You’re not the one who caused the crash, but you’re the one left with injuries, bills, and questions.
If you were riding in an Uber in San Diego and ended up in an accident, figuring out whether you have a claim (and who it’s against) can get complicated fast. Uber has insurance, but that doesn’t always mean getting paid is simple. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking about taking action as a passenger.
Uber provides up to $1 million in liability coverage when a passenger is in the vehicle. Getting access to that money requires understanding how rideshare insurance actually works in California.
Coverage depends entirely on what the driver was doing when the accident happened. Three distinct periods determine which insurance applies and how much is available.
The Uber driver has the app open but hasn’t accepted your trip yet. They’re just waiting. If they cause an accident during this time, Uber provides limited coverage:
These amounts exceed California’s minimum requirements for regular drivers, but they’re not the full $1 million policy.
The driver accepted your ride request and is heading to your location. You’re not in the car yet, but you’re already matched. If an accident happens now, Uber’s $1 million policy activates for:
From the moment you get in until you exit, Uber’s full $1 million coverage applies. This covers injuries to you as the passenger, damage to other vehicles, and harm to pedestrians if the Uber driver caused the accident.
Not every Uber accident involves a negligent rideshare driver. Sometimes another vehicle strikes your Uber. When that happens, the at-fault driver’s insurance should pay for your injuries first.
But said minimums rarely cover serious injuries. California law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, which includes:
Here are some elements that exceed the limits:
Uber’s uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage becomes critical when another driver’s insurance isn’t enough. This protection applies only during specific periods:
Period 2 coverage applies when:
Period 3 coverage applies when:
However, recent changes under California’s Senate Bill 371 reduce the required uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for rideshare companies.
The former $1 million coverage is being replaced with $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident starting in 2026.
California law gives injured passengers clear paths to compensation. You didn’t cause the crash. You had zero control. You’re entitled to recover damages regardless of which driver was at fault.
Their negligence, from distracted driving, speeding, running a red light, to failing to yield, makes them liable. Uber’s insurance covers these claims up to policy limits, depending on the driver’s status at the time.
If a third party caused the collision, their insurance pays first. When their coverage runs out, Uber’s uninsured/underinsured policy steps in.
California uses comparative negligence, meaning multiple parties can be responsible for a single accident. Courts assign percentages of fault, and each party pays their share.
Personal injury claims after rideshare accidents cover multiple types of damages. Insurance companies will try to settle quickly and cheaply. Knowing what you can recover helps you avoid accepting less than you need.
Medical expenses include:
Lost income covers:
Property damage pays for:
Pain and suffering compensate for:
California doesn’t cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Pain and suffering awards can be substantial when injuries are severe.
Your actions immediately after an Uber crash affect your ability to recover compensation. Insurance companies look for reasons to deny or reduce claims.
Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately. Getting checked creates medical records linking your injuries to the accident. Delaying treatment gives insurance adjusters reason to question whether the crash actually caused your harm.
Uber needs to know a crash occurred. This starts their internal documentation process and creates an official record.
Take photos of vehicle damage, your visible injuries, the intersection or roadway where it happened, and any traffic signals or signs. Get contact information from witnesses.
Uber’s insurance company will call. So will the other driver’s insurer. They want recorded statements. Anything you say can and will be used to minimize your claim. Let an attorney handle these conversations.
Medical bills, prescriptions, mileage to appointments, receipts for over-the-counter medications: track everything. These prove your damages.
Initial offers rarely reflect the full value of your claim. Insurance companies hope you’ll accept fast money before you realize how serious your injuries are or how much treatment you’ll need.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the accident date.
Starting your claim early preserves evidence while it’s fresh and puts pressure on insurers to negotiate fairly.
Uber’s insurance carrier has one job: to pay out as little as possible. They’re not evaluating your claim to ensure you get everything you need. They’re calculating the minimum they can offer and hoping you’ll accept it.
Common tactics:
When you have legal representation, these tactics lose effectiveness. We’ve seen every strategy insurance companies use and know how to counter them.
Rideshare services make getting around San Diego convenient. Until an accident happens and you realize how complicated these claims become.
Insurance companies have lawyers working immediately to protect their interests. Uber’s carrier will start building their defense before you even leave the hospital. You need someone working just as hard for you.
You paid for a ride and expected to arrive safely. Instead, someone’s negligence, whether your driver’s or another motorist’s, left you injured.
Call DP Injury Attorneys. Let us handle the insurance companies, the investigation, the paperwork, and the negotiations.
Arthur Paul D’Egidio is the Managing Partner of DP Injury Attorneys, a San Diego personal injury law firm. With more than 12 years of experience in California injury law, he has dedicated his practice to representing clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including car accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and falls, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.
Arthur received his Juris Doctor from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a member of the State Bar of California as well as the San Diego County Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named a Super Lawyer for seven straight years by Thomson Reuters and a “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers.
