Georgia Rideshare Accident Claims: Uber & Lyft Insurance, Laws & Deadlines
In Georgia, who pays after an Uber or Lyft crash depends on what the driver’s app was doing at that moment. Once a driver accepts a ride, Georgia law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage.
While the app is on but no ride is accepted, the minimum drops to $50,000 per person. With the app off, the driver’s personal policy applies. This guide explains how those rules work anywhere in Georgia.
Why Rideshare Claims Work Differently in Georgia
A rideshare crash can involve several insurance policies at once: the rideshare company’s, the driver’s personal policy, the other driver’s and your own. Which ones apply turns on a few facts that are easy to lose, like whether the driver had accepted a ride.
Georgia law also generally shields Uber and Lyft from liability for their drivers’ crashes, so most claims run through the companies’ insurers rather than the companies themselves. Knowing which policy applies, and in what order, is most of the work.
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Which Insurance Pays: The Three Rideshare Periods
Georgia’s rideshare insurance law, O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24, sets minimum coverage by time period. Uber and Lyft meet these requirements through policies they carry for drivers.
App Off: The Driver’s Personal Policy
When the app is off, it is an ordinary crash. The driver’s personal auto policy applies, and Georgia’s minimum is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may also help.
App On, Waiting for a Ride: $50,000 Per Person
Once the driver is logged in and available, the rideshare coverage must provide at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $50,000 for property damage. The rideshare law sets no uninsured motorist minimum for this period, so whether that coverage applies depends on the policy.
Ride Accepted Until the Trip Ends: $1 Million
From the moment a driver accepts a ride until the trip is complete, coverage must be at least $1 million per occurrence. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage must be at least $300,000 per accident, with up to $100,000 per person.
Two details matter in almost every case. Georgia requires primary coverage while the app is on, so the rideshare policy usually pays first. And many personal auto policies exclude rideshare driving, so a driver who was logged in may have no personal coverage at all for that crash.
If You Were an Uber or Lyft Passenger
Passengers on an app-booked trip are generally covered by at least $1 million in liability coverage per crash, shared by everyone hurt, because a passenger is in the car only after a ride has been accepted. That is true whether your driver caused the crash or another driver did. Our article on who pays when you’re hurt as an Uber or Lyft passenger walks through the claim step by step.
If Your Driver Caused the Crash
The claim goes to the rideshare company’s insurer under the $1 million liability coverage.
If Another Driver Caused the Crash
The claim goes first to that driver’s insurer. If that driver has too little insurance or none, the rideshare policy’s uninsured motorist coverage, up to $100,000 per person, may cover the rest.
If Both Drivers Share Fault
You can claim against both drivers. Each pays their share of fault, up to their insurance limits, and a passenger is rarely found at fault.
If you or a relative you live with has uninsured motorist coverage, it may also apply, even though you weren’t driving. Read how uninsured motorist coverage works in Georgia. The rideshare policy’s own uninsured motorist coverage is much lower than its liability coverage; see what the 2023 change to Uber and Lyft uninsured motorist coverage means for you.
If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hit You
If you were driving another car, walking or riding a bike when a rideshare driver hit you, the coverage depends on the app status at the moment of the crash. If the driver had a passenger or was on the way to pick one up, the $1 million policy applies. If the app was on with no ride accepted, the lower $50,000 per person limit applies. If the app was off, the driver’s personal policy applies, and your own uninsured motorist coverage may help too.
Drivers don’t always admit they were logged in. The rideshare company’s log-in and trip records usually settle it. Injured people typically get them through formal requests in a lawsuit, and an early preservation letter helps make sure they aren’t lost. Read more about why the Uber driver’s app status changes your claim.
If You Are the Rideshare Driver
If another driver caused the crash, you can claim against that driver’s insurance like anyone else. Uber and Lyft classify drivers as independent contractors, so workers’ compensation usually doesn’t apply, though each case turns on its facts. Depending on your app status, the rideshare policy may provide uninsured motorist coverage, and your own policy may add more. Partial fault doesn’t automatically end your claim; see what happens when you were partly at fault in Georgia.
Evidence That Matters in Georgia Rideshare Claims
Start with what is on your phone: the trip receipt or ride history with times and route, and screenshots of the driver’s name, car and plate from the app.
Then add the police report, photos of the scene, the names and contact details of witnesses and any other passengers, and medical records that start as soon after the crash as possible.
Georgia Rules That Apply to Every Rideshare Claim
Filing Deadline
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash, and some deadlines are shorter. See how long you have to file a claim in Georgia.
Shared Fault
Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred if you are 50% or more at fault (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33).
Seatbelt Evidence
Since April 21, 2025, the defense may ask to show a jury that you weren’t wearing a seatbelt. That applies in any seat, even the back, where adults aren’t required to buckle up, and a judge can still keep the evidence out.
Releases When Several Policies Apply
With several policies in play, the release you sign matters. A general release can end your uninsured motorist claim, and a limited release must meet the statute’s exact terms. Read about general vs. limited releases in Georgia.
Medical Liens
Hospitals and health plans may be repaid from the settlement, and the rules vary by plan type. See hospital liens in Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Uber or Lyft have to pay if their driver hit me?
Usually their insurer pays, not the company itself. If the driver had accepted a ride, Georgia requires $1 million in coverage. If the app was on with no ride accepted, the minimum is $50,000 per person.
What if the rideshare driver’s app was off?
Then it is treated like any other crash, and the driver’s personal auto policy applies. The rideshare company’s coverage does not, but your own uninsured motorist coverage may help.
How much uninsured motorist coverage do Uber and Lyft carry in Georgia?
During a ride, Georgia requires at least $300,000 per accident, with up to $100,000 per person. That requirement was lowered from $1 million for crashes on or after July 1, 2023.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Usually not for the crash itself. Since July 1, 2025, Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-1-201) shields rideshare companies from liability for crashes caused by their drivers, as long as the company wasn’t negligent, follows Georgia’s rideshare rules and runs driver background checks at least every two years. The claim usually goes through the company’s insurance policy instead.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Georgia?
In most cases, two years from the date of the crash. Evidence like app data and trip records can disappear sooner, so it helps to act quickly.
Talk With an Atlanta Rideshare Accident Attorney
If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash in the Atlanta area, our Atlanta rideshare accident attorney page explains how Jonathan Flack handles these claims, from getting trip records to dealing with multiple insurers. Request a free consultation or call (678) 653-0309.
Contact Us
Do not let insurance companies control the outcome of your injury claim. Call Flack Injury Law today at (678) 653-0309 or contact us through our secure online form to schedule your free case review. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights and fighting for the compensation you deserve.