Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer in Santa Rosa and San Francisco

After an Uber or Lyft crash, you can get a free consultation from the Law Offices of J. Chrisp, a personal injury firm that represents injured people. The firm serves Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area. It has offices at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, and 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco. Call 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) 24/7. There is no fee unless we win.

Table of Contents

Who pays after an Uber or Lyft accident?

Who pays depends first on who caused the crash. Under Civil Code section 1714, everyone is responsible for an injury caused by their lack of ordinary care. An injured passenger can bring a claim against each driver whose carelessness caused the crash. That can be the rideshare driver, another driver or both.

If the injured person’s own carelessness contributed, California’s comparative fault rule reduces the recovery by that person’s share instead of barring it (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).

California also sets insurance requirements for rideshare trips. They are described in the next section.

Rideshare insurance required by California law

Uber and Lyft hold transportation network company permits from the California Public Utilities Commission. Under Public Utilities Code section 5433, these companies and their drivers must maintain rideshare insurance. The required coverage depends on the driver’s status in the app.

Driver’s status in the app	Insurance the law requires	Code section
Logged on with no ride request accepted, or between a completed ride and the next accepted request	At least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for death and personal injury, and $30,000 for property damage, plus at least $200,000 per occurrence in excess coverage	Section 5433(c)
From the moment the driver accepts a ride request until the trip is completed in the app or the ride is complete, whichever is later	$1,000,000 in primary coverage for death, personal injury and property damage	Section 5433(b)(1)
From the moment a passenger enters the vehicle until the passenger exits	Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, provided by the rideshare company	Section 5433(b)(2)

The 2026 change to rideshare uninsured motorist coverage

Senate Bill 371 (Chapter 314, Statutes of 2025) lowered the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that rideshare companies must provide. The change took effect January 1, 2026. Before then, the required amount was $1,000,000. It is now $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, from the moment a passenger enters the vehicle until the passenger exits (section 5433(b)(2)). The $1,000,000 primary coverage required from ride acceptance until the ride is complete did not change (section 5433(b)(1)).

What to do after a rideshare crash

Call 911 and get medical care the same day.
Take screenshots of the trip in the app, including the driver’s name, the vehicle and the time.
Photograph the vehicles, the scene and your injuries, and get the names of witnesses and other drivers.
Report the crash in the app, but do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before you have legal advice.
If you were driving, report the crash to the DMV on form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was hurt or killed or property damage is over $1,000 (Vehicle Code section 16000).

Deadlines for an injury claim

A lawsuit for an injury caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect generally must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Claims against a public entity, such as a city, a county or the state, follow a different rule. If the entity gives written notice rejecting the claim, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months after the notice is personally delivered or mailed (Government Code section 945.6). A written claim for personal injury generally must be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues (Government Code section 911.2). If that deadline is missed, a written application to present a late claim can be made. It is due within a reasonable time, no later than one year after the cause of action accrues (Government Code section 911.4).

Firm background, offices and service area

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp has recovered over $350 million for clients since 2010. Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp has represented thousands of injured clients, and he holds the record for the highest personal injury verdict in Lake County.

The firm serves people injured in Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The firm’s offices are:

Santa Rosa: 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
San Francisco: 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D, San Francisco, CA 94109
Lower Lake (main office): 9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake, CA 95457

Spanish-speaking staff are available.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays if I am hurt as an Uber or Lyft passenger?

Each driver whose carelessness caused the crash is responsible under Civil Code section 1714. That can be the rideshare driver, another driver or both. If your own carelessness contributed, your recovery is reduced by your share. From the moment a driver accepts a ride request until the ride is complete, California requires $1,000,000 in primary insurance for death, personal injury and property damage (Public Utilities Code section 5433(b)(1)).

How much uninsured motorist coverage must Uber and Lyft provide in California?

Since January 1, 2026, Public Utilities Code section 5433(b)(2) requires uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. It applies from the moment a passenger enters the vehicle until the passenger exits. Senate Bill 371 lowered the amount from $1,000,000.

How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in California?

A lawsuit for an injury caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. A personal injury claim against a city, a county or the state generally must be presented in writing within six months after the cause of action accrues (Government Code section 911.2). A written application to present a late claim can be made within a reasonable time, up to one year after the cause of action accrues (section 911.4). If the public entity gives written notice rejecting the claim, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months after the notice is personally delivered or mailed (Government Code section 945.6).

Does the Law Offices of J. Chrisp charge for a rideshare accident consultation?

The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win. The firm answers the phone 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477).

If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash in Sonoma County or the Bay Area, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

About the Law Offices of J. Chrisp

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.