Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident in Maryland or D.C.? What You Need to Know
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Ride-share services like Uber and Lyft have become part of everyday life in Maryland and Washington, D.C., but when a ride-share driver, or another motorist involved in a ride-share vehicle collision, causes a crash, the legal picture gets complicated fast. Multiple insurance policies, corporate liability rules, and app-based coverage tiers all come into play, and most injured passengers have no idea where to start.
At Falodun Law, we represent passengers, drivers, and other motorists injured in ride-share accidents throughout Maryland and D.C. We untangle the insurance maze so you can focus on recovering.
Why Ride-Share Accident Claims Are More Complicated
Unlike a typical two-car accident handled by a Maryland auto accident attorney, a ride-share crash can involve several potentially responsible parties and insurance policies, including:
The ride-share driver's personal auto insurance
Uber's or Lyft's corporate liability policy, which applies differently depending on the driver's “app status” at the time of the crash
The insurance of any other driver involved in the collision
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which may apply if the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance
The Three “Periods” of Ride-Share Coverage
Uber and Lyft both structure their insurance coverage around what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash:
App Off: Only the driver's personal auto policy applies. Ride-share companies provide no coverage during this period.
App On, Waiting for a Ride Request: Limited contingent liability coverage applies, typically far lower than the coverage available once a trip begins.
En Route to Pick Up or During a Trip: Uber and Lyft each provide up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage, plus UM/UIM coverage in Maryland and contingent comprehensive/collision coverage in many cases.
Determining exactly which period applied at the time of your crash is often the single most important factor in a ride-share injury case, and it's something the companies' own data can help prove.
Common Causes of Ride-Share Accidents
Distracted driving checking the app, GPS, or texting while driving
Fatigue from long hours or back-to-back trips
Speeding to complete more trips in less time
Unsafe or sudden stops for pickups and drop-offs
Unfamiliarity with the area, leading to erratic driving
Failure to yield or obey traffic signals while navigating
Maryland and D.C. Law: What Ride-Share Accident Victims Should Know
Contributory Negligence
Maryland and Washington, D.C. both follow the contributory negligence rule, one of the strictest fault standards in the country. If you are found even 1% at fault for the accident, you can be completely barred from recovering any compensation. Because ride-share crashes often involve competing insurance companies pointing fingers at each other, understanding how fault rules affect your compensation and having an attorney who can protect you from an unfair share of blame is critical.
Who Can File a Claim?
You may have a claim whether you were:
A passenger in the ride-share vehicle at the time of the crash
The driver of another vehicle struck by a ride-share driver
A pedestrian or cyclist injured by a ride-share vehicle
The ride-share driver yourself, injured by another negligent motorist
Statute of Limitations
In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-101). Washington, D.C. also applies a three-year statute of limitations (D.C. Code §12-301). If a government entity or vehicle is involved, notice deadlines can be far shorter, so prompt legal advice matters.
What to Do After a Ride-Share Accident
1. Get Medical Attention
Seek medical care right away, even if your injuries seem minor. A prompt evaluation protects both your health and your claim.
2. Document the Trip and the Scene
Take screenshots of your trip details in the app, including the driver's information, trip route, and timestamps, before they become harder to retrieve. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries.
3. Report the Accident to Uber or Lyft
Both apps allow you to report a crash directly. This creates a company record of the incident, which can be useful evidence.
4. Avoid Recorded Statements Before Speaking With an Attorney
Insurance adjusters - whether representing the ride-share company, the driver, or another motorist, may ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to provide one before consulting Falodun Law.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
● Medical expenses, past and future
● Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
● Pain and suffering
● Emotional distress
● Permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement
● Property damage
How Falodun Law Can Help
Ride-share accident claims require quickly identifying which insurance policy applies, preserving app data before it disappears, and standing up to well-funded corporate insurers. At Falodun Law, we handle every piece of that process on your behalf across our full range of personal injury practice areas.
We handle ride-share accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact Falodun Law Today - Free Consultation
At Falodun Law, we fight for injured people and their families throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. If you've been hurt in a ride-share accident and want to understand your rights, schedule your free consultation today with no cost to you unless we win.
Phone: (301) 289-7737
Email: wole@falodunlaw.com
Address: 8850 Stanford Blvd., Ste. 2900, Columbia, Maryland 21045
Don't wait; deadlines in personal injury law are strict and unforgiving. Reach out to Falodun Law today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is liable if I'm injured while riding as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft?
Liability depends on the driver's “app status” at the time of the crash. If the driver was en route to pick you up or during your trip, Uber's or Lyft's up-to-$1-million liability policy typically applies. If another driver caused the crash, that driver's insurance may also be responsible. An attorney can determine which policy or combination of policies applies to your situation.
What if the ride-share driver's app was off when the accident happened?
If the driver's app was off, Uber and Lyft provide no coverage for that period, and only the driver's personal auto insurance policy applies. This is why documenting the driver's app status at the time of the crash is so important to your claim.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Maryland and Washington, D.C. follow contributory negligence, one of the strictest fault rules in the country. If you're found even 1% at fault, you can be barred from recovering compensation entirely. That's why it's critical to have an attorney who can push back against unfair fault allocations.
How long do I have to file a claim after a ride-share accident in Maryland or D.C.?
Generally, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in both Maryland and Washington, D.C. If a government vehicle or entity is involved, notice deadlines can be much shorter. Maryland injury claim deadlines provide more information about important filing timelines.
Do I have to give a recorded statement to the insurance company after a ride-share accident?
No. You are not required to provide a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster whether they represent the ride-share company, the driver, or another motorist before speaking with an attorney. Recorded statements can be used to shift blame or minimize your claim, so it's best to consult Falodun Law first.
