Lexington Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Legally Reviewed by Stephen Vicari: July 01, 2026

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have made it easier to get around Lexington, but they’ve also added a layer of complexity when crashes happen. If you’re hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident, as a passenger, another driver, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist, you may be dealing with multiple insurance policies, out‑of‑state companies, and a lot of finger‑pointing about who should pay.

At Stewart Law Offices, our Lexington Uber and Lyft accident lawyers handle these cases for clients throughout Lexington County, and we handle the legal complexity so you can focus on recovery. Our team includes Stephen Vicari, a licensed South Carolina Bar attorney who has devoted more than ten years to representing seriously injured clients across Lexington County. When you contact us after a rideshare crash, your case is handled personally by an attorney who understands what happened, what the insurance situation looks like, and what it will take to pursue the full compensation you deserve.

How Uber & Lyft Accidents Differ from Other Car Crashes

The rideshare industry has grown dramatically, and so has its accident footprint. Uber’s own 2021–2022 U.S. Safety Report documented 127 fatal accidents and 153 fatalities involving Uber vehicles during those two years. While Lyft reported 111 motor vehicle fatalities in the same period, both companies noted increases in the frequency of fatal incidents compared to earlier reports.

These figures do not mean rideshare is inherently dangerous. But they reflect the reality that adding more vehicles to the road, particularly those driven by distracted app users, unfamiliar with local streets, and under economic pressure to maximize trips, increases accident risk for everyone sharing that road.

Unlike traditional car accidents, rideshare collisions involve multiple layers of insurance coverage and corporate policies. Determining liability can be complicated because:

• Driver Status Matters: Coverage depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, waiting for a ride, or actively transporting a passenger.
• Corporate vs. Personal Insurance: Uber and Lyft provide liability coverage, but only under certain conditions.
• Multiple Parties Involved: Victims may need to pursue claims against the driver, the rideshare company, or other negligent motorists.

Dealing with these complexities requires an attorney familiar with rideshare accident claims in South Carolina.

What Is a Transportation Network Company Under South Carolina Law?

In South Carolina, companies like Uber and Lyft operate as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). This legal classification was created by the South Carolina Transportation Network Company Act, codified at S.C. Code § 58-23-1610 et seq.

Under this law, TNCs must:

• Obtain a permit from the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) before operating in the state.
• Maintain specific levels of insurance coverage that apply when drivers are logged into the app.
• Conduct background checks on drivers.
• Ensure vehicles meet minimum safety standards.

TNC drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees. This distinction has significant implications for liability in the event of an accident, as it generally limits the ability to hold the TNC directly liable as an employer. 

Both Uber and Lyft hold valid TNC permits and are authorized to operate throughout South Carolina, including in Lexington County.

Who Can Be Injured in a Lexington Rideshare Crash

The people who may be covered in Lexington Uber and Lyft accident claims fall into several distinct categories, each with different legal options and access to insurance coverage:

• Passengers in the Rideshare Vehicle: Riders injured during an active and properly matched Uber or Lyft trip are typically in the strongest position, since the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy applies. Whether the crash was caused by their own driver or another driver, passengers generally have access to this coverage. 
• Drivers and Passengers in Other Vehicles: Occupants of another vehicle struck by a rideshare driver can pursue claims against the driver’s insurance. Coverage depends on the driver’s status in the app at the time of the crash, governed by Uber and Lyft’s three‑period insurance structure. 
• Pedestrians and Cyclists: Individuals on foot or riding bicycles who are hit by a rideshare vehicle are considered third‑party claimants. Their coverage options also follow the same period‑based insurance rules as other motorists. 
• The Rideshare Driver Themselves: In certain circumstances, an injured Uber or Lyft driver may access the company’s contingent comprehensive and collision coverage during active rides, subject to a $2,500 deductible. The driver’s personal insurance policies and workers’ compensation considerations (complicated by independent contractor status) may also apply. 

Your legal options and available coverage depend heavily on your role in the crash and the rideshare driver’s app status. A Lexington car accident lawyer can clarify your position and explain how it affects your rights.

Insurance Coverage Periods in South Carolina Uber & Lyft Accidents

The single most important factor determining which insurance applies after a Lexington Uber or Lyft accident is the driver’s status in the app at the exact moment of the crash. South Carolina’s Transportation Network Company (TNC) Act establishes three distinct periods with varying coverage.

Period 0: App Off

When the driver is not logged into the Uber or Lyft app, the rideshare company provides no coverage. Only the driver’s personal automobile insurance applies. This is treated as a standard personal vehicle accident and must meet South Carolina’s minimum liability requirements.

Period 1: App On, Waiting for a Ride (No Ride Accepted)

This is the most common coverage gap. When the driver is logged into the app and available for rides but has not yet accepted a request, their personal auto policy often excludes coverage due to a “business use” exclusion. In this period, Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000 for property damage

This coverage only applies if the driver’s personal insurer denies the claim first.

