A rideshare crash on Big Beaver Road or along I-75 can leave you with serious injuries and a calendar filled with medical appointments. Figuring out who is responsible for your medical care should not add to that stress.
If you were hurt as an Uber or Lyft passenger, a struck pedestrian, or another driver in a collision with a rideshare vehicle in Troy, the Troy rideshare accident lawyers at Christensen Law are here to listen. We understand how confusing the insurance questions can feel, and we handle those questions for you.
For more than 35 years, our trial attorneys have stood beside injured people across Oakland County and throughout Michigan. We treat every client like family, and we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies move quickly to limit what they pay, so having a team that knows Michigan’s no-fault system matters from day one.
Our approach pairs compassion with relentless advocacy. We take the time to understand how your injury has affected your work, your family, and your daily life. Then we build a case designed to recover the full compensation you deserve.
Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (248) 233-0684 for a free, no-risk consultation. If your crash also raises questions common to any local collision, our Troy car accident lawyers can help there too.
CHRISTENSEN LAW HAS A 24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE SERVICE
Who Pays After a Rideshare Crash in Oakland County?
The answer depends almost entirely on what the driver’s app was doing at the moment of the crash. Michigan sets escalating insurance requirements for Uber and Lyft based on the driver’s status, so the same collision can involve very different coverage depending on timing.
Michigan regulates rideshare companies under the Limousine, Taxicab, and Transportation Network Company Act, codified at MCL 257.2123. This law creates three coverage phases tied to the driver’s app. Each phase carries its own limits and its own insurer.
When the app is off, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. Once the driver logs on and waits for a ride request, a limited commercial policy takes effect. When the driver accepts a trip and carries a passenger, a much larger commercial policy takes over.
This layered structure is why the question of who pays in a rideshare crash in Oakland County rarely has a simple answer. Our team works to pin down the driver’s exact status, then identifies every policy that may apply. We also handle these questions as part of broader Michigan rideshare accident claims statewide.
Michigan’s Rideshare Insurance Periods Explained
Michigan law defines three insurance periods for every Uber and Lyft trip, and the coverage available climbs with each phase. Knowing which period applied to your crash is often the single most important fact in your claim.
Here is how the periods break down under state law:
- Period 1, app off: The driver’s personal auto insurance is the only coverage. Rideshare commercial coverage does not apply during this time.
- Period 2, app on and waiting for a request: A limited commercial policy applies, with at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage.
- Period 3, en route to or carrying a passenger: A commercial liability policy with a combined single limit of $1 million applies to bodily injury and property damage.
In every period, Michigan no-fault Personal Injury Protection and Property Protection coverage still applies to the crash. Because the gap between $50,000 and $1 million can decide whether your future care is fully covered, we move fast to document the driver’s status before that evidence disappears.
How Do PIP Benefits Work for Uber and Lyft Passengers?
As an injured Uber or Lyft passenger, your medical bills and a portion of your lost wages are paid through Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, no matter who caused the crash. Michigan’s no-fault system routes these benefits through a specific order of priority.
Under MCL 500.3114, an injured occupant generally looks first to his or her own auto policy for PIP benefits. If you do not have a policy, the search moves to a spouse’s policy, then to a resident relative’s policy, and finally to the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.
PIP benefits can cover reasonable medical care, a share of lost income, and certain replacement services while you recover. For a serious injury, they may also fund attendant care, meaning help with daily tasks at home. These first-party benefits do not depend on proving fault, which is a core feature of Michigan no-fault law.
The right policy also depends on the choices made when the coverage was purchased. Some drivers carry coordinated benefits that work alongside health insurance, while others select higher PIP limits. We check these details so nothing that could pay for your care is left on the table.
Rideshare passenger claims can add a wrinkle, because a vehicle operated in the business of transporting passengers may bring its own coverage into the picture. The interplay is fact-specific, so we review every policy that could apply to your Lyft passenger injury claim in Troy, Michigan. Getting this order right early protects your access to care.
Types of Troy Rideshare Accidents We Handle
Rideshare crashes take many forms in Troy, and each type raises its own coverage and liability questions. We represent people hurt in every rideshare scenario across Oakland County.
Our Troy Uber accident attorney team handles claims that include:
- Passenger injuries: You were riding in an Uber or Lyft when your driver, or another motorist, caused a crash.
- Struck-by-rideshare injuries: You were a pedestrian near Somerset Collection or a cyclist on a Troy road when a rideshare vehicle hit you.
- Multi-vehicle collisions: A rideshare car was one of several vehicles involved, often near the busy I-75 and Big Beaver interchange.
