Rideshare crashes
Injured in a Lyft Accident in New York? Who Pays and What to Do
Who pays after a Lyft crash depends on your role in it and on where the trip began: inside New York City, Lyft cars are TLC-licensed for-hire vehicles, while the rest of the state follows a separate rideshare law.
By Michael A. Licatesi · Published · Updated
The short answer
- Medical bills and lost wages usually come first from no-fault insurance, which pays without anyone proving who caused the crash.
- Passengers, pedestrians and cyclists usually claim no-fault from the insurer of the vehicle involved; people in another car claim from their own car's insurer.
- Inside New York City, a Lyft car is a TLC-licensed for-hire vehicle with its own commercial policy. Lyft says it does not buy insurance for those rides.
- Outside the city, the state rideshare law sets minimums by app status, up to $1,250,000 once a ride is accepted.
- Written notice of a no-fault claim is due within 30 days of the accident.
This is general information about New York law as of October 2026, not legal advice. Results depend on the policies in force and the facts.
New York City and the rest of the state follow different rules
New York's rideshare law, Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 44-B, took effect on June 29, 2017. It does not apply in a city of one million or more people, meaning New York City. The Department of Financial Services says it does not cover a trip that starts in the city, but does cover one that starts elsewhere and ends there.
Inside the city, Lyft rides are given in for-hire vehicles licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), and TLC rules, not the app status, set their insurance.
Which rules apply
Trip starts in New York City TLC for-hire vehicle rules (35 RCNY 59A-12)
Trip starts elsewhere in New York VTL Article 44-B and Insurance Law 3455
Who buys the insurance
Trip starts in New York City The vehicle owner. Lyft says TLC drivers buy their own policies.
Trip starts elsewhere in New York The driver, Lyft through a group policy, or a combination of both
Minimum injury liability
Trip starts in New York City $100,000 and $300,000 bodily injury liability limits for cars seating fewer than eight passengers
Trip starts elsewhere in New York $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident while logged on and waiting; $1,250,000 once a ride is accepted
Minimum no-fault
Trip starts in New York City $100,000 per person since March 1, 2026; it was $200,000 before (TLC rule change)
Trip starts elsewhere in New York No-fault coverage is required at all times; the basic state benefit is $50,000 per person
When coverage must apply
Trip starts in New York City 24 hours a day, regardless of how the car is being used
Trip starts elsewhere in New York Depends on the app status, explained below
| Question | Trip starts in New York City | Trip starts elsewhere in New York |
|---|---|---|
| Which rules apply | TLC for-hire vehicle rules (35 RCNY 59A-12) | VTL Article 44-B and Insurance Law 3455 |
| Who buys the insurance | The vehicle owner. Lyft says TLC drivers buy their own policies. | The driver, Lyft through a group policy, or a combination of both |
| Minimum injury liability | $100,000 and $300,000 bodily injury liability limits for cars seating fewer than eight passengers | $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident while logged on and waiting; $1,250,000 once a ride is accepted |
| Minimum no-fault | $100,000 per person since March 1, 2026; it was $200,000 before (TLC rule change) | No-fault coverage is required at all times; the basic state benefit is $50,000 per person |
| When coverage must apply | 24 hours a day, regardless of how the car is being used | Depends on the app status, explained below |
Long Island riders should know one more detail. Lyft's insurance page says it does not procure insurance for rides with TLC drivers that start in the five boroughs or in Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Dutchess, Ulster and Rockland counties; those drivers buy their own policies. Keep the driver's insurance card and trip receipt even for a ride that began in Nassau or Suffolk.
Who pays depends on your role
New York separates two claims. No-fault, also called personal injury protection, pays medical bills and part of lost earnings without proof of fault. An injury claim against the driver who caused the crash can cover pain and suffering, which requires a serious injury in cases between people covered by no-fault. It can also cover economic loss above what no-fault pays, such as lost earnings or medical bills beyond the $50,000 limit, and that part does not require a serious injury. See no-fault vs bodily injury claims.
