The questions that follow a rideshare crash often feel as heavy as the injuries themselves. If you were hurt as an Uber or Lyft passenger, or your vehicle was struck by a rideshare driver near Telegraph Road or along the I-696 corridor, our Southfield rideshare accident lawyers at Christensen Law are here to listen.
We understand how confusing these claims become when several insurance companies start pointing fingers at one another.
Christensen Law has advocated for injured people throughout Michigan since 1991, and we treat every client like family. From our Southfield headquarters on Telegraph Road, we help Oakland County families hold negligent drivers, and the billion-dollar companies behind them, accountable for the harm they cause.
Many of these same rules apply to a standard collision, which our Southfield car accident lawyers handle as well.
You do not have to sort out the layers of Uber and Lyft coverage on your own. Call us 24/7 at (248) 600-4591 for a free, no-risk consultation, and let us protect what matters most while you focus on healing.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
How Can Our Southfield Rideshare Accident Lawyers Help After an Uber or Lyft Crash?
Our Southfield rideshare accident lawyers help by identifying every insurance policy in play, proving which coverage period applied at the moment of the crash, and building a case strong enough for trial. That last point matters, because rideshare claims often stall until an insurer knows a firm is truly ready to go to court.
In our decades of handling Michigan injury cases, we have learned that Uber and Lyft crashes rarely fit into one tidy box. A single collision can trigger a driver’s personal policy, a rideshare company’s commercial policy, and your own no-fault benefits, all at once.
We take that weight off your shoulders. We gather the app data, the police report, and the medical records early, so evidence is preserved before it disappears.
Here is what our team does in a typical Southfield rideshare claim:
- Determine the rideshare driver’s app status at the exact moment of impact
- Coordinate your Michigan No-Fault PIP benefits with any commercial coverage
- Document the full scope of your injuries, including future care needs
- Prepare every case for trial, not simply a quick settlement
Each of these steps builds toward one goal, which is the full and fair recovery your family deserves.
Who Pays in a Rideshare Accident in Michigan?
In a Michigan rideshare accident, your own auto insurer usually pays your medical bills and wage loss first through Personal Injury Protection, regardless of who caused the crash. Fault still matters, though, because it decides who is responsible for pain and suffering and other damages beyond those first-party benefits.
Michigan follows a no-fault system under the Michigan No-Fault Act (MCL 500.3101). This means Personal Injury Protection, often called PIP or first-party benefits, covers your medical care and a portion of your lost wages no matter who was at fault.
If you were a passenger without your own auto policy, the priority rules in MCL 500.3114 help decide which insurer stands first in line. That question alone can determine whether your benefits begin in days, or drag on for months.
When your injuries are serious, you may also bring a third-party lawsuit against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services oversees these auto insurance rules, and we explain how they apply to your situation in plain language.
For an injured passenger, the search for the right insurer can feel like a maze. We start with your own household policy, then look to resident relatives, and finally to the insurer assigned by Michigan’s priority rules, so your care is never left in limbo.
Understanding Uber and Lyft’s $1 Million Coverage Periods
The single most important fact in most Uber accident claims is the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash, because Michigan sets escalating coverage across three periods. During an active trip, a $1 million commercial liability policy applies, while a driver simply waiting for a ride request carries far less.
Michigan regulates Uber, Lyft, and similar platforms as Transportation Network Companies under the 2016 Transportation Network Company Act. The coverage that applies to your claim depends on which of these periods was in effect:
- Period 1 (app on, no ride accepted): The driver is waiting for a request. A more limited contingent policy of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per crash for bodily injury generally applies.
- Period 2 (ride accepted, driver en route): The driver is heading to pick you up. Uber and Lyft’s $1 million commercial liability coverage takes effect.
- Period 3 (passenger in the vehicle): From pickup to drop-off, the same $1 million commercial coverage applies, along with uninsured and underinsured motorist protection.
The difference of a single minute, one before pickup versus one after, can move a claim from a modest policy to a $1 million policy, so establishing app status is often the deciding battle in these cases. We know how these companies preserve, and sometimes fail to preserve, the trip data that proves which period applied.
When app data is at issue, we act fast. We send preservation letters to Uber or Lyft, and we request the trip logs, GPS records, and timestamps that pin down the exact period, before that information can be overwritten.
What Types of Southfield Rideshare Crashes Do We Handle?
As your Southfield Uber accident attorney, we handle the full range of rideshare crashes, from injured passengers to people struck by a rideshare vehicle while walking or driving their own car. Each scenario raises a different insurance question, and each one deserves the same rigorous investigation.
- Passenger injuries: You were riding in an Uber or Lyft when your driver crashed, or another vehicle hit the car.
- Struck-by-rideshare crashes: A rideshare driver hit you while you were in your own vehicle, on a bike, or on foot.
- Multi-vehicle collisions: Several cars were involved along busy routes like Telegraph Road, the Lodge Freeway, or I-696, which makes liability harder to sort out.
- Rideshare driver injuries: You drive for a platform, and you were hurt while logged into the app.
No matter which situation describes your crash, we trace every policy and every responsible party, so nothing that could support your recovery is left on the table.
