Short answer: After an Uber or Lyft crash in Atlanta, who pays depends on what the rideshare driver's app was doing at the moment of the crash. If a ride was accepted or a passenger was in the car, Georgia law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage. If the app was on but no ride was accepted, much lower limits apply. If the app was off, it is usually just the driver's personal auto policy.
Rideshare trips are part of daily life in Atlanta, from Hartsfield-Jackson to Midtown, Buckhead, and the Downtown Connector. When one ends in a crash, the insurance picture is more complicated than a normal car accident, because up to three policies can be in play.
How does Georgia rideshare insurance work?
Georgia regulates rideshare companies (the law calls them "transportation network companies") and sets minimum insurance by driver status:
| Driver's app status | What usually applies |
|---|---|
| App off | The driver's personal auto insurance only. Uber and Lyft coverage generally does not apply. |
| App on, waiting for a ride request | Lower, statutory liability limits, generally at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries, carried by the driver or the rideshare company. |
| Ride accepted, en route, or passenger on board | At least $1,000,000 in liability coverage per incident. |
This is why the first question in any rideshare case is: what was the app doing? The rideshare company's trip data answers that, and it is one of the first things a lawyer will request.
What changed for Atlanta rideshare passengers in 2023?
In 2023, Georgia passed House Bill 529, effective July 1, 2023. It lowered the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage rideshare companies must carry during trips to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.
Why that matters: if you are a passenger and the other driver who caused the crash has no insurance or too little, UM/UIM coverage is what fills the gap. Lower limits mean it is more important to identify every available policy, including your own auto policy's UM coverage, which may also apply to you as a passenger.
Who can be held responsible after a rideshare crash?
Depending on how the crash happened, a claim may involve:
- The rideshare driver, if they were speeding, distracted by the app, or otherwise careless.
- Another driver who hit the rideshare vehicle.
- The rideshare company's insurance, based on the driver's app status above.
- Your own insurer, through UM/UIM coverage, when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Georgia is an at-fault state that uses modified comparative negligence (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33): you can recover if you are less than 50% at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. Passengers are rarely at fault, but drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists hit by a rideshare vehicle may face fault arguments. Our guide to Georgia car accident laws explains these rules in more detail.
What should I do after an Uber or Lyft accident in Atlanta?
- Call 911 and get medical care. Some injuries don't show up right away.
- Get a police report. Ask the responding officer (Atlanta Police, Georgia State Patrol, or the county) how to get a copy.
- Screenshot the trip in your app: driver name, vehicle, trip time, and route. Do this before the trip disappears from your recent activity.
- Get the other driver's insurance and the rideshare driver's information.
- Report the crash in the Uber or Lyft app, but keep it factual and short.
- Don't give a recorded statement to any insurance company before you talk to a lawyer.
- Talk to a rideshare accident lawyer about which policies apply and what deadlines you face. In Georgia, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33).
Frequently asked questions
Does Uber or Lyft pay if I'm hurt as a passenger in Atlanta?
If a ride was in progress, Georgia law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage for that trip. Whether that policy pays depends on who caused the crash; if another driver was at fault, their insurance and UM/UIM coverage also come into play.
What if the Uber driver didn't have a passenger and the app was on?
Lower statutory limits apply while the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request, generally at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries.
What if the rideshare driver's app was off?
Then it is usually treated like a regular car accident, and the driver's personal auto insurance applies.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Georgia?
In most cases, two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Some claims have different deadlines, so speak with a lawyer early.
How much does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?
At Leeds Law Firm, personal injury cases are handled on contingency: no fee unless we recover money for you, and the consultation is free. See how much a personal injury lawyer costs in Atlanta.
Talk to an Atlanta Uber and Lyft accident lawyer
Leeds Law Firm, PLLC represents passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and other motorists hurt in Uber and Lyft accidents in Atlanta. Our Atlanta office is in Buckhead at 3340 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1800. Call (678) 509-6133, available 24/7. Hablamos español.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