Lyft passenger
No-fault (medical bills and lost wages) The insurer of the Lyft vehicle you were riding in
Injury claim (pain and suffering, losses above no-fault) Against whichever driver caused the crash: the Lyft driver, another driver, or both
Lyft driver
No-fault (medical bills and lost wages) Workers' compensation may come first for work periods; see the driver section below
Injury claim (pain and suffering, losses above no-fault) Against another driver who caused the crash
Driver or passenger in another car
No-fault (medical bills and lost wages) The insurer of the car you were in
Injury claim (pain and suffering, losses above no-fault) Against the Lyft driver's coverage if the Lyft driver caused the crash
Pedestrian or bicyclist
No-fault (medical bills and lost wages) The insurer of the vehicle that struck you (pedestrian claims)
Injury claim (pain and suffering, losses above no-fault) Against the driver at fault; outside the city, the coverage amount depends on the app status
| Your role | No-fault (medical bills and lost wages) | Injury claim (pain and suffering, losses above no-fault) |
|---|---|---|
| Lyft passenger | The insurer of the Lyft vehicle you were riding in | Against whichever driver caused the crash: the Lyft driver, another driver, or both |
| Lyft driver | Workers' compensation may come first for work periods; see the driver section below | Against another driver who caused the crash |
| Driver or passenger in another car | The insurer of the car you were in | Against the Lyft driver's coverage if the Lyft driver caused the crash |
| Pedestrian or bicyclist | The insurer of the vehicle that struck you (pedestrian claims) | Against the driver at fault; outside the city, the coverage amount depends on the app status |
If the driver at fault was using a car owned by someone else with the owner's permission, the owner can also be responsible for that driver's negligence under Vehicle and Traffic Law 388. Rental and leasing companies are different. Under the federal Graves Amendment, 49 U.S.C. 30106, a business that rents or leases vehicles generally is not liable just because it owns the car, unless it was negligent itself or engaged in criminal wrongdoing.
Outside New York City, the app status sets the limit
Under the state law, the driver, or Lyft through a group policy, must carry rideshare insurance whenever the driver is logged on. A ride, which the law calls a prearranged trip, begins when the driver accepts the request and ends when the last passenger gets out.
App off
Minimum liability coverage The driver's personal auto policy, under its own terms
Other required coverage Rideshare rules do not apply
Logged on, waiting for a request
Minimum liability coverage $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident for injury; $25,000 for property damage
Other required coverage No-fault and uninsured motorist coverage
Ride accepted until the last passenger gets out
Minimum liability coverage $1,250,000 for injury, death and property damage
Other required coverage No-fault, plus $1,250,000 of supplementary uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
| App status | Minimum liability coverage | Other required coverage |
|---|---|---|
| App off | The driver's personal auto policy, under its own terms | Rideshare rules do not apply |
| Logged on, waiting for a request | $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident for injury; $25,000 for property damage | No-fault and uninsured motorist coverage |
| Ride accepted until the last passenger gets out | $1,250,000 for injury, death and property damage | No-fault, plus $1,250,000 of supplementary uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage |
The driver's personal insurer may exclude coverage, including no-fault, while the driver is logged on or giving a ride, if its policy says so. If the driver's own rideshare coverage has lapsed or falls short, the group policy must pay from the first dollar, without waiting for the personal insurer to deny the claim.
You may have seen a $1 million figure. Lyft's insurance page describes at least $1,000,000 of liability coverage as its limit in most markets. For trips that start in New York outside the city, state law requires $1,250,000, and inside the city Lyft says it does not buy the insurance at all. App screenshots showing when the ride was accepted, started and ended help prove which period applies.
If you were the Lyft driver
Drivers hurt while working are often covered by workers' compensation through the New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund. State law treats a rideshare driver on a trip as covered, and also a driver who is logged on and doing something reasonably related to driving.
In New York City, for-hire drivers dispatched by a base that is a registered member of the Fund can also be covered. No-fault benefits are reduced by workers' compensation paid for the same injury. If another driver caused the crash, you may also have an injury claim against that driver. See our work accident guidance.
First steps after a Lyft crash
- Screenshot the ride in the app: driver name, car and plate, route, times and the receipt.
- Get medical care the same day if you can. Neck and back injuries can feel minor at first and worsen over the next days.
- Call 911, get the police report number, and photograph the vehicles, plates, scene and your injuries. Note witness contacts.
- Ask every driver for their insurance card. A rideshare driver outside the city must carry proof of the rideshare coverage.
- Send written notice to the no-fault insurer within 30 days, then keep sending medical bills and lost-wage proof on time.
- Before you give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer or sign any release, find out which policies apply. Your own no-fault coverage is different: it can require written notice, medical examinations and examinations under oath, so respond to those requests on time.