Michigan No-Fault Benefits and Your Rideshare Injury Claim
Michigan No-Fault benefits can cover your medical bills, wage loss, and even in-home attendant care after a rideshare crash, no matter who caused it. When your injuries cross the legal threshold for a serious impairment, you may also pursue a third-party claim for the harm the crash left behind.
Under Michigan law, PIP benefits pay 85% of lost wages for up to three years, along with reasonable medical expenses and replacement services (see MCL 500.3107). For families facing a catastrophic injury, these benefits can also fund attendant care provided at home by loved ones.
Some policies are coordinated with your health insurance, which changes how bills are paid and which insurer responds first. We review your coverage closely, so no benefit you are entitled to slips through the cracks.
We also translate the legal shorthand for you. A first-party claim is the one you file with your own insurer for PIP, while a third-party claim is the lawsuit you bring against the driver who caused your injuries.
To recover for pain and suffering, your injury generally must meet the serious impairment standard in MCL 500.3135, meaning it affects your ability to lead your normal life. Michigan also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so you may still recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash.
These same no-fault principles shape Michigan rideshare accident claims statewide, wherever your crash happened. We bring the same trial-ready approach to every county we serve.
Serious and Catastrophic Injuries in Oakland County Rideshare Accidents
Catastrophic injuries from an Oakland County rideshare crash, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and severe burns, demand a legal team that understands their lifelong cost. These are the high-value cases our firm is built to handle.
A serious rideshare collision can leave a family facing surgeries, rehabilitation, and a future that looks nothing like the one they planned. We work with treating physicians and life-care planners to account for every future need, not just today’s bills.
Many of our Oakland County clients recover at nearby hospitals, from Corewell Health in Royal Oak to Ascension Providence in Southfield, and their treatment often stretches on for years. We map that road with medical and economic professionals, so a settlement or verdict reflects a lifetime of need, not a single hospital stay.
Our record reflects that commitment. We have secured results, including a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident verdict, and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery, for families across Michigan.
We do not run a high-volume settlement mill. We take fewer cases, so that we can give each catastrophic injury and wrongful death claim the attention it truly demands.
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I hired this law firm after being hit by a drunk driver in my of... They were communicative, compassionate, made the process easy for me to understand. I was able to effectively receive a size-able...
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From the moment I spoke with Dustin, I felt like I was in good hands He, Samantha, and the entire staff at Christensen Law treated me like family, demonstrating kindness, expertise, and a genuine interest...
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Why Choose a Southfield Rideshare Accident Attorney from Christensen Law?
Families across Oakland County choose Christensen Law because we combine genuine compassion with a proven trial record. We listen, we protect, and we win, and that philosophy, Listen Protect Win, guides every case we take.
Our firm has advocated for injured Michiganders since 1991, which is more than 35 years of standing between families and the insurance companies that undervalue them. Founder David Christensen is a Michigan Hall of Fame trial attorney, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and holds AV Preeminent status from Martindale-Hubbell.
Managing Partner Sarah Stempky-Kime is a recognized Leader in the Law, and a fellow ABOTA member. She puts it plainly: the client is the most important part of every case, followed by the defendant and their own conduct. We let the treating doctors tell the medical story, and we let negligent parties reveal the truth of what they did.
When you work with our team, you can count on:
- Free consultations 24/7, with no fee unless we win your case
- A 4.9 to 5.0 review rating across our office locations
- Trial-ready preparation on every single case
From the D to the UP, our proven trial record delivers powerful results. Call (248) 600-4591 to speak with our team today.
FAQs Answered by Our Rideshare Accident Lawyers in Southfield
Below are answers to some of the questions Oakland County families ask us most often about rideshare crashes.
The deadlines depend on the type of claim, and they can be strict. PIP benefit claims generally follow a one-year window under MCL 500.3145, while a third-party lawsuit against an at-fault driver usually must be filed within three years under MCL 600.5805. Because the personal injury case timeline in Michigan varies by claim type, it helps to speak with us early.
No. We handle rideshare injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means your consultation is free, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. This lets families focus on recovery instead of legal bills.
If the app was fully off, the rideshare company’s commercial coverage typically does not apply, and the driver’s personal auto policy and Michigan No-Fault benefits come into play instead. Confirming the app status is one of the first things we investigate, because it changes which insurer is responsible.
It is wise to talk with a lawyer before you do. Adjusters sometimes request recorded statements early, then use a stray comment to minimize a claim. We can handle that communication for you, so your words are not turned against your recovery.
Because your own insurer pays those first-party benefits, it has a financial incentive to limit what it covers. When benefits are delayed or denied, we push back with the documentation and legal pressure needed to get them flowing again.
A rideshare crash usually involves more moving parts than a standard collision. Several policies may apply at once, the commercial coverage depends on the app status, and the rideshare company controls key trip data, so these claims call for a more layered investigation.
Talk With a Southfield Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
If an Uber or Lyft crash has turned your life upside down, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. Our Southfield rideshare accident attorneys are ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and win the justice you deserve.
Reach us any time at (248) 600-4591 for a free, no-risk consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.
From the D to the UP | Proven Expertise | Powerful Results. Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
