Rideshare apps make it easy to get around Georgia, right up until a trip ends in a crash. Suddenly, you are facing questions about which insurance applies, who is responsible, and how you will pay for medical care. If you need a Lyft or Uber accident lawyer in Georgia, McArthur Law Firm helps passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists get clear answers and pursue the full compensation the law allows.
Rideshare claims are different from ordinary car accident cases. Coverage can shift from one insurance policy to another depending on a single detail in the driver’s app. For 44 years, our attorneys have sorted out complicated insurance questions for injured Georgians, and we have recovered $450M+ for the people we represent.
We are here 24/7, and consultations are always free. Tell us what happened, and we will help you understand your next steps.
Call Us Now for a Free Consultation!
What Sets Our Georgia Rideshare Accident Lawyers Apart
Rideshare companies have large legal teams and insurers that handle these claims every day. You deserve a team with the same level of experience on your side.
- Trial-tested attorneys. We have spent 44 years preparing cases for Georgia juries, and insurers take that seriously.
- A proven record. Our firm has recovered $450M+ for injured clients and families.
- Board-certified leadership. Founder Kathy McArthur is board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
- Statewide reach. Eight attorneys work from our offices in Atlanta, Macon, and Warner Robins.
- Always available. Call anytime, day or night, for a free consultation.
We also understand how rideshare companies and their insurers approach these claims. Multiple policies, corporate claims departments, and app data can make even a simple crash feel complicated. Our team handles those moving parts, keeps you updated, and makes sure every available policy is on the table.
We are a boutique firm by design, which means you work directly with attorneys who know your case. Reach out today so we can start protecting your claim.
Who Pays After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Georgia?
Who pays depends on what the rideshare driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24, requires rideshare coverage that increases as the driver moves from logged off, to waiting for a ride request, to carrying a passenger. If another driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurance is usually the first place to look.
App Off: The Driver’s Personal Policy
When the app is off, the rideshare driver is just another motorist. Their personal auto insurance applies, and the rideshare company’s policy generally does not come into play.
App On and Waiting for a Request
Once a driver logs in and is available for rides, Georgia requires primary coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injuries, plus $50,000 for property damage. Many personal auto policies exclude this period, so the rideshare company’s coverage often fills the gap.
Ride Accepted or Passenger On Board
From the moment a driver accepts a ride until the trip ends, Georgia requires at least $1 million in coverage for death, injury, and property damage per occurrence. This is the coverage that most often protects injured passengers and others hurt by a rideshare driver during a trip.
This period also carries uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you when an at-fault driver has little or no insurance. Since July 1, 2023, the required minimum for that coverage has been $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, down from a much higher amount under the old law.
Proving the app status is often the heart of the case. Georgia law requires rideshare companies to share the driver’s login and trip times with insurers investigating a crash, and we make sure that information is part of your claim.
If you ever need to confirm that an insurer is licensed in Georgia or raise a concern about how a claim is being handled, the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire oversees insurance companies in the state.
Does Uber’s Insurance Cover You in a Georgia Crash?
It depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the collision, and on your role in the crash. Here is how coverage typically works for each type of injured person.
Passengers
If your rideshare driver caused the crash during your trip, the $1 million liability coverage usually applies. If another driver caused it, you can claim against that driver’s policy, and the rideshare uninsured motorist coverage may help if their insurance falls short. The same rules apply whether your trip started in Buckhead or at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport pickup lot.
Other Drivers
If a rideshare driver hits your car, the coverage available depends on the app status. A driver on their way to pick up a rider at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, for example, falls under the $1 million coverage period.
Pedestrians and Cyclists
Rideshare drivers make frequent, sudden stops for pickups and drop-offs, which puts people on foot and on bikes at risk. Injured pedestrians and cyclists can pursue the same rideshare coverage as anyone else hurt by a working driver.
Rideshare Drivers
Uber and Lyft generally classify their drivers as independent contractors, so injured drivers usually cannot use workers’ comp. If another motorist caused the crash, the driver may claim against that motorist and may also have access to uninsured motorist coverage.
Because each role follows different rules, the first step is always sorting out which policies apply. Our team handles that work so you can focus on getting better.
Can Uber or Lyft Itself Be Held Responsible?
Sometimes, but it is harder than most people expect. Because rideshare companies treat drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, they often argue they are not responsible for a driver’s mistakes.
A rideshare company may still be liable for its own negligence. Examples include keeping a driver on the platform after repeated safety complaints or failing to act on a background check that raised red flags. These claims require digging into company records, which is where an experienced legal team makes a real difference.
In most cases, the practical focus is on the insurance that the company must carry. That coverage is often enough to fully address serious injuries when the claim is handled well.
Taxi Accidents Follow Different Rules
Taxis do not fall under Georgia’s rideshare insurance law. They are commercially registered vehicles with their own insurance requirements, and taxi companies that carry the public for hire may be held to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers under Georgia negligence law.
