Being hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash is different from an ordinary car accident, and the difference is money. The rideshare accident lawyers at Pracht Injury Lawyers represent injured passengers, rideshare drivers, and other motorists in Uber and Lyft crashes throughout Anderson, Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, and all of South Carolina, and we know how to force these companies and their insurers to pay what your claim is worth.
Rideshare cases turn on which insurance coverage was active at the moment of the crash, and both Uber and Lyft have teams of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize what they pay you. Multiple policies may apply, coverage shifts depending on the driver's status in the app, and the companies routinely dispute which phase was active. You need a legal team that understands Transportation Network Company (TNC) law and knows how to hold Uber and Lyft accountable.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Accident in South Carolina
The steps you take in the hours and days after a rideshare crash directly affect your ability to recover compensation. Uber and Lyft's insurers begin working immediately, and so should you.
Call 911 and Get a Police Report
Report the crash so an officer documents the scene and creates an official record. Make sure the report notes that a rideshare was involved and identifies the Uber or Lyft driver.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
Get evaluated even if you feel fine. Serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries may not show symptoms immediately, and prompt treatment creates the medical record your claim depends on.
Screenshot the Trip and Document the Scene
If you are able, photograph the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries, and get contact information for witnesses. Critically, take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft trip in the app, including the driver's name, the trip status, and the timestamp. That record helps prove which insurance coverage phase was active.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement
An adjuster for the rideshare company or another driver may contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company or accept a quick settlement before speaking with an attorney. Their adjusters are trained to gather information they can use to limit or deny your claim.
Contact an Experienced Rideshare Accident Attorney
App data, trip records, and other evidence can disappear quickly. An experienced attorney can act immediately to preserve it, notify the correct insurers, and explain how an attorney can help with your injury claim.
How Uber and Lyft Insurance Coverage Works in South Carolina
The single most important issue in most rideshare cases is which insurance coverage was active at the time of the crash. Under South Carolina's Transportation Network Company rules, Uber and Lyft coverage changes depending on the driver's status in the app:
- Phase 0 — App is off: Only the driver's personal auto insurance applies. The rideshare company's coverage is not involved.
- Phase 1 — App is on, no ride accepted: Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
- Phase 2 — Ride accepted, driver en route to pick up: A $1 million commercial liability policy applies, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
- Phase 3 — Passenger in the vehicle: The same $1 million commercial liability policy and UM/UIM coverage apply through the end of the trip.
These distinctions matter because insurers for Uber and Lyft often dispute which phase was active, especially in Phase 1 cases where coverage is limited. Proving the driver's true status, sometimes with app data and trip records, can be the difference between a $25,000 policy and a $1 million policy. In some cases, stacking UM/UIM coverage across multiple policies provides additional recovery.
Who Is Liable in a South Carolina Rideshare Accident?
Determining who is responsible, and which insurance applies, often requires untangling several parties. Potentially liable parties include:
- The rideshare driver - for distracted, fatigued, impaired, or negligent driving
- Uber or Lyft (the TNC) - through the commercial insurance coverage that applies during active rides
- Another at-fault driver - whose negligence caused or contributed to the crash
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer - for a defect that caused or worsened the crash
- A government entity - for dangerous road conditions, subject to special notice requirements and shorter deadlines
Because rideshare cases can involve uninsured or underinsured drivers and overlapping policies, identifying every liable party and every applicable policy is essential to maximizing your recovery. You can read more about the evolution of rideshare accident liability laws and how courts treat these claims.
Common Rideshare Accident Injuries
Rideshare passengers often ride without full awareness of traffic and may sit in seats without the protection of a properly adjusted seatbelt or airbag. Serious injuries we handle include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) - from concussions to permanent cognitive impairment
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis - among the most life-altering crash injuries
- Broken bones and fractures - often requiring surgery and long rehabilitation
- Soft tissue injuries and whiplash - which can cause lasting pain and limited mobility
- Internal injuries - internal bleeding and organ damage that require emergency care
- Emotional distress and PTSD - the psychological toll of a serious crash
Compensation for Rideshare Accident Victims
Because a $1 million commercial policy is often available in rideshare cases, injured victims may recover meaningful compensation even for severe injuries. Compensation may include:
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses - emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and future treatment
- Lost wages and earning capacity - income lost during recovery and reduced future earning ability
- Property damage - vehicle repair or replacement, when applicable
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering - physical pain and the ongoing impact of serious injury
- Emotional distress - trauma, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairment - disability and disfigurement. South Carolina does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases; you can read more about SC car accident compensation limits and damage caps.
Punitive Damages
When a driver acts with willful disregard for safety, such as driving while intoxicated, South Carolina courts may award punitive damages to punish the misconduct and deter it in the future.
Wrongful Death Damages
When a rideshare crash takes a life, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim for their losses and the loss of their loved one.
Watch Out for Quick Settlement Offers
Uber and Lyft insurers sometimes offer a fast, low settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept, you cannot reopen the claim. Have an attorney review any offer before you sign. If you were a passenger, learn more about filing a passenger injury claim in South Carolina.
Why Choose Our South Carolina Rideshare Accident Attorneys
Deep Knowledge of TNC Law and Rideshare Insurance
We understand how Uber and Lyft's coverage phases work and how their insurers argue to shift you into a lower-coverage phase. We build the evidence, including app and trip data, that proves the correct coverage applies.
We Investigate Every Angle
We identify every liable party and every applicable policy, from the rideshare company's commercial coverage to a third driver's insurance to available UM/UIM coverage, so no source of compensation is left on the table.
Statewide Reach, Local Roots
With offices in Anderson, Greenville, Charleston, Irmo and Camden, we represent injured rideshare passengers and drivers across South Carolina, from the Upstate to the Lowcountry and the Pee Dee.
Proven Results for South Carolina Injury Victims
Our attorneys have recovered more than $70 million for injured clients and grieving families across a wide range of serious injury and wrongful death cases.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and the outcome and value of any claim depend on its specific facts and circumstances.
No Fees Unless We Win
We handle rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis. Your consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rideshare Accidents in South Carolina
What should I do immediately after an Uber or Lyft accident in South Carolina?
Call 911 and get a police report, seek medical attention even if you feel fine, and document the scene. Take screenshots of your Uber or Lyft trip in the app, since that record proves the driver's status and which insurance coverage applies. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney, and contact a rideshare accident lawyer quickly so evidence can be preserved.
How does Uber and Lyft insurance work in South Carolina?
Coverage depends on the driver's status in the app. When the app is off, only the driver's personal auto insurance applies. When the app is on but no ride is accepted, Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Once a ride is accepted and while a passenger is in the vehicle, a $1 million commercial liability policy applies, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly if I am injured in a rideshare accident?
In most cases you pursue a claim against the applicable Uber or Lyft insurance policy rather than suing the company directly, because the companies classify drivers as independent contractors. However, the $1 million commercial policy that applies during an active ride is often available to injured passengers and other motorists. An attorney can identify every policy that applies and pursue the full coverage available.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in South Carolina?
South Carolina generally allows three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and three years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim. If a government vehicle or entity is involved, shorter notice deadlines can apply. Because rideshare evidence such as app data and trip records can disappear, it is best to act well before the deadline.
I was a passenger in an Uber or Lyft that crashed. Who pays for my injuries?
Injured rideshare passengers are almost never at fault, and more than one insurance policy may cover you: the rideshare company's $1 million policy that is active during a trip, the rideshare driver's insurance, and the policy of any other at-fault driver. Determining which applies, and in what order, is exactly what a rideshare accident attorney sorts out so you recover the maximum available.
What if the Uber or Lyft driver claims to be an independent contractor?
The driver's independent-contractor status does not leave you without a remedy. South Carolina's Transportation Network Company rules require Uber and Lyft to maintain the insurance coverage described above based on the driver's app status. That coverage is available to injured passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians regardless of how the driver is classified.
What compensation can I recover after a South Carolina rideshare accident?
You may recover economic damages such as medical bills, future treatment, and lost income; non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress; and, in cases of egregious misconduct, punitive damages. South Carolina does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Families who lose a loved one may pursue a wrongful death claim. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts.
How quickly can a rideshare accident attorney start on my claim?
Immediately. After a free consultation, our attorneys can begin the same day by preserving app and trip data, notifying the correct insurers, and protecting evidence before it is lost. Acting quickly matters most in Uber and Lyft cases, where the companies dispute which coverage phase was active and move fast to limit what they pay.
Areas We Serve in South Carolina
Pracht Injury Lawyers handles Uber and Lyft accident cases throughout South Carolina, with primary service areas in:
- Anderson - Anderson County and the surrounding Upstate. Learn about Uber accident claims in Anderson and Lyft accident claims in Anderson.
- Greenville - Greenville County and the greater Upstate, including Greer and Simpsonville
- Summerville - Charleston County and the Lowcountry, including Charleston and North Charleston
- Camden - Kershaw County and the Midlands, including Columbia
Statewide Coverage
We also represent rideshare accident victims across the state, including in:
- Upstate: Spartanburg, Greer, Simpsonville, Greenwood, Anderson, Clemson
- Midlands & Piedmont: Columbia, Rock Hill, Aiken, Sumter, Newberry, Lancaster
- Pee Dee & Grand Strand: Florence, Myrtle Beach, Conway, Georgetown
- Lowcountry: Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Bluffton
No matter where you live in South Carolina, our experienced rideshare accident attorneys are here to help.
Contact Our Rideshare Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in South Carolina, do not let the rideshare company's insurers control the outcome. The coverage phase, the evidence, and the value of your claim are being shaped right now, and every day matters.
What We Offer:
- Free case evaluation
- No fees unless we win
- Millions recovered for clients
- Available 24/7 for emergencies
- Deep knowledge of Uber, Lyft, and TNC insurance law
Call (864) 712-7317 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today. Let our experienced South Carolina rideshare accident attorneys fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
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Additional ResourcesLearn more about rideshare accidents and injury law in South Carolina: |
