Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorneys
Bakersfield Uber &
Lyft Accident Lawyers
Rideshare crashes come with a tangle of insurance policies — and companies that would rather you give up. We cut through the confusion and fight for everything you’re owed.
“Valero Law has the most knowledgeable and supportive staff that helped me through my accident journey. I cannot say enough about Attorney Kyle Valero and Eric Sapir! Would give a 10/10 if I could!”
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Uber and Lyft Crashes Aren’t Like Other Car Accidents
Rideshare trips are now part of everyday life in Bakersfield — getting home from a night out, a ride to the airport, a lift across town. But when an Uber or Lyft is involved in a crash, figuring out who pays is far more complicated than a typical fender-bender. There can be three or more insurance policies in play, and each company has a reason to point the finger somewhere else.
Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian struck by a rideshare vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and the pain this crash has caused. A Bakersfield rideshare accident lawyer makes sure the right policy pays — and pays in full.
It Depends on the App
California law splits a rideshare driver’s time into three periods, and the available insurance changes with each one. Pinning down exactly which period applied at the moment of your crash is often the whole ballgame.
App Off — Driver Not Working
Driver’s personal auto policy
When the app is closed, the driver is treated like any other motorist. Their personal auto insurance applies — at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 in property damage in California as of January 1, 2025.
Cal. Veh. Code §16056App On — Waiting for a Ride
$50K / $100K / $30K
Once the driver is logged in and available but has not yet accepted a request, the rideshare company must carry primary coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for injury or death, plus $30,000 for property damage (and $200,000 in excess liability).
Cal. Pub. Util. Code §5433(c)Ride Accepted Through Drop-Off
$1,000,000
From the moment the driver accepts your ride until the passenger is dropped off, the rideshare company’s $1,000,000 policy applies for death, personal injury, and property damage — and it must also include uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.
Cal. Pub. Util. Code §5433(b)Coverage figures reflect California’s transportation network company insurance requirements. The exact policy that applies depends on the facts of your crash.
Hurt in a Rideshare Crash — Any Way It Happened
You don’t have to be the one who ordered the ride to have a claim. We represent everyone a rideshare crash can hurt.
Rideshare Passengers
You were riding in an Uber or Lyft when the crash happened. As a passenger, you are almost never at fault — and the $1,000,000 rideshare policy is usually available to you.
Other Drivers & Their Passengers
A rideshare driver hit your car. Which insurance pays depends on whether the app was on and whether they had a passenger or an accepted ride.
Pedestrians & Cyclists
You were on foot or on a bike when a distracted Uber or Lyft driver struck you. These crashes often cause the most serious injuries.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident
Rideshare cases turn on details that can vanish — especially the app data. Here’s how to protect your health and your claim.
Call 911 and get checked out
Report the crash and see a doctor even if you feel okay — whiplash and soft-tissue injuries often surface days later.
Screenshot the trip in the app
Save your ride receipt, the driver’s name, the trip time, and the vehicle. This proves the app status — which decides which insurance pays.
Report it to Uber or Lyft
Use the app’s in-trip “report a crash” feature so there is an official record, and gather the police report number and witness names.
Call Valero before any insurer
Rideshare and personal insurers will call fast. Don’t give a recorded statement — let us handle the investigation, the paperwork, and the negotiations.
Common Rideshare Accident Injuries We Handle
Rideshare passengers often ride unbelted in the back seat, and the crashes happen at busy intersections and pickup zones. The injuries can be just as serious as any other collision.
Head & Brain Trauma
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries are common when a passenger is unbelted or sitting in the back seat without a headrest.
Neck & Back Injuries
Whiplash, herniated discs, and soft-tissue strains often follow the sudden stops and rear-end hits typical of rideshare driving.
Broken Bones
Side-impact and intersection crashes can fracture arms, ribs, hips, and legs — sometimes requiring surgery and long rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord Damage
High-impact collisions can injure the spinal cord, sometimes causing partial or permanent loss of mobility.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Injuries
People struck by a distracted rideshare driver are unprotected and tend to suffer the most catastrophic harm.
