Catastrophic Injury Claims Against Rideshare Companies for Passenger or Pedestrian Deaths

 Posted on August 12, 2025 in Catastrophic Injuries

As rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are an established part of everyday life throughout Santa Clara County, serious injuries and deaths in car accidents involving these companies are, unfortunately, very common. While most riders assume they are protected by commercial insurance, the truth is that liability in rideshare accidents can be far more complicated.

If you have lost a loved one in a rideshare accident or suffered life-changing injuries as a passenger, pedestrian, or bystander, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. But to recover what you are owed, you will need to navigate layers of corporate protection, aggressive insurance tactics, and the evolving landscape of California rideshare law. Our San Jose personal injury attorney is here to help. 

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Serious Rideshare Accident?

In California, rideshare drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees. This distinction limits direct liability for companies like Uber and Lyft,  but it does not shield them entirely. Under California law, particularly after the passage of AB5 and Proposition 22, rideshare companies are required to provide third-party liability insurance when a driver is using the app.

The level of coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash:

• App off: Only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies.

• App on, waiting for a ride: The company must provide at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage, plus $30,000 in property damage.

• Driver en route or transporting a passenger: Uber and Lyft must provide $1 million in liability coverage, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

That $1 million policy is often what makes these cases high-value, but it is only triggered when specific conditions are met. Rideshare companies and their insurers frequently attempt to shift blame, minimize damages, or dispute whether the app was active. A skilled attorney is essential to uncover app usage records, GPS logs, and dispatch data to establish coverage and prove fault.

What Makes a Car Accident Case Catastrophic?

Unlike fender-benders or minor injury cases, catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims demand a deeper legal strategy and greater financial resources. These cases often involve:

• Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis

• Traumatic brain injuries that impair cognition or mobility

• Severe burns, amputations, or disfigurement

• Fatalities involving pedestrians, cyclists, or rideshare passengers

Victims and families in these cases may be entitled to damages for medical bills, long-term care, loss of earning capacity, loss of consortium, and emotional suffering, often totaling millions of dollars. The stakes are high, and so is the pushback from insurance carriers trying to avoid full accountability.

With over 45 years of personal injury law experience in San Jose and Santa Clara County, our firm understands how to litigate against powerful defendants. We know how to preserve evidence, identify every liable party, and calculate the full value of lifelong injuries. We work with expert accident reconstructionists, medical economists, and life care planners to build compelling cases that reflect the real human cost of catastrophic harm.

We also know that families facing loss or disability cannot afford to wait. That is why we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Call a Santa Clara County, CA Rideshare Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an Uber or Lyft crash in or near Santa Clara County, contact a San Jose, CA personal injury lawyer at Law Office of John J. Garvey, III. We handle rideshare wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims with the full force of 45 years of legal experience. Call 408-293-7777 to schedule your free consultation today.