- Other-driver claims: You were driving your own vehicle when an Uber or Lyft driver caused the crash.
Rideshare traffic runs heavy across Troy, from the Big Beaver corridor and the Somerset Collection area to Rochester Road, Crooks Road, and the I-75 interchange. Late-night pickups near restaurants and hotels, along with airport runs toward Detroit Metropolitan Airport, add their own risks. Whatever your role in the crash, we identify the responsible parties and the coverage that applies to your Uber accident claim in Troy, MI.
How Do We Build a Strong Troy Rideshare Injury Case?
We start by preserving the evidence that rideshare companies and their insurers control, because that proof can disappear within days. Our process is designed to lock down the facts before they slip away.
In our experience handling these claims, the following steps matter most:
- Trip and app records: We move quickly to secure the digital records that show the driver’s status and the coverage period in effect at the moment of the crash.
- Crash and scene evidence: We gather the police report, photos, and any available camera footage from nearby businesses along the crash route.
- Medical documentation: We work with your treatment team to connect your injuries to the crash and to record how they affect your daily life.
- Coverage analysis: We map every policy that may apply, from personal auto and PIP to the layered Uber or Lyft commercial coverage.
This groundwork lets us press insurers with facts rather than guesses. When a company refuses to pay what a claim is worth, we are prepared to take the case to an Oakland County jury. That readiness often changes the conversation at the negotiating table.
When Can You Sue Beyond No-Fault Benefits?
You can pursue a third-party lawsuit for pain and suffering when your injury meets Michigan’s serious impairment threshold. This claim is separate from your PIP benefits, and it targets the at-fault party.
Michigan limits pain and suffering lawsuits under MCL 500.3135. To recover these damages, your injury must involve death, permanent serious disfigurement, or a serious impairment of an important body function that affects your general ability to lead your normal life.
Two more rules shape these claims. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule under MCL 600.2959, which bars pain and suffering recovery if you are more than 50% at fault. Deadlines also apply, and PIP benefits carry a strict one-year notice rule under MCL 500.3145.
Because these thresholds and deadlines can decide the value of your case, we evaluate them at the very start. We document how your injury has changed your daily life, which is often what determines whether the threshold is met. Acting early keeps every option open.
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Why Choose Christensen Law for Your Troy Rideshare Case
Since 1991, Christensen Law has recovered record-setting results for injured people across Michigan, and we bring that same commitment to every Troy rideshare case. We are trial lawyers first, and insurance companies know it.
Our credentials reflect decades of courtroom results:
- Founder David Christensen is a Michigan Hall of Fame 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 also an ABOTA member.
- Our verdicts and settlements include a $17.8 million motor vehicle accident recovery and a $9.5 million wrongful death recovery.
We built our practice on a simple philosophy: Listen, Protect, Win. As Sarah Stempky-Kime describes it, the client is the most important part of any case, so we let the treatment team tell the medical story while the defense reveals its own conduct. That client-first approach guides how we prepare, negotiate, and try every case. Call us 24/7 to talk with a Troy rideshare attorney who will fight for your future.
Troy Rideshare Accident Lawyer FAQs
Below are answers to questions we often hear from injured rideshare passengers and drivers in Troy and across Oakland County.
A first offer rarely reflects the full value of a serious injury claim. Insurance adjusters often move quickly to close a file for less than your care and lost income are worth. We review any offer against the true cost of your injury before you sign anything, so you can make an informed decision.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee comes only from a recovery we obtain for you. Consultations are always free, and we advance the costs of building your case.
Deadlines are strict, and they vary by the type of claim. PIP benefits carry a one-year notice rule, while third-party injury lawsuits generally allow more time. Because missing a deadline can end a claim, we recommend reviewing your options with an attorney soon after the crash.
The available coverage still depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of the collision. A driver waiting for a request carries different limits than one who is off the app or actively carrying a passenger. We work to establish that status through app records and other evidence.
Possibly. Michigan follows a modified comparative fault rule, so you may still recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. Your recovery may be reduced by your share of fault, and we work to present the facts accurately.
You are generally not required to give a recorded statement before speaking with your own attorney. Adjusters sometimes use these statements to minimize a claim. We handle communication with insurers, so your words are not used against you.
Talk With a Troy Rideshare Accident Attorney Today
A rideshare crash can leave you facing medical bills, lost income, and hard questions about the future. You do not have to face those questions alone. Our Troy rideshare accident lawyers are ready to listen to your story, protect your rights, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Consultations are always free, and you pay nothing unless we win. Call Christensen Law 24/7 at (248) 233-0684 or reach out online to get started today. Serving all of Michigan, from the D to the UP.