Internal Injuries
Damage to internal organs is not always obvious right away, but it can become life-threatening if left untreated.
No matter how minor your injuries seem at first, see a doctor and document everything. Some of the most serious conditions — like internal bleeding or a brain injury — don’t show symptoms until days later.
How Fault Is Determined
California is a fault-based state: the driver who caused the crash — and their insurer — is responsible for the injured party’s losses. We build that case by establishing the driver owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused your injuries and damages.
California also follows pure comparative negligence, so you can recover even if you were partly at fault, with your award reduced by your share of the blame. We investigate the crash, gather the police report, app records, and witness statements, and pin down exactly who was responsible.
How Rideshare Drivers Cause Crashes
- Staring at the app — checking for ride requests, navigation, or surge zones
- Sudden stops and illegal pickups or drop-offs in traffic lanes
- Driving long hours while fatigued to chase bonuses
- Speeding or rushing between fares to boost earnings
- Unfamiliarity with Bakersfield streets and last-second turns
- Running lights or stop signs while distracted by the phone
More than one party can share the blame — the rideshare driver, another motorist, or the rideshare company’s insurance, depending on the app status under California Public Utilities Code §5433. We pursue every policy and party that owes you compensation.
Compensation After a Rideshare Accident
A serious crash brings bills that don’t stop just because you can’t work. California law lets injured passengers, drivers, and pedestrians recover two kinds of damages.
Economic Damages
Calculable, out-of-pocket losses you can prove with bills and records.
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital bills
- Ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement
Non-Economic Damages
The human cost of your injuries — subjective, but very real.
- Pain and physical suffering
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Lost future enjoyment of life
Why Injured Riders Choose Valero Law Group
We Know the Rideshare Playbook
We pin down the app status, identify every policy in play, and stop the insurers from pointing fingers at each other.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay nothing up front. We only get paid when we recover money for you.
We Speak Spanish
Hablamos Español. You’ll always understand your case and your options.
Available 24/7
Day or night, a real person is here when you or your family need help.
We Come to You
Injured and can’t travel? We’ll meet you at home or in the hospital.
$500M+ Recovered
Over 20 years fighting for the injured, including the largest PI settlement in Kern County.
See What Our Clients Are Saying...
“The first time I came into the office they welcomed me like I was family, and made sure to go over the whole process slowly and with great detail. My experience with this law firm was truly incredible and I can guarantee any client who decides to hire them will see exactly what I experienced.”
Jacob D.
Auto Accident
“Valero injury law firm made me feel comfortable like family and answered my questions no matter how small. They are completely committed to making sure you are taken care of. They are honest, they communicate with you, and they treat you like family.”
Elizabeth M.
Auto Accident
“After searching for an attorney, they truly were the only ones that looked at me as a person not just an easy case. Any question, no matter how small was answered. Any missed call was quickly returned. Even though they have many clients I never felt like I was not a priority.”
Nathan J.
Personal Injury
Serving Rideshare Riders Across Bakersfield & Kern County
From downtown pickups to airport runs and late-night rides home, we help passengers, drivers, and pedestrians hurt by Uber and Lyft vehicles across all of Kern County.
Local Office
(661) 486-411924/7 Line
(877) 639-8888Uber & Lyft Accident FAQ
Who pays if I’m injured as an Uber or Lyft passenger?
What if the rideshare driver’s app was turned off?
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
How much insurance does a rideshare company have to carry in California?
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in California?
What does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?
Sources: Cal. Pub. Util. Code §5433 (rideshare insurance requirements) · CPUC TNC insurance requirements · Cal. Veh. Code §16056 (minimum insurance) · Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1 (2-year deadline).
Hurt in an Uber or Lyft? Let’s Talk Today.
A skilled Bakersfield rideshare accident lawyer will identify every insurance policy in play, deal with the adjusters, and go to court if that’s what it takes. Your first consultation is free. Call now — app data and evidence can disappear fast.
This page provides general information about California rideshare accident law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney.