What If You're the Passenger in an Uber Accident? | KNR
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What you do in the minutes and days after an Ohio rideshare crash can safeguard your health and strengthen your claim.
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KNR Legal
Date posted
 
October 2, 2025
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Uber and Lyft make it easy to get around Ohio—whether you’re heading to the airport, commuting downtown, or getting home after a night out. But when a rideshare crash happens, injured passengers are left with urgent questions: Who pays my medical bills? Do I file a claim with Uber or another insurer? Am I covered if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt? If you were hurt in a rideshare crash, our experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR) can protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Call 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free consultation. There are no upfront costs, and you owe nothing unless we recover for you.

Steps to Take Immediately After an Uber Accident

  • Seek Medical Care: Even if you wore a seatbelt and feel “okay,” delayed-onset injuries (concussions, whiplash, internal injuries) are common. Prompt treatment documents your condition and links it to the crash.
  • Call Police And Get A Report: A car accident report anchors key facts (driver identities, insurance, citations, witness names) and is often the starting point for proving fault.
  • Document The Scene: Photograph vehicle positions, road conditions, traffic control devices, debris, and visible injuries. Save ride receipts and in-app trip details.
  • Report The Crash To Uber: Use the app or email with your driver’s name and trip timestamp so Uber logs the event.
  • Limit Insurance Statements: Insurance adjusters may push for recorded statements, argue seatbelt issues, or minimize injuries.
  • Call an Uber Accident Lawyer: Multiple insurers may be involved (Uber’s, the rideshare driver’s, another motorist’s, and possibly yours). An attorney coordinates coverage, preserves evidence, and maximizes recovery.

Your Rights As An Uber Passenger In Ohio

As a passenger, you didn’t cause the crash. Ohio law allows you to recover from the at-fault party (or parties) for:

  • Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
  • Property damage (broken phone, glasses, laptop, luggage)

More about Damages & Compensation in Ohio Car Accident Cases

Seatbelts & Comparative Fault in Rideshares

Even if you weren’t wearing a seatbelt, you may still recover damages. Insurers may argue your injuries were worse due to no seatbelt; Ohio’s comparative negligence rules can reduce (not bar) recovery in some cases. Legal advocacy helps counter unfair blame-shifting.

Read You Can Still Sue After a Car Accident If You Weren’t Wearing a Seat Belt

Who Is Liable If You’re Injured In An Uber Accident?

Liability turns on who acted negligently and whether the Uber driver was “on the app.” Common scenarios include:

  • Uber Driver Negligence: Speeding, distraction (including app use), tailgating, unsafe left turns, running lights, impaired or fatigued driving. If you were a passenger, Uber’s higher-limit insurance generally applies.
  • Other Driver Negligence: If a different motorist caused the crash, that driver’s insurer is typically primary. Uber’s coverage may supplement if the at-fault driver is uninsured/underinsured.
  • Shared Fault / Multi-Vehicle Crashes: Liability can be split between an Uber driver and another motorist. Comparative negligence allocates percentages of fault; claims may involve multiple insurers.
  • Off-Duty Rideshare Drivers: If the driver wasn’t logged into the app, Uber’s policy is not in play; only the driver’s personal auto policy applies.
  • Passengers Are Rarely At Fault: You weren’t operating a vehicle, so liability typically rests with one or more drivers—not the passenger.

How Uber’s Insurance Policy Works For Injured Passengers

Uber uses tiered coverage based on driver status at the time of the crash:

  • App Off: No Uber coverage. The driver’s personal auto insurance applies.
  • App On, No Passenger Accepted: Contingent liability coverage may apply (commonly stated limits of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage), in excess of the driver’s personal policy.
  • Passenger Accepted Or In Vehicle: Up to $1,000,000 in third-party liability coverage generally applies, plus potential uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.

Insurers often dispute whether the driver was “on the clock,” who had the green light, or whether a pickup/drop-off zone created unusual hazards. KNR investigates quickly pulling trip data, dashcam footage when available, and witness statements to enforce the right coverage.

Common Causes & Injuries In Ohio Uber Crashes

Based on our casework and common traffic patterns across Ohio cities, frequent causes include:

  • Driver Fatigue: Long shifts, late nights, and back-to-back trips increase drowsy driving risks.
  • Reckless or Aggressive Driving: Speeding to make pickups, abrupt lane changes, tailgating, and failure to yield.
  • Distraction: In-app navigation, ride requests, and unfamiliar routes divide attention.
  • Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Worn brakes or tires and other mechanical issues—especially with high-mileage vehicles.
  • Road And Weather Hazards: Work zones, potholes, snow/ice, and reduced visibility on urban arterials and interstates.

Common Uber Passenger Injuries

Concussions and traumatic brain injuries, whiplash and spinal injuries, fractures, shoulder and knee trauma (from seatbelt and bracing forces), internal injuries, and lacerations. Early diagnostics and follow-up care are crucial.

What If You Were In The Other Car Hit By An Uber?

Not every injured person is riding in the Uber. If you were an occupant of another vehicle struck by an Uber driver, your claim typically proceeds against the at-fault driver (which may be the Uber driver), with Uber coverage applying when the driver was on the app. If the Uber driver was off-app, their personal insurance is primary. KNR evaluates app status, pulls the trip record, and identifies all available coverages so you’re not left paying out of pocket.

Serving Uber Auto Accident Victims Across Ohio

KNR has successfully represented Uber accident victims across the state, from busy downtown areas to suburban roads and interstate highways. We understand the unique challenges injured passengers face and the tactics insurers use to minimize claims. Our Uber accident lawyers are proud to serve clients in:

People Also Ask: FAQs For Injured Uber Passengers

How Common Are Uber Accidents?