If you were hurt in a taxi, we look at the driver’s policy, the taxi company’s coverage, and any other at-fault drivers. The goal is the same: identify every source of compensation available to you.
How Georgia’s Seat Belt Rule Changed for Rideshare Passengers
Many passengers skip the seat belt in the back of an Uber or Lyft, especially on short trips. That choice now matters more in court. Georgia’s 2025 tort reform law, signed by Governor Kemp in April 2025, allows jurors to hear whether an injured person wore a seat belt.
Insurers may use that evidence to argue your injuries would have been less severe. Under Georgia’s comparative fault statute, your recovery can be reduced by any share of fault assigned to you, and barred if you are found 50% or more at fault.
Not wearing a seat belt does not automatically end your claim. It does make careful medical evidence and a clear account of the crash even more important.
Injuries We Often See After Rideshare Crashes
Rideshare passengers often sit in the back seat, where side impacts and sudden stops can be especially harmful. Drivers and people in other vehicles face the same forces as any serious collision.
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions from striking a window or seatback
- Spinal cord injuries and herniated discs
- Broken bones in the arms, legs, ribs, and face
- Internal injuries that may not show symptoms right away
- Anxiety and post-traumatic stress that make it hard to ride in a car again
Some of these injuries take days to appear, so prompt medical care protects both your health and your claim. We work with your doctors to document the full impact of what you have been through.
How We Build a Georgia Rideshare Accident Claim
Strong rideshare claims depend on evidence that can disappear quickly. Specifically, our team works to gather:
- Trip receipts, screenshots, and in-app records showing the ride status
- Rideshare company data on the driver’s login times and route
- Dashcam footage, which many rideshare drivers use
- Vehicle data from each car’s event data recorder
- Police reports, photos, and witness statements
- Medical records that connect your injuries to the crash
With that evidence in hand, we present your claim to every insurer involved and push for a fair result. If an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we are ready to take your case to trial.
For crashes inside the city, our Atlanta rideshare accident lawyer team handles local claims with the same approach. Riders looking for Uber accident lawyers in Gwinnett County, including people hurt near Gas South Arena and the Mall of Georgia, can turn to our Gwinnett County personal injury lawyers, and we handle broader crash claims through our Georgia car accident lawyers.
How Long Do You Have to File a Rideshare Accident Claim in Georgia?
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Property damage claims usually allow four years.
Waiting is still risky. Rideshare companies and insurers do not keep every record forever, and dashcam footage can be overwritten within days. Nearby businesses and traffic cameras may also erase video on short cycles.
If a government vehicle was involved, such as a city bus, much shorter notice deadlines may apply. Talking with us early keeps every option open.
Call Us Now for a Free Consultation!
FAQs Answered by Our Georgia Uber Accident Lawyers
Here are answers to more questions we hear from people hurt in Uber, Lyft, and taxi crashes.
Does it matter if I was riding with Lyft instead of Uber?
No. The same Georgia insurance law applies to every transportation network company, including both Uber and Lyft, and we handle Lyft accident claims across Georgia with the same care and preparation we bring to Uber cases. The details of each company’s policy may differ, but the minimum coverage requirements are the same.
Should I report the crash through the rideshare app?
Many riders do report crashes through the app, and it can help create a record. Keep screenshots of your trip details and any messages, and remember that the company’s insurer is not working for you.
What if my rideshare driver seemed drunk or impaired?
Report it to police right away if you can do so safely. A driver who operates a vehicle while impaired may face serious consequences, and that conduct can support a stronger claim, including possible punitive damages in some cases.
Can I file a claim if I was hurt getting in or out of the car?
Possibly. If a driver stopped in an unsafe spot or pulled away before you were clear, the driver may be responsible for your injuries. These claims depend heavily on the specific facts.
I was visiting Georgia when the crash happened. Can you still help?
Yes. Crashes that happen in Georgia are generally handled under Georgia law, even if you live out of state. We can help travelers who were hurt after flying into Atlanta or visiting for events.
Should I accept the first offer from a rideshare insurer?
Early offers often come before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept a settlement, you usually cannot reopen the claim, so it helps to understand the value of your case before signing anything.
Talk to a Georgia Rideshare Accident Lawyer at McArthur Law Firm
Founding Partner
A rideshare crash can leave you juggling medical appointments, missed work, and calls from multiple insurers. McArthur Law Firm is ready to take that weight off your shoulders and fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
Call us 24/7 for a free consultation. Reach our Atlanta office at 404-565-1621, our Macon office at 478-238-6600, or our Warner Robins office at 478-551-9901. You can also contact us online.
Call Us Now for a Free Consultation!
McArthur Law Firm – Macon Office
6055 Lakeside Commons Drive, Suite 400
Macon, GA 31210
Phone: 478-238-6600
