Indianapolis Uber And Lyft Rideshare Accident Lawyers
Rideshare accident claims are not like standard car accident cases. Uber and Lyft structure their insurance coverage to limit what injured victims can recover, and without a knowledgeable Indianapolis rideshare accident lawyer on your side, those corporate defenses can work.
At Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse LLP, our attorneys have recovered more than $100 million for injured Hoosiers and know exactly how to pursue the compensation you deserve.
How Rideshare Insurance Actually Works: The Three App Phases
The driver’s app status at the moment of the crash determines which insurance applies. Insurers push every claim toward the lowest possible tier. Here is how coverage breaks down under Indiana law:
- Phase 1 covers situations where the driver has not yet opened the app. In that scenario, the driver’s personal auto policy is the only available source of coverage.
- Phase 2 begins the moment the driver activates the app while waiting for a ride request. Corporate liability coverage enters the picture here, though it tops out at $50,000 per injured person and $100,000 per accident.
- Phase 3 kicks in once the driver accepts a match or picks up a passenger. At this stage, a $1 million commercial policy takes effect and represents the highest level of available coverage.
Proving which phase applies requires immediate access to data that rideshare companies work hard to protect.
Locking Down The Evidence: Our Log Subpoena Strategy
Uber and Lyft treat driver and trip data as proprietary. They may move quickly to limit access after a crash. At Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse LLP, we issue legal preservation notices immediately to lock down GPS records, speed data and app-status telematics before that evidence can be shielded or lost.
When Multiple Parties Are Involved
Not every rideshare crash involves one at-fault driver. When a third party causes the collision, our Indianapolis rideshare accident lawyers file concurrent claims against both that driver’s personal policy and applicable rideshare corporate coverage to get the most for your recovery after a car crash.
How Indiana’s 51% Fault Rule Affects Your Claim
Under Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule, your recovery becomes void entirely if your share of fault exceeds 51%. Insurance adjusters routinely try to shift blame onto injured passengers or out-of-app drivers to reduce or erase what victims can recover. Our attorneys build a strong factual case to push back against these tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do I have to file an Uber or Lyft accident claim in Indiana?
A: Under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, the strict statute of limitations for personal injury claims—including rideshare crashes – is two years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you permanently lose your right to pursue compensation.
However, because Uber and Lyft telematics data can be automatically overwritten or deleted by their servers within weeks, you cannot afford to wait two years. Our legal team issues immediate preservation notices to lock down this critical digital evidence.
Q: What if I was an Uber or Lyft passenger and the other driver caused the crash?
A: If a negligent third-party driver struck your rideshare vehicle, you will primarily file a claim against that driver’s personal auto insurance. However, because Indiana’s mandatory baseline minimum liability is only 25/50/25 ($25,000 per person for bodily injury), a serious injury can easily exhaust their policy limits.
When this happens, our Indianapolis rideshare accident lawyers look to Uber or Lyft’s $1 million commercial policy, which includes Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to bridge the financial gap and ensure your medical bills are paid.
Q: Can I still recover compensation if the insurance adjuster claims I was partially at fault?
A: Yes, but you have to be careful. Indiana follows a strict 51% modified comparative fault rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as your percentage of fault is 50% or less. Your total payout will simply be reduced by your percentage of blame (for example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 10% at fault for not wearing a seatbelt, you would receive $90,000).
Because corporate insurance adjusters routinely try to artificially inflate an injured person’s fault to 51% to void the claim entirely, our attorneys immediately begin building an ironclad liability defense using GPS data, black box telematics, and witness statements.
Contact Our Indianapolis Rideshare Accident Lawyers
If a rideshare crash left you injured, do not wait. Our Indianapolis rideshare accident lawyers at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse LLP help those injured in Uber, Lyft, zTrip, CarpoolWorld, Hitch, and other rideshare accidents in Indianapolis, Lebanon and across Indiana. Call 317-505-1342 now or reach out online for an immediate case evaluation.