Dirty Tactics That Some Insurance Companies Use Here in Uber and Lyft Rideshare Accident Claims
(And How to Turn the Tables)

If you have been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident as a passenger, pedestrian, or another driver you may have the right to recover compensation. But winning a fair payout is seldom simple. Whether you file a claim with the first company on your list or the fourth, you’ll be working with skilled insurance adjusters who learned how to protect the company’s bottom line — not how to help people recover.

This report reveals the dirty tricks that insurance adjusters play in Uber and Lyft accident claims and provides concrete tips to help you protect your rights, build your case, and receive the settlement you really deserve.

Table of Contents

Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

The Complex Nature of Rideshare Accident Claims

Uber and Lyft accident claims commonly implicate:

Several insurance policies (driver’s own insurance, rideshare company insurance)

Insurance that relies on the app status of the driver (offline, waiting for a ride, active en route)

Independent contractor legal disputes

Ambiguity whether the incident is considered commercial or personal use

That’s because those complexities afford insurance adjusters more and more chances to deny, delay, or underpay your claim, and they take advantage of every one of them. Below is a list of some of the dirty tricks that they may try to use and what you can so to protect yourself

Argue that you are Covered by driver's insurance

They may argue that your accident was covered under the driver’s personal auto policy not Uber or Lyft’s commercial policy.
The hitch is that most personal policies do not cover commercial activity, so if you are driving for pay, they won’t cover any accidents.
The adjuster is wagering you’ll swallow the denial without a fight.

How to Protect Yourself

Understand the rideshare insurance tiers:

( App off:) personal insurance only is valid.
(App on:) no rider: Limit of supplemental Uber/Lyft (how the policy views it, basically) coverage applies
whilst on the way or with a passenger: $ 1 million commercial policy coverage.

Request proof of which coverage was in effect at the time
Don’t just take the adjuster’s word for it talk to a lawyer who knows rideshare law

Dragging Their Feet on the Investigation to Crush You

Rideshare insurance claims generally encompass two or more insurance companies, with each pointing fingers and dragging their feet. Adjusters may:

Say they’re “still determining fault”

Ask for one document at a time over weeks and even months

Don’t return telephone calls or e-mails

Switch claim reps to reset the comp plan.

They hope to force you into a frustration, a financial squeeze, a last, quick, cheap settlement.

How to Protect Yourself

Keep all correspondence in writing

Develop a list of delayed responses and nonresponses

Retain a lawyer who can sue if needed for additional pressure

OUR CLIENTS ALWAYS COME FIRST

GET STARTED

OUR CLIENTS ALWAYS COME FIRST

GET STARTED

Undervaluing or Minimizing Your Injuries

Adjusters make it a standard practice to downplay the extent of your injuries.

They may claim:

You waited too long to go to the hospital.

You’re exaggerating your pain

You had a pre-existing condition

You are already over it and do not need to be tended to further

This move is designed to limit your medical damages as well as pain and suffering compensation.

How to Protect Yourself

Get checked out by a physician immediately after, even if you think you feel “alright.”

The other is to follow all medical advice and appointments

Write down how your injuries are impacting your daily routine, job and any recreational activities.

Avoid making social media posts that can be used to minimize your pain

Offering a Quick, Lowball Settlement

A few days or weeks following the crash, you could get a phone call from an adjuster offering a “quick cash payout.” They’ll spin it as a goodwill gesture; they’ll say:

“This will take care of your medical bills and get you moving forward.”

“We’re working to get this resolved as quickly as possible, so you don’t need to be concerned.”

“It’s only going to slow things down if you hire a lawyer.”

But once you sign a release, you lose your ability to be compensated down the line, even if complications do appear later on.

How to Protect Yourself

Do not settle until you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI)

Determine all of your damages (wages you lost, future care you will need, pain and suffering)

Consult with your personal injury attorney before you sign anything post symbols.

Playing the Blame Game to Lower Liability on You or Someone Else

Adjusters may attempt to avoid payment on the basis that:

You were at least partially to blame

Another driver caused the accident

The rideshare driver wasn’t responsible

the city (and/or road conditions) and/or 3rd party company should be responsible

Having multiple insurers pass blame back and forth to evade responsibility is typical in rideshare crash injury cases.

How to Protect Yourself

Obtain a copy of the police report

Collect witness testimony, dashcam or photos from the scene Collect witness testimony, dashcam or photos at the scene.

Let your lawyer worry about the struggle for multi-party liability and who owes who and half of what.

Request for Recorded Statement to be Used Against You

Adjusters will often try to get a recorded statement “to understand your side.”

In truth, they want to:

Nail you saying something that can be construed as an admission of blame

Make you feel like what’s happened isn’t as bad as you think it is

Generate incongruities that they might be able to exploit at a later date

Your words are going to (and can) be used against you in a court (or in a negotiation).

How to Protect Yourself

Refuse (politely) to provide a recorded statement Don’t give a recorded statement to either party.

Tell the adjuster to contact your lawyer instead

Don’t ever take a wild guess—only use what you’re sure of

We offer free consultations

GET STARTED

We offer free consultations

GET STARTED

Misrepresenting the Policy Limits

Rideshare companies including Uber and Lyft tout $1 million policies, but adjusters sometimes say:

Reduced policy limits when a driver is not in the app

Their customer was not logged in, so they are not bound by the policy.

And there isn’t any because of an administrative reason.

These are delay games or attempts to make you accept less than you are legally entitled to.

How to Protect Yourself

Ask for documented evidence of the driver’s app status and insurance at the time of the accident

Never rely on what an adjuster says always document everything

If they say the minimum limits of insurance are low, request the entire policy.

Why You Need Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Uber and Lyft car crash cases are not straightforward like other car accidents. A skilled attorney can:

Determine which insurance policies apply

Obtain app activity logs, trip data, and evidence from the rideshare company

Accurately value your claim

Manage all discussions yourself; If you don't you'll be manipulated

Sue if you have to push for justice and get what you deserve.

Insurance companies play dirty particularly when rideshare companies are thrown into the mix. Adjusters will employ stalling, finger pointing, and lowballing to preserve their profit margins. But if you make yourself aware of their tricks and you stand your ground, you can play them at their own game.

Resist their scams. Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer to Protect Your Rights & Get Maximum Compensation Speak with a rideshare accident lawyer today and protect your rights to recovery after an accident.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY!

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

FOUNDER & TRIAL ATTORNEY

Meet Shawn Mangoli

“Shawn Mangoli, the founder of Beverly Hills Injury Firm, is a distinguished trial attorney specializing in personal injury law. With a decade of experience in civil litigation, Shawn has successfully championed the rights of those injured due to negligence, securing numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Recognized consistently by Super Lawyers and a respected member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and American Attorneys for Justice, Shawn’s commitment to justice is profound and unwavering.”

FREE CONSULTATION