Rideshare Accident Lawyer AZ

A Rideshare Accident Lawyer in AZ for Uber and Lyft Passengers, Drivers and Others on the Road

If you were hurt in a crash involving an Uber, a Lyft or another rideshare vehicle, a rideshare accident lawyer in AZ can work out which insurance applies, because the answer depends on what the driver was doing when the crash happened. Valley Accident Law is in Scottsdale, serves the Phoenix metro and takes cases anywhere in Arizona. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.

Free case review Call (602) 584-8054

The back seat of a sedan at night from the passenger side, city lights through the window, seatbelt

App on, waiting: 25/50/20 liability; A.R.S. 28-4038
Ride accepted: $250,000, and $1,000,000 with a passenger aboard; A.R.S. 28-4038
Filing deadline: Generally 2 years from the crash; A.R.S. 12-542(1)
Fault rule: Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar; A.R.S. 12-2505

A rideshare pickup curb at a Phoenix airport terminal at night, cars waiting, travelers far away, no readable signs

How a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in AZ Sorts Out Several Insurers

A rideshare crash can involve the driver's personal auto policy, the rideshare company's commercial coverage, the other driver's insurance and your own policy, and each insurer has reasons to say another one should pay. The result is often a round of finger pointing while your bills pile up.

Arizona sets minimum coverage for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, and the amount depends on the phase of the trip (A.R.S. 28-4038). The first question we ask is simple: was the app off, was the driver waiting for a request, or was a ride accepted or underway? The answer decides which policy sits at the front of the line.

Whether you were a rider, a driver, someone in another car, a pedestrian or a cyclist, we help you identify every policy that may apply and handle the insurers, so you do not have to argue with several adjusters at once.

Arizona

Rideshare Insurance Minimums by Phase of the Trip

These are the statutory minimums. Actual policies may be higher, so we always request the real policy.

Phase of the trip	Coverage that may apply	Rule
App off	The driver's own personal auto policy applies, as with any private driver. The rideshare company's coverage does not.	Personal policy terms
App on, waiting for a ride request	Bodily injury and property damage liability of 25/50/20	A.R.S. 28-4038
Ride accepted	$250,000 in coverage once a ride is accepted	A.R.S. 28-4038
Passenger aboard	$1,000,000 in coverage with a passenger in the vehicle	A.R.S. 28-4038
Uninsured and underinsured motorist	Statutory UM minimum of 25/75 for rideshare coverage	A.R.S. 28-4038

Source: A.R.S. 28-4038 as confirmed by our attorney in October 2026. Policy limits and company practices can differ.

What a Rideshare Injury Lawyer Looks at First: Your Role in the Crash

Your position in the crash changes which policies apply and how fault is argued.

A phone in a dashboard mount showing a blank map screen inside a car at night, city lights through the windshield, no readable text

You were a passenger: If you were a passenger in a Lyft or Uber accident, you may have claims against the rideshare driver's coverage, the company's coverage or the other driver's insurance. A passenger is rarely blamed for the crash, so the fault fight is usually between drivers.
You were the rideshare driver: Your own coverage, the company's coverage and UM/UIM may all be relevant. Reports to the company and statements to adjusters can affect your claim, so talk with a lawyer first.
You were in the other car: The rideshare driver's insurer may be the one to pay. Which phase applied matters because it changes how much coverage is available.
You were on foot or on a bike: A driver distracted by a phone or navigation screen is a common fault argument. Your claim runs through the same coverage phases, plus your own UM/UIM where it applies.

Can You Sue Lyft or Uber for an Accident?

Often the claim is made through insurance first, but whether a rideshare company itself answers for a crash is a question that depends on the facts. The companies describe drivers as independent contractors, and they use that position to argue a driver's mistakes are not theirs. Their commercial insurance is another matter: Arizona requires it to be in place, and it is usually the main source of recovery for a crash during a ride.

We look at trip records, app status, the driver's history and company policies. Rideshare companies hold detailed data about location, speed and timing. That data can help or hurt a claim, which is why preservation requests should go out early.

Some questions people ask about a specific company are really the same question in different words: can you sue Lyft for an accident, and does it matter which company was involved? The answer for an Uber car accident lawyer and for a Lyft car accident lawyer is the same framework: find the phase of the trip, identify the policies and prove fault.

What to Do After a Rideshare Crash

General steps, not legal advice for your exact situation.

A car pulling to the curb for a pickup outside a nightlife district at night, a phone in a hand in the foreground

1
Call 911 and get medical help
Arizona law requires immediate notice to police when a crash injures or kills someone (A.R.S. 28-666).
2
Screenshot the trip, if safely possible
If safely possible, before any vehicle is moved, capture the app screen showing the driver, car, plate and trip status, plus your receipt.
3
Photograph the scene and the vehicles
Include plates, damage and the road. Get the driver's information and the other driver's insurance.
4
Report through the app, but keep it brief
Reporting is fine. Do not guess at fault and do not agree to a recorded statement before talking with us.
5
Keep your records
Save medical records, receipts and messages from the company or the driver.

