Figuring out who pays after a rideshare accident in Reno is not as simple as filing a claim with the driver's insurance.
The answer depends on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash: waiting for a ride request, driving to pick up a passenger, or carrying a passenger to their destination. Each phase triggers a different insurance policy with different coverage limits, and the rideshare company, the driver's personal insurer, and the at-fault party's carrier may all point fingers at each other.
The Reno rideshare accident lawyers at Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. untangle these layered coverage disputes for passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and other motorists injured in crashes involving Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies.
Call 775-284-8888 for a free consultation about your rideshare accident claim.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONWhy Reno Rideshare Accident Victims Choose Our Firm
A rideshare accident claim is not a standard car crash case. It involves phase-based insurance triggers, multi-carrier disputes, and digital evidence that most personal injury firms rarely encounter.
Partner Nathan Aman serves as panel counsel for multiple insurance carriers, which means our firm knows how adjusters evaluate injury claims, assign reserves, and build their defense strategies. That knowledge comes from sitting on the other side of the table. When we represent an injured rideshare passenger or driver, it shapes how we frame the claim from day one.
Every rideshare case is prepared as though it will go before a Washoe County jury. Transportation network company (TNC) insurers and at-fault drivers' carriers respond differently when they know the attorneys across from them have trial experience and the resources to follow through.
Ask Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman
How Does Rideshare Insurance Work in Nevada?
The insurance available after a rideshare accident in Nevada changes based on the driver's activity status at the time of the crash. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 706A regulates transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, and the state's insurance code sets specific minimum coverage requirements for each phase of TNC activity.
Getting this phase determination right is the single most important step in a rideshare accident claim. The difference between phases may mean the difference between $50,000 in available coverage and $1,000,000.
Phase 1: App On, No Ride Accepted
The driver has logged into the Uber or Lyft app and is available to receive ride requests but has not accepted one yet. During this phase, the TNC's contingent liability policy provides minimum coverage of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage.
This coverage may apply when the driver's personal auto insurance does not cover the crash or does not provide enough coverage.
Most personal auto policies exclude coverage when a vehicle is being used for commercial rideshare purposes. That exclusion creates a gap that the TNC's Phase 1 policy is designed to fill, but the limits are low relative to the cost of serious injuries.
Phase 2: Ride Accepted, Driving to Pickup
The driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to the passenger. Coverage increases to $1,000,000 in primary liability provided by the TNC. This is a significant jump from Phase 1 and reflects the increased duty of care once the driver is actively engaged in providing transportation services.
Phase 3: Passenger in the Vehicle
The passenger is in the car, and the driver is transporting them to the destination. The required TNC insurance provides at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage, and some policies may also provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
This phase carries the highest protection because it represents the period of greatest risk for passengers who have no control over the driving.
What Changed Under AB 523
Nevada's Assembly Bill 523, effective October 1, 2025, reduced the required insurance coverage from $1,500,000 to $1,000,000 per incident during active transportation services. The law also limits the rideshare company's vicarious liability for driver conduct.
Under AB 523, a transportation network company is not vicariously liable for any act or omission of a driver or passenger under any theory of liability or duty of care, unless an independent basis for company liability, such as negligent hiring, is established.
This legislative change makes it more important than ever to identify available sources of coverage and each potentially liable party in a rideshare crash.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONWho Is at Fault in a Reno Rideshare Accident?
Fault in a rideshare accident follows Nevada's standard negligence rules. The at-fault party, or parties, bear financial responsibility for the injuries and damages. But identifying the at-fault party in a rideshare crash is often more complicated than in a standard two-car collision.
The following scenarios illustrate how fault and coverage shift depending on the circumstances of the crash.
- The rideshare driver caused the accident. The claim is filed against the TNC's insurance policy at the coverage level that matches the driver's phase of activity. If the driver was distracted, speeding, or ran a red light while carrying a passenger, the Phase 3 policy applies.
- Another driver caused the accident while you were a rideshare passenger. The claim goes against the at-fault driver's personal auto insurance. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, the TNC's UM/UIM coverage during Phase 3 may apply.
- The rideshare driver hit you while you were walking, cycling, or driving your own vehicle. Your claim depends on the driver's phase of activity. A pedestrian struck by an Uber driver who just accepted a ride request files a claim against the TNC's Phase 2 policy.
- Multiple parties share fault. Nevada's modified comparative negligence rule under NRS 41.141 allows an injured person to recover damages as long as their own fault does not exceed the combined fault of the parties against whom recovery is sought.
Proving what phase the driver was in at the time of the crash requires trip receipt data, GPS logs, and app status records from Uber or Lyft's litigation response team. Our attorneys send preservation demands early to prevent this data from being lost or overwritten.
Call our rideshare crash lawyers in Reno now at 775-284-8888
What Compensation May a Rideshare Accident Claim Include?
A rideshare accident claim in Nevada may pursue the same categories of damages as any other motor vehicle injury case. The available compensation depends on the severity of injuries, the phase-based insurance limits, and the strength of the liability evidence.
| Damage Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, prescription costs, and projected future treatment |
| Lost income | Wages missed during recovery and reduced earning capacity for injuries that prevent a return to the same type of work |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, sleep disruption, and loss of enjoyment of daily activities |
| Property damage | Vehicle repair or replacement, personal electronics, and other property destroyed in the crash |
| Rideshare-specific losses | Missed travel connections, stranded transportation costs, and disruption to planned events caused by the accident |
For passengers, the claims process may feel especially frustrating. A passenger has zero control over the driving, bears no fault for the crash, and yet may face delays as the TNC insurer and the at-fault driver's insurer dispute which policy applies.
An Uber or Lyft accident attorney who understands the phase-based coverage structure resolves those disputes faster.
FAQs for Reno Uber and Lyft Accident Claims
What if I was hit by a rideshare driver while crossing the street in Reno?
Pedestrians struck by a rideshare driver have a claim against the TNC's insurance policy at whatever phase the driver was in at the time of the crash. If the driver had accepted a ride or was carrying a passenger, the $1,000,000 policy applies. Even in Phase 1, the TNC's contingent liability policy may cover the claim.
Are rideshare accidents more common in certain parts of Reno?
Yes. Rideshare activity concentrates in areas with high pickup and drop-off volume. Downtown Reno, the casino corridor along Virginia Street, Midtown, the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, and the Reno-Tahoe International Airport all generate heavy rideshare traffic, increasing the chances of a collision.
What if the rideshare driver was working for both Uber and Lyft at the same time?
Drivers who run both apps simultaneously create additional coverage questions. If the driver had accepted a ride on one platform while still logged into the other, the insurance from the platform whose ride was accepted applies.
Does my own auto insurance play any role if I was a rideshare passenger?
Your personal auto insurance may come into play if the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured and the TNC's UM/UIM coverage is insufficient or does not apply. Depending on your policy, your own uninsured motorist coverage may provide an additional layer of protection.
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Nevada?
Under NRS 11.190, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Nevada is two years from the date of the injury. That deadline applies whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, a cyclist, or another driver involved in a rideshare-related crash.
Your Rideshare Accident Claim Starts with a Phone Call
Insurance companies on both sides of a rideshare accident benefit from delay and confusion. The TNC insurer points to the other driver. The other driver's insurer argues the TNC policy applies. Meanwhile, the injured person is left navigating medical bills and missed work without answers.
Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. cuts through that process. Our attorneys identify the applicable coverage, preserve the digital evidence, and pursue every available source of compensation on your behalf.
Call 775-284-8888 or 855-736-8888 to schedule a free case review with our Reno personal injury team.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONPast results do not guarantee future outcomes.