Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney in Utah: Who Pays When a Rideshare Driver Crashes?

Uber and Lyft have become a common way to get around Utah. When a rideshare vehicle is involved in a crash, though, figuring out who pays is more complicated than in a typical car accident. Several insurance policies may apply, and which one is responsible depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash.

This guide explains how rideshare insurance works under Utah law, how Utah’s no-fault rules fit in, and what to do if you were hurt.

Utah’s Rideshare Insurance Law

Utah regulates Uber, Lyft, and similar services as transportation network companies (TNCs) under the Transportation Network Company Registration Act. Utah Code § 13-51-108 sets the insurance that must be in place while a driver is working. The coverage can be bought by the company, by the driver, or a combination of the two.

The key question in any rideshare claim is what the driver was doing when the crash happened.

Coverage Depends on the Driver’s App Status

App Off: The Driver Is Not Working

When the app is off, the driver is a private motorist. The driver’s personal auto insurance is what applies. Rideshare insurance does not.

App On, Waiting for a Ride Request

When the driver is logged in and available but has not accepted a ride, Utah law calls this a waiting period. Section 13-51-108 requires insurance that covers the driver on a primary basis during this time, with liability limits of at least:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per incident for bodily injury
• $30,000 for property damage

The coverage must also include personal injury protection (PIP) as required by Utah law, plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage where Utah law requires it. The statute also says this coverage cannot be conditioned on the driver’s personal auto insurer denying the claim first.

During a Prearranged Ride

Once the driver is on a prearranged ride, the required coverage increases to at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage per occurrence. It must also include PIP and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage where Utah law requires it.

Why Personal Policies Matter

Utah allows personal auto insurers to exclude coverage for rideshare driving. That is one reason disputes over which policy applies are common, and why the app data showing the driver’s status at the time of the crash is so important.

How Utah’s No-Fault Rules Apply to Rideshare Crashes

Utah is a no-fault state for injuries in car crashes. After most crashes, injured people first turn to PIP benefits for medical bills and part of their lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash. Depending on the situation, PIP may come from your own policy or from the rideshare coverage. Learn more in our overview of PIP insurance coverage.

To bring a claim against the at-fault driver for general damages such as pain and suffering, your injuries must meet a threshold under Utah Code § 31A-22-309: death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or more than $3,000 in medical expenses.

Who Pays in Common Rideshare Scenarios?

You Were a Passenger

Passengers are on a prearranged ride, so the $1,000,000 liability coverage applies if the rideshare driver caused the crash. If another driver caused it, that driver’s liability insurance is the first place to look, and the rideshare policy’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help if the other driver’s coverage is too low.

A Rideshare Driver Hit You

If you were in another vehicle, on foot, or on a bike, the coverage depends on the driver’s app status: personal insurance if the app was off, the waiting-period coverage if the driver was available, and the $1,000,000 coverage during a prearranged ride. For crashes involving cyclists, see bike accidents in Utah caused by rideshare drivers.

Another Driver Hit the Rideshare Vehicle

The at-fault driver’s liability insurance is primary. Utah’s minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person, $65,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage, which is often not enough for serious injuries. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can fill the gap. If the other driver fled or had no insurance, you may need to file a Utah uninsured motorist claim.

Can You Sue Uber or Lyft Directly?

Rideshare companies generally treat drivers as independent contractors, which makes direct claims against the company harder. In most cases, recovery comes through the insurance required by § 13-51-108. Whether a claim against the company itself is possible depends on the facts.

Utah’s Comparative Fault Rule

Utah follows modified comparative fault under Utah Code § 78B-5-818. You can recover if your share of fault is less than 50%, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $80,000. At 50% or more, you cannot recover.

In multi-vehicle crashes, fault may be divided among several drivers. Similar questions come up in rear-end crashes in Utah, where fault does not always rest with the rear driver.

Common Challenges in Rideshare Claims

Disputes between insurers: The driver’s personal insurer may say the rideshare coverage applies, while the rideshare insurer may argue the opposite.

App status evidence: The exact moment a driver logged on, accepted a ride, or ended a trip can decide which coverage applies. That data comes from the rideshare company and needs to be requested early.

Multiple adjusters: Claims can involve the driver’s insurer, the rideshare insurer, the other driver’s insurer, and your own, each with its own process.

Determining responsibility in these cases is a lot like sorting out company vs. driver liability in Utah truck accident claims.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitation
• Future medical care
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering, if your injuries meet Utah’s no-fault threshold
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Property damage

Steps to Take After a Rideshare Crash in Utah

• Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine
• Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
• Get names, contact information, insurance details, and plate numbers from every driver
• Note whether the driver was working for Uber or Lyft, and take a screenshot of your trip if you were a passenger
• Report the crash in the rideshare app
• Get contact information from witnesses
• Avoid recorded statements to insurers before talking to a lawyer
• Keep records of treatment, bills, and insurer communications

How Long Do You Have to File?

Utah generally allows four years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Utah Code § 78B-2-307. Insurance policies have their own, much shorter notice requirements, so report the crash promptly. If a government vehicle was involved, a notice of claim is due within one year. For fatal crashes, wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years. Learn more about proving negligence in a Utah wrongful death lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover my injuries in Utah?

It depends on the driver’s app status. During a prearranged ride, at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage is required. While the driver is logged in and waiting for a request, lower primary limits apply. When the app is off, the driver’s personal insurance applies.

What covers me as a rideshare passenger?

The coverage required during a prearranged ride, including liability, PIP, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage where Utah law requires it.

Is the waiting-period coverage only backup coverage?

No. Utah requires it to be primary, and it cannot depend on the driver’s personal insurer denying the claim first.

What if the rideshare driver’s app was off?

The driver’s personal auto insurance applies. Rideshare coverage does not.

Does Utah’s no-fault law apply to rideshare crashes?

Yes. PIP benefits come first, and you need to meet the § 31A-22-309 threshold to claim general damages like pain and suffering from the at-fault driver.

Can I claim against my own insurance?

Possibly. Your own PIP, uninsured motorist, or underinsured motorist coverage may apply depending on how the crash happened.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit?

Generally four years from the date of injury, with shorter deadlines for government claims and wrongful death.

Talk to London Harker Injury Law

Rideshare claims often involve several insurers pointing at each other. London Harker Injury Law can request the app data, identify every policy that applies, and deal with the insurers so you can focus on recovering. Learn more on our Utah car accident lawyer page.