Arizona

Rideshare With a Driver Versus a Driverless Ride

Driverless ride-hailing runs in parts of the Phoenix area, so a Waymo accident lawyer's questions differ from the usual driver-based case.

A driver on an app

A person is behind the wheel, and the trip phase tells us which coverage applies.
Fault is argued about that driver's choices: speed, distraction, impairment (0.04 alcohol limit for rideshare drivers under A.R.S. 28-1381).
The statutory minimums in A.R.S. 28-4038 give us a starting point.

A driverless vehicle

No driver. A company operates the vehicle, so we start by identifying who operates it and what coverage stands behind it.
Fault turns on data from the vehicle, its software and its maintenance.
These claims are newer, so we review the facts carefully and explain what we find before you decide.

Evidence in a Rideshare Case

We collect or request items like these early.

Screenshots of the trip, driver profile, vehicle and plate
Your receipt and the company's trip record
The driver's insurance information and the company's coverage details
The police report and photographs
Dashcam or camera video from either vehicle
Phone records, if distraction is suspected
Medical records and bills
Texts or emails with the company, the driver or adjusters

Two cars stopped on a road shoulder after a low-speed rear-end collision, crumpled rear bumper, hazard lights on

Deadlines in a Rideshare Accident Claim

The general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Arizona is 2 years from the date of injury (A.R.S. 12-542(1)). If a public entity is involved, such as a city bus or a defective road, a notice of claim is due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). Written notice to your own insurer for an uninsured or underinsured claim is due within 3 years (A.R.S. 12-555). A child's deadlines can be paused until age 18 (A.R.S. 12-502). These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you.

Fault and Damages in a Rideshare Claim

Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and that is true when a rideshare vehicle is involved. Arizona uses pure comparative fault with no percentage bar (A.R.S. 12-2505), so your recovery is reduced by your share, not eliminated.

Damages include medical bills, lost income, future care, and pain and limits on daily life. Arizona sets no caps on personal injury or death damages (Ariz. Const. art. 2, sec. 31; art. 18, sec. 6). Hospital and health plan liens can affect what you keep. See medical liens on a settlement for more.

If the other driver was impaired, a civil claim runs separately from any criminal case. For help estimating value, read what your case may be worth. Our Arizona car accident page covers fault and evidence in more depth.

The side of a sedan caved in at the doors after a side-impact crash, stopped in an intersection, glass on asphalt

What Insurers Tend to Do After a Rideshare Crash

Expect a quick call, a request for a recorded statement and a reference to another company's policy. Each insurer may say the crash falls in a different phase of the trip, or that its policy does not apply. Do not agree to a recorded statement or sign a release without talking to us. Our page on talking to insurance adjusters explains what to expect.

Finding the Best Rideshare Accident Lawyer for Your Claim

People often search for the best rideshare accident lawyer, but a ranking cannot tell you who will explain the phases, preserve the app data and speak plainly. Ask who handles your calls and what costs look like.

You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Our fee agreement is written and signed and states the percentage and how costs are handled (Ariz. ER 1.5(c)). See how contingency fees work. Our attorney, Charles Paglialunga, has 32 years of experience, and we take rideshare cases anywhere in Arizona.

Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer by City

Pick the city where the crash happened for local roads, police agencies, courts and hospitals.

Questions

Questions about rideshare accident lawyer az

I was a passenger in a Lyft accident. Who pays my medical bills?

It depends on the facts. The rideshare driver's coverage, the company's coverage and the other driver's insurance may all be involved, and health insurance can cover early bills. We help identify every policy and tell you what to expect.

Can you sue Lyft for an accident?

A claim usually runs through the insurance the company is required to carry, and whether the company itself is responsible depends on the facts. We review trip records and app status to decide which claims fit.

How much insurance does an Uber or Lyft driver have in Arizona?

It depends on the phase. With the app on and no ride accepted, the minimum is 25/50/20. Once a ride is accepted it is $250,000, and $1,000,000 with a passenger aboard (A.R.S. 28-4038). Actual policies may be higher.

What if I was hit by a driverless car?

These claims are newer. We start by identifying who operates the vehicle and what coverage stands behind it, then review any data the vehicle recorded.

Should I use the company's help line after a crash?

Reporting a crash is fine. Keep it brief, avoid guessing at fault and do not agree to a recorded statement before talking with us.

What if the rideshare driver was impaired?

Arizona makes it unlawful to drive impaired to the slightest degree, and rideshare drivers face a 0.04 alcohol limit (A.R.S. 28-1381). The civil claim is independent of any criminal case.

How much does a rideshare injury lawyer cost?

You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. We explain the written fee agreement before you decide.

Free case review

Talk With a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in AZ

Tell us what happened and we will explain your legal rights and which insurance may apply. Our experienced and friendly attorney will answer your questions. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights. Contact us for a free case review.

(602) 584-8054

Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.