Rideshare Accidents in Merrillville: Filing Claims Against Uber and Lyft

Filing a claim after a rideshare accident is significantly more complicated than a standard car accident case. Uber and Lyft are billion-dollar corporations with lawyers and carefully crafted insurance policies designed to minimize the payouts they must make to injured people. This doesn't mean a successful rideshare accident claim is impossible, but it does mean that the right legal help is particularly important.

Never hesitate to contact Wilson & Novak for a free consultation today following rideshare-related injuries.

Why Rideshare Accident Claims Are Different

In a typical car accident case, you're usually dealing with one driver and their personal auto insurance policy. In a rideshare accident, the picture is more complicated.

Uber and Lyft do not employ their drivers, but work with them on a contract basis. This means liability does not automatically attach to the rideshare corporations when accidents occur. However, state laws address this loophole and hold these companies liable under certain circumstances.

Both companies must carry commercial insurance policies, and the coverage that applies depends entirely on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident. There are essentially three phases of rideshare operation, and each triggers a different level of insurance coverage.

The Three Coverage Phases

Phase 1: The App Is Off

If the driver's rideshare app was not active at the time of the crash, neither Uber nor Lyft provides any coverage at all. The accident is treated like any other collision, and the driver's personal auto insurance policy is the only available source of compensation. Indiana requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and many drivers carry only the minimum.

Phase 2: The App Is On, No Passenger Yet

When a driver has the app turned on and is available to accept rides but has not yet matched with or picked up a passenger, Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage. In Indiana, this typically means $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage. This contingent coverage only applies if the driver's personal insurance denies the claim or provides insufficient coverage.

Phase 3: En Route to a Passenger or Carrying a Passenger

This is where Uber and Lyft's full commercial policy kicks in. Once a driver has accepted a trip and is on the way to pick up a passenger, or once a passenger is in the vehicle, both Uber and Lyft carry up to $1 million in liability coverage. This is the coverage that applies in the most serious rideshare accident scenarios, and it is also the coverage that these companies fight hardest to limit.

Who Can File a Rideshare Accident Claim?

Several categories of people may have a valid rideshare accident claim:

• Passengers riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle when an accident occurs are generally in the strongest position, as the full $1 million policy typically applies.
• Other drivers and their passengers who are struck by a rideshare vehicle may be able to pursue a claim depending on which phase the driver was in at the time of the crash.
• Pedestrians and cyclists hit by a rideshare driver may also have a claim against Uber or Lyft's policy, again depending on the driver's status in the app at the time of impact.

Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare drivers are often under pressure to accept rides quickly, travel around unfamiliar areas, and keep their app ratings high. These pressures contribute to a range of dangerous behaviors, including:

• Distracted driving from interacting with the Uber or Lyft app while behind the wheel.
• Fatigue from driving long hours, often late at night or in the early morning.
• Speeding or aggressive driving to complete more trips in less time.
• Cutting off other vehicles while getting to pickup or drop-off locations.
• Stopping suddenly or illegally in traffic lanes to pick up or drop off passengers.

Any of these can result in a crash that requires a claim against Uber or Lyft.

The Challenges of Dealing With Uber and Lyft Insurance

Even when Uber or Lyft's $1 million policy applies, collecting fair compensation is rarely straightforward. These companies work with large insurers that are highly experienced in minimizing rideshare accident payouts. Common tactics include disputing which phase of operation the driver was in, arguing that the driver's personal insurance should cover the claim first, questioning the severity of your injuries, and offering fast, low settlement amounts before you've had a chance to fully understand the extent of your damages.

What makes these negotiations particularly difficult is that the insurer's adjusters handle rideshare claims constantly. They know the pressure points, the gaps in coverage arguments, and exactly how to use an unrepresented claimant's own words against them. They may reach out quickly after an accident, framing the conversation as routine, while gathering information they'll later use to reduce or deny your claim. Many injury victims accept settlements that don't come close to covering their full medical costs, lost wages, and long-term needs simply because they didn't have an advocate in their corner from the start.

An experienced vehicle accident attorney can push back against these tactics, gather the evidence needed to establish the driver's phase of operation at the time of the crash, and negotiate aggressively to make sure you receive full and fair compensation.

How Our Rideshare Accident Lawyers at Wilson & Novak Law Offices Can Help

At Wilson & Novak Law Offices, we have spent more than 25 years fighting for accident victims throughout Northwest Indiana, and we know how to handle the added challenges that rideshare cases bring. We've gone up against major insurers before, and we understand the strategies they use to undervalue or deny legitimate claims.

If you've been injured in a rideshare accident anywhere in the Merrillville, Hammond, Gary, Crown Point, Valparaiso, Portage, or surrounding areas, we want to hear from you. We'll review your case at no charge, explain your options clearly, and fight to recover every dollar of compensation you deserve.

Contact our injury attorneys at Wilson & Novak Law Offices today to schedule your free consultation.