Updated October 16, 2026.
If an Uber or Lyft vehicle strikes an e-bike rider, the insurance question differs from a passenger’s claim after an uninsured driver hits a rideshare car. Start with who was injured, who may be responsible and the driver’s app status. A rideshare logo alone does not identify the policy that applies.
California’s SB 371 changed passenger uninsured and underinsured motorist requirements. It did not eliminate every $1 million rideshare policy or impose a $60,000 ceiling on every injured person’s claim. This distinction matters when comparing coverage letters or evaluating an offer.
Separate liability coverage from passenger UM/UIM
Liability insurance addresses covered harm for which an insured is legally responsible. Passenger UM/UIM coverage addresses a different situation: an at-fault motorist has no insurance or insufficient coverage, subject to the policy and applicable law.
For California passenger trips beginning January 1, 2026, Uber describes UM/UIM coverage of $60,000 per individual and $300,000 per accident, while retaining $1 million in liability coverage for accidents caused by its rideshare driver. Those figures describe separate protections; they should not be substituted for one another. See Uber’s published explanation and the bill author’s announcement.
The per-person limit and the shared accident limit also mean different things. Several injured passengers cannot each assume the entire accident limit is available to them. Nor does a limit establish what anyone’s injuries are worth or guarantee a payment.
If you were riding an e-bike outside the vehicle
A rider struck by a rideshare driver should investigate that driver’s potential responsibility and applicable liability coverage. The fact that SB 371 changed protection for passengers does not automatically place an outside cyclist under the passenger UM/UIM limit.
Record whether the driver was offline, waiting for a request, heading to a pickup or transporting a passenger. Ask for the relevant insurer and policy information rather than accepting an unsupported statement that the driver was simply “working.” The applicable coverage depends on the facts, date and policy terms.
If another vehicle contributed to the collision, its driver’s coverage may also need investigation. Personal UM/UIM, if potentially relevant, requires separate review of who is insured and the conditions for a claim. Do not assume every policy covers an e-bike collision.
Preserve the details that distinguish these claims
- Trip evidence: save your receipt and screenshots if you were a passenger. An outside rider can record the vehicle, plate and information voluntarily exchanged at the scene.
- Record the exact time, location and direction of travel. Obtain witness contact details and identify nearby cameras promptly.
- Keep photographs of the scene and equipment when safe. Do not infer speed or fault solely from damage or a vehicle model.
- Preserve the e-bike, helmet and damaged components. Seek advice before disposal, repair or changes that could affect an inspection.
- Keep medical records, bills, work-loss documents and insurer correspondence in their original form.
Medical care and emergency assistance take priority over evidence collection. A missing police report does not by itself prove that a crash never happened; record the responding agency and report number when available.
Questions to ask when a coverage decision arrives
Ask which policy and coverage period the decision concerns, what facts support the app-status determination and whether the stated number is a per-person or accident limit. Keep the complete letter and attachments. A coverage dispute, a responsibility dispute and a disagreement over injury value require different responses.
An insurance claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Reporting an incident or negotiating does not automatically preserve all legal deadlines. Get individualized advice promptly, especially if a public entity, several injured people or multiple policies may be involved.
Discuss the actual crash, not just a headline
For a free case review, contact Fairmont Law Firm or call (800) 324-7666. Intake assistance is available 24/7 in English and Spanish. Bring any coverage letter and trip records you have; explain what is still missing.
For immediate preparation, read what to do after a California accident.
General information, not legal advice. Coverage and available remedies depend on the facts and applicable policy.