A crash during an Uber or Lyft ride in Nashville can leave you unsure who is responsible for the injuries you sustained and which insurance policy applies. In Tennessee, fault depends on which party was responsible for the crash, while the rideshare driver’s app status can determine what coverage is available.
Who may be responsible for the crash?
While the rideshare driver may be responsible if speeding, distraction or another careless action caused the collision, another driver may also be at fault or responsibility may be shared.
A rideshare claim can become more complicated because more than one insurer may be involved. Coverage maintained by Lyft or Uber may apply depending on the driver’s app status even when the company itself is not directly at fault.
How do the three rideshare periods affect coverage?
State law sets different coverage requirements based on the driver’s rideshare activity. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance explains this activity through three periods:
- Period 1: The driver is online in the rideshare app and waiting for a trip request. Tennessee requires primary liability insurance with a $50,000 minimum for injury to or death of a single person, up to $100,000 total for injury or death from one incident plus $25,000 for damage to property.
- Period 2: The driver accepts your ride request in the app and begins traveling to pick you up.
- Period 3: You are in the vehicle until you leave at the end of the ride.
Periods 2 and 3 together make up what Tennessee law calls a prearranged ride. From the time the driver accepts your request until the ride ends, the law requires a minimum of $1 million in primary liability insurance for death, bodily injury and property damage. The driver, rideshare company or both may maintain it. If the app is off, ordinary personal auto insurance rules generally apply.
What should you document after the accident?
If it is safe to do so, take these steps after the crash:
- Save your trip receipt and app screenshots.
- Get the driver’s insurance information and app status.
- Keep the crash report number and medical records.
- Photograph the vehicles and scene.
These details can help establish what happened and which policy may apply.
Sorting out fault and insurance coverage
Knowing who caused the crash is only part of understanding your options. The driver’s app status and the insurance policies involved can also affect which coverage applies. Keeping your trip and accident records can make those details easier to establish. If questions remain, legal guidance can help you review the available coverage and understand how it may affect your rideshare accident claim.