Rideshare Accident Lawyer Serving Metairie and Southeast Louisiana
Rideshare accidents are different from ordinary car accidents in one critical way: the question of whose insurance covers your injuries depends entirely on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. Whether the Uber or Lyft app was off, waiting for a match, or actively transporting a passenger determines which policy applies — and by how much.
That layered insurance structure is exactly where rideshare companies and their insurers create confusion. Understanding which coverage applies before you file anything isn't just helpful. It's the difference between a claim that moves forward and one that gets stuck pointing fingers between a driver's personal policy and a company's commercial policy.
Who Can Bring a Rideshare Injury Claim in Louisiana
Rideshare accidents don't affect just one type of victim, and no single angle on these cases is more legitimate than another. Lane works with:
- Injured passengers. Being hurt while riding in an Uber or Lyft raises an immediate question: whose insurance actually covers this? Lane reviews the driver's status at the time of the crash — app on, waiting for a match, or actively transporting a passenger — to identify which policy applies.
- Drivers struck by a rideshare vehicle. If a rideshare driver caused the crash, that doesn't make the case less straightforward. Lane evaluates the same layered personal-versus-commercial insurance question from the other driver's side.
- Rideshare drivers injured by another motorist. Drivers working for Uber or Lyft have the same right to pursue compensation as anyone else on the road. Lane evaluates these claims the same way as any other car accident case.
- Pedestrians struck by a rideshare vehicle. Pedestrians hurt by a rideshare vehicle face the same layered-insurance questions as passengers and other drivers. Lane works through which policy applies based on what the driver was doing at the time.
If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies, that question is exactly what a consultation is for.
How Louisiana's Rideshare Insurance Layers Actually Work
Louisiana law and the policies carried by Uber and Lyft create a three-phase coverage structure that controls how much insurance is available after a crash.
- App off. If the driver wasn't logged into the rideshare app at the time of the crash, only their personal auto insurance applies. The rideshare company has no coverage obligation.
- App on, waiting for a match. Once the driver is logged in and available but hasn't accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft typically provide limited contingent liability coverage — in Louisiana, this is generally $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 in property damage. This coverage only activates if the driver's personal policy doesn't apply or is insufficient.
- Match accepted or passenger in the vehicle. This is the phase with the most coverage. Both Uber and Lyft carry up to $1 million in commercial liability coverage once a ride has been accepted and through the completion of the trip.
The practical problem is that insurers don't always agree on which phase applies — and rideshare companies have a financial incentive to argue for the phase that limits their exposure. Having a rideshare injury claim lawyer who understands how these policies interact is what keeps that argument from working against you.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Rideshare Accident
A rideshare injury claim in Louisiana can pursue compensation across several categories, though the amount actually recoverable may depend on which insurance layer applies and the total coverage available.
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment costs
- Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery, and lost earning capacity if injuries affect your ability to work long-term
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, and the impact the injury has had on your daily life
- Property damage to your vehicle or personal belongings
- Wrongful death damages, in cases where a rideshare accident results in a fatality
When the at-fault driver's personal policy limits are low and the rideshare company's commercial coverage is the primary source of recovery, the stakes of identifying the correct phase — and documenting it properly — are significant. Lane approaches every rideshare injury claim with that documentation question as a priority from day one.
What Our Clients Say
Questions Clients Ask About Rideshare Accident Claims
Who is liable in an Uber accident in Louisiana?
Liability depends on the facts of the crash and the driver's status at the time. If the driver was at fault, liability may fall on the driver personally, Uber or Lyft's commercial insurer, or both — depending on whether the app was active and what phase of the ride was underway. Louisiana follows a comparative fault system, meaning multiple parties can share liability.Liability depends on the facts of the crash and the driver's status at the time. If the driver was at fault, liability may fall on the driver personally, Uber or Lyft's commercial insurer, or both — depending on whether the app was active and what phase of the ride was underway. Louisiana follows a comparative fault system, meaning multiple parties can share liability.Does Uber or Lyft's insurance cover me as a passenger if their driver caused the accident?
Yes, if the driver had accepted your ride and the trip was in progress, Uber and Lyft both carry up to $1 million in commercial liability coverage. That coverage applies to passengers injured during an active trip, regardless of whether the driver's personal insurance also responds.Yes, if the driver had accepted your ride and the trip was in progress, Uber and Lyft both carry up to $1 million in commercial liability coverage. That coverage applies to passengers injured during an active trip, regardless of whether the driver's personal insurance also responds.What if the rideshare driver was waiting for a match and caused an accident — is there still coverage?
There is, but it's more limited. When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, Uber and Lyft typically provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in Louisiana. This coverage is secondary to the driver's personal policy and may not be sufficient for serious injuries.There is, but it's more limited. When the app is on but no ride has been accepted, Uber and Lyft typically provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in Louisiana. This coverage is secondary to the driver's personal policy and may not be sufficient for serious injuries.I was hit by a Lyft driver while driving my own car. Can I still make a claim?
Yes. Being struck by a rideshare driver in another vehicle gives you the same right to pursue a personal injury claim as any other car accident. The same insurance-phase analysis applies — Lane evaluates which policy covers the at-fault driver based on what the app showed at the time of the crash.Yes. Being struck by a rideshare driver in another vehicle gives you the same right to pursue a personal injury claim as any other car accident. The same insurance-phase analysis applies — Lane evaluates which policy covers the at-fault driver based on what the app showed at the time of the crash.Is there a rideshare accident lawyer near Metairie who handles these cases?
Macaluso Law is based in Metairie and Harahan, and Lane handles rideshare accident claims throughout Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, and the surrounding Southeast Louisiana region. Consultations are available by phone, text, or in person at either office location.Macaluso Law is based in Metairie and Harahan, and Lane handles rideshare accident claims throughout Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, and the surrounding Southeast Louisiana region. Consultations are available by phone, text, or in person at either office location.
Work Directly With Lane From the First Call
Rideshare injury claims involve more moving parts than a standard car accident case — multiple potential insurers, a company with resources and legal teams, and a coverage structure designed to minimize payouts. Lane brings litigation experience from both sides of personal injury cases, which means he understands how these companies build their defense before it starts.
When you work with Macaluso Law, you work with Lane directly. Every call, every update, every decision about your case goes through him — not a case manager, not a junior associate. If you were hurt in a rideshare accident in the New Orleans metro area, including Metairie, Harahan, Kenner, or the surrounding parishes, Lane is ready to review what happened and tell you plainly what your options are.
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