There’s no single Ohio-only dataset for Uber crashes, but rideshare collisions occur for many of the same reasons as other car crashes—fatigue, distraction, speeding, and poor maintenance—compounded by frequent pickups and drop-offs in busy zones. What matters for your case is proving negligence and connecting your injuries to the crash. KNR gathers police reports, trip records, and medical documentation to build a strong claim.

How Did The Only Two Cars In Ohio Crash?

This tongue-in-cheek question pops up in search results, but real-world crashes rarely hinge on quirky facts. In Uber cases, liability typically turns on driver behavior (who had right-of-way, speeding, distraction) and whether the rideshare driver was on the app. Evidence—scene photos, dashcams, event data recorders, and witness statements—clarifies fault.

How Much Will I Get From The Uber Settlement?

There isn’t a reliable “average” Uber settlement because every case is unique. Settlement value depends on medical treatment, lasting limitations, lost income, pain and suffering, disputed liability, insurance limits (including Uber’s tiers), and the strength of your evidence. KNR calculates full damages, identifies all coverages, and negotiates aggressively to maximize recovery—without promising results or using misleading averages.

Is Ohio A No-Fault State For Car Accidents?

No. Ohio follows a fault-based system. The negligent driver (or drivers) and their insurers are responsible for damages. For Uber crashes, that may include the Uber driver’s policy, Uber’s tiered coverage, a third-party driver’s insurer, and sometimes your own uninsured/underinsured coverage.

Do I File With Uber’s Insurance, The Other Driver, Or My Own?

Start with the at-fault driver’s insurer. If you were a passenger and the Uber driver was at fault (and on the app), Uber’s policy is implicated. If another motorist is at fault and underinsured, Uber’s policy may supplement. Your health insurance may pay initial medical bills subject to reimbursement. KNR coordinates these layers so bills don’t pile up unnecessarily.

Can I Recover If The Uber Driver Wasn’t At Fault?

Yes. If another driver caused the crash, you can pursue that driver’s insurer. If they lack adequate coverage, Uber’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may help if you are a passenger in the Uber. We identify the order of coverage and protect your rights against each carrier.

What If I Wasn’t Wearing A Seatbelt?

You can still bring a claim. Insurers may argue your injuries were worse because of no seatbelt and try to reduce your payout. We push back with medical evidence and crash mechanics to show the true drivers of your injury profile.

What If My Uber Driver Was Using The App And Got Distracted?

App-related distraction is common in rideshare cases. If your driver’s distraction caused the crash while you were an active passenger, Uber’s $1M policy generally applies. Trip logs and phone records can help prove distraction and coverage status.

How Long Do I Have To File An Uber Injury Claim In Ohio?

Ohio’s general statute of limitations for personal injury is often two years from the crash date. Evidence fades quickly, so starting right away helps preserve proof, confirm app status, and secure medical documentation.

What If Multiple Vehicles Were Involved?

Multi-vehicle (chain-reaction) crashes often involve split liability. We pursue each negligent driver’s insurer and, when applicable, Uber’s coverage. Comparative negligence does not prevent recovery; it apportions it based on fault percentages.

Can Passengers In The Other Car Sue When Hit By An Uber?

Yes. If an on-app Uber driver hits your vehicle, Uber’s policy may apply. If off-app, the driver’s personal policy applies. We confirm status, demand the right carrier, and pursue all damages you’re entitled to recover.

What Are Typical Injuries And Medical Proof Needed?

We commonly see concussions, cervical/lumbar strains, herniated discs, fractures, shoulder/knee trauma, and internal injuries. Medical imaging, ER records, specialist notes, and therapy logs help quantify damages and support pain-and-suffering claims.

What Evidence Helps Most In An Uber Case?

Police reports, scene photos, vehicle damage angles, ride receipts, in-app timelines, driver communications, dashcam and phone data (when available), and consistent medical documentation. Keep a symptom journal and save out-of-pocket receipts.

What If The Insurer Says I’m “Fine” Or Offers A Quick Settlement?

Early, low offers are common—especially before full diagnosis or rehab. Don’t sign a release until you understand the scope of your injuries and future care. KNR values the claim properly and negotiates from documented evidence.

Will I Have To Go To Court?

Many cases settle, but we prepare every claim as if it will go to trial. Strong preparation (liability proof, medical support, expert input) drives better settlements and positions your case if litigation becomes necessary.

How Do Attorney Fees And Costs Work?

KNR works on a contingency fee—no upfront fees, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation. We advance case costs and explain repayment from the settlement as part of a transparent fee agreement.

Why Injured Rideshare Passengers Choose KNR

  • Rideshare Experience: We understand Uber & Lyft’s tiered policies, app-status disputes, and multi-carrier claim strategy.
  • Evidence-Driven: We secure crash reports, trip logs, scene and vehicle photos, and medical proof—fast.
  • No Upfront Costs: You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
  • Statewide Reach: Offices and attorneys serving Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Toledo, Dayton, Youngstown, and surrounding communities.

Contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick Today

If you were injured as a passenger in an Uber or struck by an Uber driver, put a proven Ohio legal team on your side. Kisling, Nestico & Redick handles the insurers, proves liability, and fights to recover what you need to move forward.

Call 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free consultation with an experienced rideshare car accident lawyer or contact KNR online. We’ll discuss what happened, your rights, and how we can help you recover.

There are no upfront costs, and you owe nothing unless we recover for you.