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Lyft Accident Claims
Who pays if a Lyft driver hits you depends almost entirely on what the driver’s app showed at the moment of the crash. If the app was off, the driver’s own personal auto policy responds. If the app was on but no ride had been accepted, Lyft’s limited contingent coverage applies. Once the driver was en route to a passenger or actively giving a ride, Lyft’s $1,000,000 commercial policy takes over. This guide walks through every stage of a Lyft accident claim, from reporting the crash to filing a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t offered.
There are approximately 85,000 rideshare drivers in Chicago, fulfilling thousands of ride requests every day. Given the dangers of Chicago’s streets, especially crowded arterials like State Street and Milwaukee Avenue, this results in numerous Lyft accident claims.
If you’ve been in a rideshare accident, an experienced Lyft accident lawyer is a vital resource. We will determine liability coverage, guide you through the claims process, and protect you from deceptive insurance tactics. Contact us today for a free consultation about your claim.
How to File a Lyft Accident Claim in Chicago
Acting quickly is essential after a Lyft vehicle accident. You should first receive medical attention from the nearest hospital, such as Mount Sinai Hospital or John H. Stroger Medical Center, even if you don’t feel injured. Once you have been medically cleared, you can begin the claims process.
Report the Accident to Lyft
You can report the accident on the Lyft app or website. On the app, click “Help” and then “Report a safety issue or accident.” Please indicate whether you are a Lyft passenger or driver. Provide as much detail as possible, including your contact information, for Lyft’s insurance carrier to follow up.
Lyft’s website also allows you to open a Lyft accident case. The process takes 10-15 minutes. Do not call the insurance company after submitting a claim, as they may record your statements and use them against you to deny the request.
File an Accident Report with the Police
Lyft’s insurance adjusters will need proof of the accident. Contact the Chicago Police Department and file a police report, including the date, time, location, and how the crash occurred.
In addition to filing a report, you should also get contact details for any witnesses. Ask them for their names and phone numbers so our legal team can follow up with them later.
Consult a Lyft Accident Lawyer Before You Speak to Any Insurance Company
Lyft accident victims should not deal directly with insurance companies, as Lyft’s insurer will push you to settle for a lowball offer. After you have reported the accident, contact a Chicago Lyft accident lawyer for legal help.
Whose Insurance Pays After a Lyft Accident?
Lyft accident lawsuits are challenging due to the multiple insurance policies involved. To secure fair compensation, crash victims need skilled legal representation, as our attorneys can negotiate with multiple insurers at once to ensure all damages are covered.
Lyft’s Liability Coverage
Lyft driver app status insurance determines which of these four tiers responds to your crash. Which policy applies, and what the Lyft insurance coverage limits are, depends on the driver’s app status at the time of the accident:
Lyft accident insurance is based on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. The different status types are as follows.
App Is Off: The driver’s personal insurance covers any damages.
App Is On, and Driver Can Receive Requests: Lyft’s coverage is $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident for property damage.
Driver Is En Route to a Passenger: Lyft’s insurance carrier will cover up to $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage. If the driver has comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal insurance, then Lyft provides contingent coverage with a $2,500 deductible.
Ride Is Active: The same commercial policy applies as if a driver is en route to a passenger, including $1,000,000 in third-party coverage.
These same app-status tiers also answer what happens if a Lyft driver gets in an accident while working, since a driver’s own claim options depend on identical rules.
Lyft Driver’s Personal Insurance
Lyft requires its independent contractors to have personal insurance. If the driver was not working or Lyft’s insurance company refuses to pay, we can pursue compensation from the driver’s personal policy. Illinois law requires a minimum of $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident (625 ILCS 5/7-203), and a minimum of $20,000 in property damage coverage (625 ILCS 5/7-203).
Other Drivers’ Insurance
As Illinois is an at-fault state (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), Lyft will only cover the accident if the Lyft driver was at fault. All Illinois motorists are legally required to have insurance, but unfortunately, about 15.2% of Illinois drivers are uninsured.
We may then recover damages from either the Lyft driver’s uninsured motorist policy or your own. If you were a pedestrian, the Illinois Supreme Court case Galarza v. Direct Auto Insurance Co. ruled that you can make a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy.
Hit by a Lyft Driver? Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Other Driver Claims
Most of this page is written for Lyft passengers, but a large share of rideshare crash victims are people who were never inside the car. If you were hit by a Lyft driver while walking, riding a bike, or driving your own vehicle, the same app-status tiers above still determine which policy responds. You are not a party to any agreement between Lyft and its drivers, so none of Lyft’s terms of service limit your right to pursue a claim.
