policy, another driver's policy, or both.
How much insurance applies during an Uber or Lyft trip in Nevada?
From the moment the driver accepts your ride until you get out of the car, Nevada law requires at least $1,000,000 in coverage for injuries and property damage the rideshare driver causes. While the driver is logged in and waiting for a request, the minimum is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for injuries the rideshare driver causes. Those policies pay only when the Uber or Lyft driver was at fault. See Nevada's rideshare coverage statute, NRS 690B.470.
Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover me if the other driver was uninsured?
Not automatically. Nevada requires the rideshare company to carry liability coverage for crashes its driver causes, but uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional under NRS 690B.470. Some rideshare policies include it and some do not, so the policy in force on the crash date has to be read. Your own car insurance may also have uninsured motorist coverage that applies to you as a passenger in someone else's car.
What if another driver hit my Uber or Lyft?
The other driver's insurance may be the first policy to review, but other coverage may apply if that driver had no insurance, too little insurance, or left the scene. The rideshare trip records and policy language need to be checked before any final coverage decision.
Should I report the crash through the app?
Yes, but keep your own records too. Save screenshots, receipts, police report numbers, photos, medical records, and messages because the app may not give you all the insurance information you need. You can also report through Uber's or Lyft's online accident reporting pages.
How long do I have to file an Uber or Lyft accident claim in Nevada?
Most Nevada rideshare injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. That deadline comes from Nevada's general injury filing deadline, NRS 11.190(4)(e). Rideshare cases should be investigated sooner because app data, vehicle data, and witness information can become harder to get. See our Nevada injury filing deadlines page.
What if I was visiting Las Vegas when the crash happened?
You can still have a Nevada claim if the crash happened in Nevada. Out of state residence may affect medical records, bills, and logistics, but it does not erase the claim. Keep your trip receipt, police report number, Nevada medical papers, travel records, and follow up care records.
Gallagher & Lipshutz's rideshare accident attorneys represent injured passengers, drivers and others hurt in Uber, Lyft and other rideshare crashes in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Clark County. For a free consultation, call (702) 381-3770 or contact Gallagher & Lipshutz. Rideshare claims often turn on app records, so it is smart to gather and save those records early.
