Why the “trip phase” decides everything
Rideshare cases turn on a detail most people never think about: what the app was doing at the moment of the crash. Florida’s transportation-network-company law, Fla. Stat. § 627.748, sets different insurance requirements for each phase of a driver’s shift. The same collision can be a $25,000 case or a $1,000,000 case depending on which period applies.
App off: personal insurance only
When the driver is not logged into the app, they are just a regular motorist. Only their personal auto policy is in play, and Uber and Lyft provide nothing. If that personal policy is thin, your own coverage may matter most.
Period 1: app on, waiting for a request
Once the driver is logged in and waiting, but has not yet accepted a ride, Florida law requires the company to provide backup liability coverage (the insurance that pays people they hurt). It must be at least $50,000 per person for injuries, $100,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage. This is the part of a rideshare shift with the least coverage.
Periods 2 and 3: en route and during the ride
The moment the driver accepts a ride request — and through the entire trip until the passenger is dropped off — Florida law requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage. This is the same whether you are the passenger, the other driver, a pedestrian, or a cyclist. Many policies in these periods also include uninsured-motorist and contingent collision coverage.
Who this protects
The $1,000,000 coverage is not just for the passenger. If an Uber or Lyft driver on a trip hits you while you are walking, biking, or driving your own car, that policy can pay for your injuries too. The key question is always: what was the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash?
How the companies fight these claims
Because the dollars swing so much between phases, the app data becomes the battleground. Expect disputes over exactly when a ride was accepted or ended, and attempts to push a crash into the lower-coverage Period 1. That trip data lives with the rideshare company. That’s why it has to be requested and preserved quickly. For more on how these claims work, see our rideshare accident page.
A former defense lawyer’s take
The insurance company’s first move is to say the driver was in whichever phase costs them the least. I pin down the real app status using the rideshare company’s own records. That is often what decides whether you get an offer at the lowest coverage amount or a claim against the $1,000,000 policy.
Frequently asked questions
Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover me if I am hit by one of their drivers?
Often, yes. If the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger on board (Periods 2-3), Florida requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage. That coverage can pay other drivers, passengers, people walking, and people on bikes.
How much insurance does Uber or Lyft carry in Florida?
Under Fla. Stat. § 627.748: at least $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 while the driver is logged on and waiting. At least $1,000,000 once a ride is accepted and during the trip.
What if the Uber driver's app was off when the crash happened?
Then only the driver's personal auto policy applies, and Uber or Lyft provides no coverage. Your own coverage may become important.
Why does the trip phase matter so much?
Because Florida requires very different amounts of insurance for each phase. The same crash can be worth far more during an active ride than while the driver is just waiting for a request.
Who has the app data that proves the trip phase?
The rideshare company. That data decides which insurance applies. So I request it and demand that they keep it right away, before anyone starts arguing about the details.
Talk to a former insurance-defense attorney
You'll speak with Emanuel Galimidi. He spent nearly two decades on the insurance side. Now he's on yours. The case review is free, and there are no fees or costs unless we recover for you.
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