The Galarza v. Direct Auto Insurance Co. ruling matters most here. The Illinois Supreme Court held that a pedestrian struck by an at-fault driver can pursue uninsured motorist claims under their own auto policy, even though they weren’t driving at the time of the crash. The same logic extends to cyclists. If the Lyft driver who hit you was uninsured, underinsured, or driving with the app off and inadequate personal coverage, your own policy’s uninsured motorist provision may be the fastest path to compensation.
What Evidence Is Needed for a Lyft Lawsuit
Many crash victims searching for a Chicago Lyft accident lawyer are really asking one question: what evidence is needed for a Lyft lawsuit? The answer starts with proving the driver’s ride status, since Lyft’s insurer will not pay a claim unless it can be established that the driver was en route to a passenger or actively giving a ride at the moment of the crash.
Before filing a Lyft insurance claim, screenshot your ride receipt and trip history from the Lyft app. This record shows the trip route, timestamps, and fare, and it is often the first piece of evidence that disappears if you wait. Beyond the trip record, the evidence that typically matters most includes:
- The driver’s app status log, which Lyft can be compelled to produce through the claims or litigation process
- Dashcam footage, which many rideshare drivers already run
- The official police report, including the responding officer’s account of fault
- Phone records, which can be subpoenaed to confirm the app was active at the time of the crash
- Witness contact information gathered at the scene
If Lyft’s insurer disputes that the driver was working at the time of the crash, these records are usually what settles the question. Preserving them early, before they age out of an app’s records or a driver’s phone, gives your Lyft accident claim its strongest foundation.
FAQs
Should I give Lyft’s insurance company a recorded statement?
No, not before you’ve spoken with a lawyer. An adjuster who asks for a recorded statement is usually trying to get you to say something that limits your claim, such as downplaying your injuries or agreeing to a version of events that shifts fault. Many people ask themselves, should I talk to Lyft’s insurance company before hiring an attorney? In most cases, the safer move is to let your lawyer handle that conversation instead.
What damages can be recovered in a Lyft car accident claim?
You may recover both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Past and future medical bills
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses, like physical therapy
- Lost income and loss of earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs and damaged property
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of normal life
For fatal Lyft accidents, the next of kin can receive funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and grief.
In addition to pursuing compensation through the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/), the victim’s estate can sue under the Illinois Survival Act (755 ILCS 5/27-6). This would cover any damages that the deceased could have claimed if they had survived and would involve many of the same procedures as a personal injury claim.
Every case is different, and Lyft accident settlement amounts vary widely depending on the severity of the injury and which tier of Lyft’s coverage applies.
What if the Lyft driver’s app was off when the crash happened?
Lyft’s commercial coverage does not apply if the app was off at the time of the crash. In that situation, the driver’s personal auto policy is primary, subject to the Illinois minimum coverage requirements already outlined above. This is exactly why establishing the driver’s app status matters so much in a Lyft insurance claim, since it determines whether a $25,000 personal policy or a $1,000,000 commercial policy is available.
Can I make a claim if a Lyft hit me while I was walking or cycling?
Yes. The same app-status tiers described above apply whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or a cyclist hit by a Lyft driver. If the driver was uninsured or underinsured, the Galarza ruling may also let you pursue your own uninsured motorist coverage.
How long do Lyft accident victims have to take legal action in Illinois?
You have two years to file a lawsuit after the day of the incident (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Wrongful death claims have a statute of limitations starting two years after the person’s death date (740 ILCS 180/).
How Long Does a Lyft Accident Claim Take?
Chicago traffic accident lawyers can make a significant difference in whether you’re able to secure compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. We will thoroughly investigate your claim by securing strong evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements.
As members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, we have secured multi-million-dollar settlements on behalf of our clients, including in cases involving major rideshare companies. We will handle all third-party communications so that you can focus on your recovery process rather than negotiating with insurers.
A free consultation on a rideshare case starts with one concrete deliverable: establishing the driver’s app status at the moment of impact, since that single fact determines whether a $50,000 policy or a $1,000,000 policy is on the table.
Our team works on a contingency fee basis: no legal fees unless we win. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation about a Lyft accident.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Content legally reviewed by Jonathan Rosenfeld This page has been reviewed for legal accuracy by Jonathan Rosenfeld, a Chicago personal injury attorney with nearly 25 years of experience representing people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and rideshare accidents. Jonathan has recovered more than $450 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients and families in Chicago. He holds a 10/10 rating on Avvo, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers. Jonathan leads the firm’s approach to holding insurance carriers and corporate defendants accountable for serious traffic injuries.