Reviewed and Verified by Attorney Allan Berger — Licensed in Louisiana since 1974.
Uber and Lyft are everywhere in New Orleans, from the airport to Bourbon Street. When one of those rides ends in a crash, figuring out who pays is far harder than in an ordinary car accident. Multiple insurance policies may apply, and the rideshare company will distance itself from the driver to limit its exposure.
As a New Orleans rideshare accident lawyer, Allan Berger & Associates, P.L.C. has represented injured accident victims across southeast Louisiana for nearly 50 years. We untangle the coverage and pursue every policy that applies to your crash.
If you need immediate help with a claim, contact Allan Berger & Associates, P.L.C. at 504-526-2222 for a free case review.
Your New Orleans rideshare accident claim at a glance
|
Your question |
What Louisiana law says |
| How much coverage applies during my ride? | Up to $1 million in liability coverage applies from the moment a driver accepts a ride until you are dropped off. |
| What if the driver was waiting for a request? | Lower limits apply when the app is on but no ride is accepted: roughly $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage. |
| How long do I have to file? | Two years from the crash for injuries on or after July 1, 2024, under Louisiana’s two-year filing deadline. Earlier injuries have one year. |
| Can I recover if I was partly at fault? | Yes, if you are less than 51% at fault. Louisiana uses a modified comparative-fault rule with a 51% bar, effective January 1, 2026. |
| What does a lawyer cost up front? | Nothing. We work on a contingency fee, so you pay only if we recover money for you. |
How rideshare insurance coverage works in Louisiana
The single biggest difference in a rideshare case is the insurance, and it changes depending on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. When the app is off, the driver’s personal auto policy applies, the same as any other driver on the road. Once the app is on and the driver is waiting for a ride request, Uber and Lyft provide limited coverage, generally around $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage.
Everything changes once a ride is accepted or a passenger is on board. At that point a $1 million liability policy applies, covering passengers and others hurt in the crash. Knowing exactly which phase the driver was in often decides which policy pays, and we obtain the trip records that pin down the timeline. One important catch in Louisiana is that Uber has opted out of providing uninsured-motorist coverage, which makes a careful analysis of every available policy even more important.
Who can be held responsible for a rideshare crash
A rideshare crash can involve more than one at-fault party. The rideshare driver may have caused the collision, or another driver may have struck the vehicle you were riding in. The rideshare company can be on the hook through its insurance policy, and in some cases a vehicle or parts maker shares responsibility if a defect contributed to the crash.
Whether you were a passenger, another driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, you have the right to pursue the parties responsible for your injuries. Sorting out who pays, and in what order, is one of the main reasons these cases benefit from a lawyer early.
Injuries our rideshare accident attorneys see most often
Rideshare crashes cause the same serious injuries as any high-impact collision. Whiplash and other neck and back injuries are common, along with broken bones from the force of the impact. More severe wrecks can cause traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and spinal cord damage.
Internal injuries are a real risk as well, and even crashes that look minor can leave victims with cuts, bruises, and pain that lingers for months. Because some injuries take days to surface, prompt medical care protects both your health and your claim by creating a clear record tied to the crash.
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Rideshare Accident Lawyer
How a New Orleans rideshare accident lawyer can help
Rideshare cases turn on a question most injured people cannot answer alone: which insurance policy is responsible, and for how much. A New Orleans Uber accident lawyer answers it. We request and preserve the Uber or Lyft trip data that shows whether the driver was off the app, waiting, or carrying a passenger at the exact moment of the crash, because that single fact can move your claim from a small policy to the $1 million coverage. We then identify every other policy in play, including the at-fault driver’s insurance and your own uninsured-motorist coverage.
From there we handle the corporate insurers and their lawyers so you are not negotiating against a billion-dollar company by yourself. We document your injuries with your medical providers, value your future care and lost income, and press for a full settlement. If the companies refuse to pay what your case is worth, your rideshare crash attorney is ready to file suit and take it to trial. You recover while we untangle the coverage and carry the fight.
Compensation a rideshare accident victim can recover
Louisiana law lets you pursue economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover the measurable costs, including emergency treatment, surgery, hospital stays, and rehabilitation, as well as the future medical care a serious injury requires. They also include lost wages, any long-term reduction in your earning ability, and the damage to your vehicle if you were in another car.
Non-economic damages compensate for the personal harm of the crash, such as physical pain, emotional distress, scarring, and the loss of activities you once enjoyed. When a rideshare crash is fatal, the family can bring a wrongful-death claim for funeral costs and the loss of their loved one’s support and companionship. Because more than one policy may apply, the total available compensation in a rideshare case is often larger than in an ordinary crash, and we pursue every dollar that fits.
What to do after a rideshare accident in New Orleans
The steps you take early protect your health and your claim:
- Call 911 and get a police report.
- Accept medical care, even if you feel alright.
- Screenshot your trip details in the Uber or Lyft app.
- Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries.
- Collect contact and insurance information from every driver involved.
- Speak with a New Orleans rideshare accident lawyer before accepting any offer.
How long you have to file a rideshare accident claim in Louisiana
Louisiana gives you two years from the date of a crash that happened on or after July 1, 2024 to file a lawsuit. Earlier crashes fall under the old one-year deadline. Because rideshare claims involve corporate insurers and detailed trip data, starting early gives us time to secure that evidence before it disappears.
Frequently asked questions
I was a passenger. Will I have to sue the driver who gave me a ride?
Usually not. Your claim is typically against the insurance policies that apply, including the $1 million rideshare policy that covers passengers during a trip. You can recover for your injuries without personally targeting the driver, which is often a friend, neighbor, or stranger just doing their job.
The other driver, not my Uber driver, caused the crash. What then?
Then that driver’s insurance is the first source of recovery for your injuries. If their limits are too low to cover your losses, the rideshare coverage may apply on top. We identify every policy in play so you are not left absorbing costs that someone else should pay.
How do I prove the driver was working for Uber or Lyft?
The app’s trip records show whether the driver was logged in, waiting, or carrying a passenger at the exact time of the crash. We request and preserve that data quickly, because it determines which insurance tier applies and prevents the company from claiming the driver was off duty.
What if I was a pedestrian or in another car?
You can still recover. The rideshare policies are not limited to passengers; they can cover anyone the driver injures while logged into the app. We determine which coverage tier was active and pursue it alongside any other responsible driver’s insurance on your behalf.
Will my case settle or go to trial?
Most rideshare claims settle once the responsible policies are identified and the injuries documented. We prepare every case for trial anyway, since corporate insurers respond to that pressure. You decide whether to accept a settlement, and we give you honest guidance on what each offer means.
How much is my rideshare accident case worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, your lost income, the cost of future care, and which policies apply. No lawyer can promise a number up front, but we can give you a realistic range after reviewing the details during your free consultation.
Why trust Allan Berger & Associates, P.L.C.?
Founded by Allan Berger in 1975, our firm has spent nearly five decades representing injured people and families across Louisiana. Attorney Berger and attorney Andrew J. Geiger have both been named Super Lawyers, and the firm holds the AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for legal skill and ethics. Gambit Weekly and Louisiana Legal Leaders have recognized our work as well.
Insurance carriers know we prepare every case for trial, and that reputation gives our clients an advantage when it comes time to settle. From our office on Canal Street, your New Orleans Lyft accident lawyer treats every rideshare case with the preparation and personal attention it deserves.
You pay nothing unless we win, and your first consultation is always free.
Talk to a New Orleans personal injury lawyer today at 504-526-2222 or send us a message online to schedule your free consultation.