Hit by an Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Driver in an Uber or Lyft? How UM/UIM Works

What UM/UIM is

• Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays when the driver at fault has no insurance. In most states it also pays when the at-fault driver can’t be identified, as in a hit-and-run.
• Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover your losses.

Both are first-party coverage. You claim against a policy that covers you, not against the other driver.

Where UM/UIM can come from after a rideshare accident

1. The rideshare company’s policy. Uber says it carries UM/UIM only where state law requires it, not in every state, and the limits vary by state. Lyft describes UM/UIM as coverage its policies may include during a trip. Neither company promises the same coverage everywhere.

2. Your own auto policy. If you own a car and carry UM/UIM, that coverage often follows you as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, including an Uber. Whether it pays first, pays second or stacks on top of the rideshare coverage depends on your state and your policy.

3. A household member’s policy. In many states, UM/UIM on a spouse’s or relative’s policy can cover you if you live in the same household.

4. Your health insurance or PIP. In no-fault states, your personal injury protection usually pays medical bills first, whoever caused the accident. Our guide on Florida PIP and rideshare accidents shows how that works in one state.

If you don’t own a car and live alone, the rideshare company’s UM/UIM may be the only layer you have. That’s when its limits matter most.

California cut rideshare UM/UIM in 2026

California used to require $1 million in UM/UIM during a rideshare trip. Senate Bill 371 lowered that to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, starting January 1, 2026. Uber and Lyft sponsored the bill and argued the old requirement drove up fares. It passed alongside AB 1340, which gave California rideshare drivers the right to unionize.

For a passenger hit by an uninsured driver in California, that’s a cut of about 94% in per-person coverage from the rideshare policy. A single hospital stay can use it up. If you have your own UM/UIM, that policy just became much more important.

Other states write it into law differently

Coverage varies a lot by state:

• North Carolina requires UM and UIM coverage even while the driver is online and waiting for a request.
• Florida requires PIP and uninsured motorist coverage during the waiting period too.
• Louisiana: a court weighed whether a rideshare policy’s uninsured motorist coverage reached an injured rider. See Guerrera v. Uber.
• New York: a Queens Lyft rider sought underinsured motorist benefits and found her ride excluded. See A Queens Lyft Rider Sought Underinsured Motorist Benefits. The Policy Excluded Her Ride.
• Kentucky: a Lyft driver hurt on the way to a pickup was left with no underinsured benefits from either policy. See A Kentucky Lyft Driver Was Hurt on the Way to a Pickup. Why Did Neither Policy Pay Underinsured Benefits?
• Alaska: lawmakers have weighed requiring UM coverage for rideshare passengers. See our Alaska brief.

Every state’s page on RideClaim.co lists that state’s rideshare insurance statute.

The waiting period trap

If you’re a passenger, you were in the car during an active trip, so the trip-period coverage applies. But UM/UIM also matters to two other groups:

• The rideshare driver. A driver hit while waiting for a request often has little or no UM/UIM through the platform. Whether the driver’s personal UM/UIM covers that time depends on the policy’s business-use exclusion and on state law.
• Pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers hit by a rideshare driver who was at fault. They don’t need UM/UIM unless that driver’s coverage falls short. If it does, their own UM/UIM is the backstop.

Hit-and-run rules to know

Hit-and-run claims usually go through UM coverage, with rules that can trip people up:

• Report it to police fast. Many policies and some state laws require a prompt police report for a hit-and-run UM claim.
• Some states require physical contact. If a driver ran you off the road without touching your vehicle, the claim can be harder. Witnesses and video help.
• Notify every insurer quickly. UM claims have notice requirements, and late notice is a common reason for denials.

The rideshare app helps here. The trip record shows exactly where and when the accident happened, and the driver is a witness. Get the driver’s name and contact information before you leave.

What not to do

• Don’t sign a release from the at-fault driver’s insurer without checking UIM first. In some states, settling with the at-fault driver without your UIM insurer’s consent can cost you your UIM claim.
• Don’t assume the $1 million applies. Ask whose fault the accident was, then ask which policy covers that.
• Don’t skip your own policy. If you have UM/UIM on a car you own, tell that insurer too, even though you weren’t driving.

What to do right away

1. Get medical care and keep every record.
2. Call police, especially if the other driver fled.
3. Screenshot the trip in the app: the route, time and driver details.
4. Get the rideshare driver’s name and contact information. They’re a witness.
5. Report the accident through the app, and keep the claim number.
6. Notify your own auto insurer, and any household member’s insurer, in writing.

FAQs

Does Uber’s $1 million policy cover me if another driver caused the accident?

Not usually. That policy covers injuries the Uber driver causes. If another driver caused the accident and their insurance falls short, you’d look to UM/UIM: the rideshare company’s coverage where state law requires it, and your own.

I don’t own a car. Do I have any UM/UIM?

Possibly. The rideshare company carries UM/UIM where your state requires it. A household member’s auto policy may also cover you. Otherwise, health insurance and any claim against the at-fault driver are what’s left.

How much UM/UIM does Uber carry in California?

Since January 1, 2026, California requires $60,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, down from $1 million. The policy for the date of your accident sets the actual limit.

The driver who hit us fled. Can I still recover?

Usually, through uninsured motorist coverage. Report the hit-and-run to police promptly, save the trip record, and get the rideshare driver’s contact information. Some states require physical contact for a hit-and-run UM claim.

Can I use my own UM/UIM and the rideshare company’s?

In many states, yes, but the order and whether they stack depend on state law and the policy language. That’s one of the first questions to sort out with a lawyer licensed in your state.

Find your state’s rules

Start from the state index, or go straight to California, North Carolina, Florida, New York or Louisiana.

Sources and limits

Statutes and company statements are described as published on the date above. UM/UIM depends on the accident date, the policies involved and state law.

• Uber — Driver insurance (UM/UIM where required by state law)
• Lyft — Driver insurance
• Sen. Cabaldon — Legislature passes bill to cut fares for Uber and Lyft (SB 371)
• Sen. Cabaldon — Governor signs SB 371
• CPUC — TNC insurance requirements
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-280.4
• Fla. Stat. § 627.748

This is general information, not legal advice, and RideClaim.co is not a law firm.