Period 2 & 3: Ride Accepted Through Drop-Off

Once the driver accepts a ride request, Uber’s and Lyft’s primary $1 million liability policy activates. This high-limit coverage continues from the moment the ride is accepted through pickup, throughout the entire trip, and until the passenger is safely dropped off.

Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents in Lexington County

Rideshare drivers face unique challenges, often juggling navigation apps, passenger communication, and traffic. Common causes of accidents include:

• Distracted Driving: Using the rideshare app while driving.
• Fatigue: Long hours behind the wheel increase risks.
• Speeding: Trying to reach passengers quickly.
• Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drug use remains a factor in some crashes.
• Traffic Congestion: Busy Lexington corridors such as Augusta Road and Sunset Boulevard heighten the risk.
• Inexperienced Drivers: Not all rideshare drivers are seasoned professionals.

Injuries in Lexington Uber and Lyft Accidents

Rideshare vehicles are standard passenger cars, meaning the harm resulting from these collisions is often as severe as any other major auto accident. Individuals involved in rideshare crashes frequently sustain life-altering injuries, such as:

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries from sudden impact.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries range from concussions to permanent damage.
• Spinal Cord Injuries leading to paralysis or chronic pain.
• Broken Bones and Fractures in arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis.
• Internal Organ Damage from blunt trauma.
• Emotional trauma, such as PTSD and anxiety.

Even seemingly minor accidents can result in long‑term medical needs.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Lexington Rideshare Accident?

A successful rideshare injury claim can pursue compensation across the same categories available in any South Carolina car accident claim:

• Medical expenses: All treatment costs from the emergency room through rehabilitation, and any projected future care needs directly connected to the crash injuries.
• Lost income and earning capacity: Wages lost during recovery, and where the injuries produce lasting limitations, compensation for the long-term reduction in earning potential. 
• Pain and suffering: The physical pain, emotional distress, and disruption to daily life that follow serious crash injuries. South Carolina does not cap non-economic damages in standard negligence cases.
• Property damage: The value of personal property damaged in the crash.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: When injuries take away activities and experiences that defined your life before the crash.

The Importance of UM/UIM Coverage in Rideshare Cases

South Carolina law requires all automobile insurance policies to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is optional but strongly recommended, especially in rideshare accidents, where insurance coverage gaps are common. 

If the at-fault party’s coverage, whether it is the rideshare driver’s personal policy, the Transportation Network Company’s (TNC) contingent liability coverage during Period 1, or a third-party driver’s policy, is insufficient to cover your full damages, your own UM/UIM coverage can serve as a critical safety net. For Lexington residents who regularly use rideshare services or drive in areas with heavy rideshare activity, carrying robust UM/UIM limits is one of the most important financial protections available.

Steps to Take After a Lexington Uber or Lyft Accident

• Call 911 and get a police report. A formal police report documents the circumstances of the crash and is essential documentation for any insurance claim or legal proceeding.
• Do not exit the vehicle if it is unsafe to do so. If you are a passenger, stay in the vehicle until emergency responders arrive unless there is an immediate safety threat, such as a fire.
• Screenshot your app data immediately. Before closing or refreshing the Uber or Lyft app, take a screenshot of the trip details page, which shows the trip status, driver name, vehicle information, and trip start time. This information can become difficult to retrieve later.
• Document the scene. Photograph all vehicles involved, license plates, visible injuries, road conditions, traffic signals, and the positions of all vehicles before they are moved.
• Collect witness information. Names and contact information from anyone who observed the crash.
• Report the crash through the app. Both Uber and Lyft have in-app crash reporting systems. Reporting through the app creates a formal record with the company and preserves your access to the trip’s insurance information.
• Seek medical attention immediately. Go directly to the nearest emergency room or medical center for serious trauma. Do not wait to see whether symptoms develop.

Contact a Lexington Uber and Lyft accident lawyer before giving any recorded statement to the rideshare company’s insurer or the at-fault driver’s insurer. The period classification dispute, which coverage tier applies, is often the most contested issue in the claim, and how the accident is described in early statements can affect that determination.

South Carolina’s Statute of Limitations for Rideshare Claims

In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including Uber and Lyft accident claims, is three years from the date of the crash, S.C. Code § 15-3-530. For wrongful death claims arising from a fatal rideshare crash, the three-year period also runs from the date of death. Claims against government entities (such as SCDOT or local municipalities) carry significantly shorter deadlines, often as little as two years, and require special pre-suit notice.

Missing the statute of limitations deadline will almost certainly eliminate your right to seek compensation in court. Because rideshare cases can involve complex insurance coverage issues and multiple potential defendants, it is critical not to wait. Do not delay consulting with a Lexington Uber and Lyft accident attorney.

Visit Our Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers at 203-D West Main Street, Lexington, SC

Talk to a Lexington Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a rideshare crash anywhere in Lexington County as a passenger, a driver of another vehicle, or a pedestrian, our Lexington personal injury lawyers at Stewart Law Offices are ready to evaluate your case, explain exactly which insurance coverage applies to your situation, and fight for every dollar the law makes available. No upfront fees. No hourly charges. You pay nothing unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lexington Uber and Lyft Accident Claims