Average Uber and Lyft Accident Settlement in California [2025 Updated]

When you or a family member has been seriously injured in an accident caused by a rideshare driver, you may be facing uncertainty about how to proceed and considering hiring a personal injury attorney to help you navigate your claim. It’s common to wonder how much the average Uber and Lyft accident settlement in California is, but this won’t actually tell you much about what to expect in your case because settlements vary dramatically based on the facts of the case.

However, you can get a better idea of what to expect and what might influence a settlement in your case by understanding what goes into deciding on a settlement amount in California. We unpack the basics here.

Uber and Lyft Accident Settlements Explained

Car accident settlements in general rely on personal injury law, which deals with injuries to a person’s body, emotions, or mental health that were caused by someone else’s actions. This includes traffic accidents. When someone causes a personal injury to someone else, the injured person has the right to file a legal claim seeking damages to compensate them for their injury, medical bills, missed work, and other costs that result from the accident.

In order to do this, it is essential to determine fault. Each state has its own method of determining fault, and California uses the pure comparative negligence system. This means that each driver can be assigned a portion of the total fault and is then financially responsible for that amount of the total damages. On a practical level, this means that more than one driver can be assigned fault in a single accident.

With rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, it gets even more complex. In some cases, the driver’s personal insurance company is liable, and in some cases, the rideshare insurance is liable. It all depends on whether the driver is on the clock at the time of the accident. If they are, which means they are logged into the app and have accepted a ride or have a passenger, then the rideshare company’s insurance will be liable. If they are not on the clock, the driver’s personal insurance may have to pay.

Damages in Rideshare Accidents

The term damages means the financial compensation paid as reparation for injuries sustained as a result of the accident. This can include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages are the money an injured person loses due to bodily harm suffered because of the accident. This encompasses medical expenses, lost wages, and having their vehicle or other personal property fixed or replaced. Non-economic damages relate to the physical pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other ways the accident injury negatively impacts their life. Punitive damages are handed down when intentional or malicious actions lead to the injuries and can be used as a deterrent.

Economic damages are fairly straightforward because they come from how much money the injured person lost. In general, punitive damages are the least common, and when they are included, insurance often does not cover them. Non-economic damages, sometimes called pain and suffering, are the most difficult to calculate because they are compensating for more

subjective factors like:

• The injury’s severity
• Length of the recovery
• Whether the injured person can return to work
• The impact on daily activities, personal relationships, and other quality of life
• Whether there is long-term or permanent disability, chronic pain, or disfigurement
• Any emotional distress or trauma the injured person suffers from as a result of the accident

FAQs About Uber and Lyft Accident Settlements in California

How Much Is an Uber Accident Settlement in California?

Settlements for Uber accidents in California can vary, depending on the facts of the case. Some elements that can affect the amount are how severe the injuries from the accident are, how much fault is assigned to each driver, and the injured person’s medical expenses, recovery time, and pain and suffering claims. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you determine how much your case might be worth.

What Kind of Lawyer Do You Need for an Uber Accident?

The kind of lawyer you need for an Uber accident is a personal injury attorney who has extensive experience with car accidents. Not all personal injury lawyers work with car accident cases, so it’s important to make sure you hire a lawyer with a solid track record of successful outcomes for car accident injury clients. In addition, having trial experience can help to maximize the settlement you receive in your case, even if it doesn’t go to court.

How Does California Calculate Pain and Suffering?

California does not have a specific formula to calculate pain and suffering. Rather, there are several methods that may be used to consider various factors, such as the total amount of medical expenses, the severity of the injury, how long the recovery was or will be, the effect of the injury on the person’s daily life, and how the accident and injuries have impacted the person’s mental health.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for an Uber Accident?

You have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for an Uber accident in most cases in California. There may be exceptions in some cases, though, such as whether the injured person was a minor. Sometimes you may not know the full extent of the injury for some time, as some serious injuries like nerve damage may not show up right away. In these cases, the statute of limitations could be extended. In any case, it’s essential to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible to begin your claim.

Get Help Calculating Your Settlement

The most reliable way to calculate how much your settlement might be is by consulting with a skilled personal injury attorney who has experience with Uber and Lyft accidents. At Barr and Mudford, our experienced attorneys’ sole focus is representing injured clients in Northern California to get them the compensation they deserve.

Our personal injury lawyers can review the facts of your case, determine the liable party or parties, and use our extensive knowledge and resources to maximize your settlement. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.