{"id":368886,"date":"2023-01-09T10:37:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T15:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-a-rideshare-company-as-a-driver-on-the-road.html"},"modified":"2026-05-29T11:39:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T16:39:06","slug":"can-i-sue-a-rideshare-company-as-a-driver-on-the-road","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-a-rideshare-company-as-a-driver-on-the-road.html","title":{"rendered":"Can I Sue an Uber Driver or Rideshare Company?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can I Sue an Uber Driver or Rideshare Company?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Steven Ellison, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Yes, you may be able to sue <\/span>Uber<\/span>, Lyft, or another rideshare company<\/span> if their driver caused your accident, depending on whether the driver is legally considered an employee or an independent contractor<\/span> in your state. In no-fault states, you typically start by filing a claim with your own insurance, not by suing.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

In many states, rideshare drivers<\/span> are considered to be independent of the company, so your claim would lie against the driver instead of the company. But in some states, rideshare drivers<\/span> act as legal employees of the company, so the company would be responsible for the negligence of its drivers.<\/p>\n

If you live in what\u2019s called a no-fault state, you wouldn\u2019t start by suing either the rideshare driver<\/span> or the rideshare company<\/span>. You would begin the process by filing a claim with your own insurance company<\/span>. It\u2019s crucial to notify your insurance company<\/span> promptly if you are in an accident.<\/p>\n

Personal injury<\/span> cases<\/span> can be complex. You must provide medical evidence of the nature and extent of your injuries, which requires gathering and reviewing a lot of documents. Then you need to persuade a judge and jury that your claims justify compensation.<\/p>\n

A personal injury<\/span> attorney<\/span><\/a>\u00a0can guide you through this process. Because these cases can be complex, consulting a rideshare <\/span>accident<\/span> attorney<\/span> is often the best way to protect your rights. They can also help maximize compensation.<\/p>\n

What Is a Rideshare Company<\/span>?<\/h2>\n

A rideshare service<\/span> matches customers with drivers for hire using an app or a website. You create an account, sign in, and plug in your credit card. When you sign into the rideshare app<\/span>, you enter your destination. A rideshare driver<\/span> accepts your ride and picks you up. When you get to your destination, your card is automatically charged.<\/p>\n

The two largest rideshare companies<\/span>,\u00a0Uber<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Lyft, make up nearly 100% of the U.S. market<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Motor Vehicle Accidents With Rideshare Drivers<\/span><\/h2>\n

As\u00a0more Americans rideshare, companies have had to increase their drivers. Uber<\/span> has about 7 million<\/a>\u00a0drivers, and Lyft has over 2 million<\/a>. With this many rideshare vehicles<\/span> on the road, the number of motor vehicle accidents has increased. For example, Lyft reported a 31% increase in motor vehicle fatalities in its 2020-2022 Annual Safety Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rideshare accidents<\/span> can involve any of the causes of other car accidents<\/span><\/a>, such as:<\/p>\n