AI Insights Key Takeaways
- In D.C., a rideshare company (Uber, Lyft) must carry at least $1 million in liability coverage while the driver is on a prearranged ride (D.C. Code § 50-301.29c).
- Which policy applies depends on what the driver was doing: app off, app on but waiting for a request, or actively on a trip. Lower coverage applies before a ride is accepted.
- As an injured passenger, you are almost never at fault, which sidesteps D.C.’s harsh contributory-negligence rule, but the claim can still involve several insurers pointing at each other.
- You generally have three years to file a D.C. injury lawsuit (D.C. Code § 12-301(8)), and D.C. puts no cap on your compensatory damages.
- Schehr Law PLLC handles D.C. rideshare cases on contingency through Kalyn Hoyle, Esq., a member of the D.C. Bar. No fee unless we recover for you.
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different — talk to an attorney about yours.
Rideshare is everywhere in Washington, D.C., and so are rideshare crashes. When you are hurt in an Uber or Lyft, the injury is only half the problem. The other half is figuring out which of several insurance policies actually covers you, because the answer depends on exactly what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. Schehr Law PLLC sorts that out and goes after every policy that applies. Contact us today for a free consultation.
The $1 Million Policy, and When It Applies
D.C. law requires real coverage for rideshare passengers. Under D.C. Code § 50-301.29c, a rideshare company or driver (a “private vehicle-for-hire”) must carry primary liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence while the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride. If that required coverage has lapsed, the company must step in from the first dollar of the claim. That is far more protection than D.C.’s ordinary minimum car insurance.
Coverage Depends on the “Period”
The catch is that rideshare insurance is tiered by what the driver was doing:
- App off: only the driver’s personal auto policy applies.
- App on, waiting for a ride request: a lower, contingent level of coverage applies.
- Ride accepted and in progress: the company’s $1 million coverage applies.
Pinning down which period was in effect, through trip records and app data, is often the single most important step in a D.C. rideshare claim, and it is exactly the kind of evidence that should be preserved early.
As a Passenger, the Fault Rule Usually Isn’t Your Problem
D.C.’s strict contributory-negligence rule bars recovery for someone even slightly at fault, and it defeats many D.C. claims. But as a rideshare passenger, you are almost never at fault for the crash, so that rule generally is not a barrier for you. The real work is in the insurance: your recovery may come from the rideshare company’s policy, the other driver’s insurance, or uninsured/underinsured coverage, and sometimes more than one applies. When companies point at each other, having a lawyer coordinate the claim keeps you from falling through the cracks.
Who Can Be Covered
These rules can protect more than just the rideshare passenger. Depending on the crash, an injured rideshare driver, the occupants of another vehicle, or a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a rideshare vehicle may all have claims, and pedestrians and cyclists also keep their vulnerable-user protection under D.C. law.
Common Rideshare Crash Injuries
Rideshare passengers often sit in the back without easy access to all safety features, so injuries can include whiplash and neck injuries, back and spinal injuries, concussions and traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and lacerations. Because D.C. puts no cap on compensatory damages, your recovery is measured by your actual losses, including medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Why Injured Riders in D.C. Choose Schehr Law PLLC
You get a licensed District of Columbia attorney who understands the rideshare periods, the $1 million coverage rule, and how to hold the right insurer accountable when several are involved. Kalyn Hoyle, Esq. is a member of the D.C. Bar and handles the firm’s District cases personally, backed by a team that has recovered more than $10 million for injured clients. No fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much insurance covers an Uber or Lyft crash in D.C.?
Under D.C. Code § 50-301.29c, a rideshare (private vehicle-for-hire) company or driver must maintain primary liability coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence while the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride. A lower level of coverage applies during the period when the app is on but the driver has not yet accepted a ride. If the required coverage has lapsed, the company must provide the coverage from the first dollar.
Which insurance applies depends on what the driver was doing. What are the periods?
Rideshare coverage is tiered by “period.” When the app is off, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, a lower contingent policy applies. Once a ride is accepted and during the trip, the company’s $1 million coverage applies. Determining which period was in effect is often the first and most important question in a D.C. rideshare claim.
Can I recover if I was a passenger in the rideshare?
Almost always. As a passenger you are very rarely at fault, so D.C.’s strict contributory-negligence rule generally is not a barrier for you. Depending on who caused the crash, your recovery may come from the rideshare company’s policy, the other driver’s insurance, or uninsured/underinsured coverage, and more than one may apply.
What if another driver, not the rideshare driver, caused the crash?
Then the at-fault driver’s insurance is typically the first source of recovery, and the rideshare company’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply if that driver was uninsured or underinsured. Rideshare cases frequently involve several insurers, which is why it helps to have an attorney coordinate the claim.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in D.C.?
You generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in the District under D.C. Code § 12-301(8). Acting promptly also helps preserve rideshare trip records and app data.
Talk to a D.C. Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
Before the insurers decide among themselves how little to pay, get someone on your side. For a free, confidential case review with a D.C.-barred attorney, contact us today or call (202) 344-9721.