- Ask nearby businesses for camera footage quickly, because many systems record over it.
Deadlines that can end a claim
Written notice of a no-fault claim
Deadline Within 30 days of the accident
Source 11 NYCRR 65-1.1
Proof of medical bills to the no-fault insurer
Deadline Within 45 days after the treatment
Source 11 NYCRR 65-1.1
Proof of lost earnings
Deadline Within 90 days after the work loss
Source 11 NYCRR 65-1.1
Personal injury lawsuit
Deadline Within 3 years of the crash
Source CPLR 214(5)
Wrongful death lawsuit
Deadline Within 2 years of the death
Source EPTL 5-4.1
| Step | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Written notice of a no-fault claim | Within 30 days of the accident | 11 NYCRR 65-1.1 |
| Proof of medical bills to the no-fault insurer | Within 45 days after the treatment | 11 NYCRR 65-1.1 |
| Proof of lost earnings | Within 90 days after the work loss | 11 NYCRR 65-1.1 |
| Personal injury lawsuit | Within 3 years of the crash | CPLR 214(5) |
| Wrongful death lawsuit | Within 2 years of the death | EPTL 5-4.1 |
Late no-fault notice is excused only with written proof of a clear and reasonable justification. If a public vehicle such as a city bus was involved, a notice of claim is usually due within 90 days. See how to sue a city or public agency in New York.
Pain and suffering: the serious injury rule and the 2026 changes
Between people covered by New York no-fault, there is no recovery for pain and suffering unless the injury is a serious injury. Economic loss above basic no-fault benefits, such as lost earnings beyond what no-fault pays or medical bills after the $50,000 is used up, can be claimed against the at-fault driver without a serious injury. The law lists death, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, a fracture, loss of a fetus, permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function or system, permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member, and significant limitation of use of a body function or system.
For lawsuits commenced on or after May 26, 2026, the former category for a non-permanent injury that kept someone from usual activities for 90 of the first 180 days was removed. The filing date controls, not the crash date.
Fault can also change the result. New York usually reduces a recovery by the injured person's share of fault. But in a motor vehicle injury action commenced on or after May 26, 2026 and subject to the no-fault law, a claimant whose fault is greater than that of the people being sued recovers nothing. Read more about comparative negligence in New York.
Published results in rideshare crashes
$250,000
$250,000 Lyft Passenger Rear-End Settlement
Client was a passenger in a Lyft vehicle that was rear-ended, resulting in serious spinal injuries. He underwent a lumbar discectomy, multiple epidural steroid injections, and extensive pain management treatment. The injuries forced him to miss time from work and continue care. To date, No-Fault has paid nearly $100,000 for accident-related care.
$295,000
$295,000 Settlement at Mediation
Passenger in Uber was rear-ended and pushed into another car. Suffered injuries to neck and lower back requiring injections as well as a discectomy procedure in lumbar spine. Settled at mediation.
$400,000
$400,000 Settlement
Settlement involving 68 year old male who was rear ended by a truck while driving for UBER requiring a lumbar fusion with a history of prior injury to his lumbar spine.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case depends on its own facts, injuries and insurance.
Questions about Lyft accidents
Usually the injury claim is against the driver who caused the crash, paid by the insurance covering that driver. Outside New York City, Lyft must keep a group policy for its drivers; inside the city, Lyft says the TLC driver buys the insurance. Whether Lyft itself can be a defendant depends on the facts.
In most cases, yes. A passenger claims no-fault from the insurer of the vehicle they were riding in, whoever caused the crash. In New York City, for-hire vehicles must carry at least $100,000 per person for these benefits. Send written notice within 30 days of the accident.
Your no-fault claim still goes to the insurer of the Lyft vehicle. The injury claim is against whichever driver caused the crash: the other driver, the Lyft driver, or both.
No-fault comes from the insurer of the vehicle that struck you, and your injury claim is against the driver. Outside New York City, the coverage amount depends on the app status; inside the city, the for-hire vehicle's policy applies at all times.
For trips that start outside New York City, rideshare coverage during a ride must include $1,250,000 of supplementary uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Your own auto policy may also carry this coverage, so bring it to the consultation.
Related guides
Sources
- VTL 1691 (rideshare definitions)
- VTL 1692 (New York City excluded)
- VTL 1693 (rideshare insurance minimums)
- VTL 1700 (controlling authority)
- Insurance Law 3455 (rideshare group policies)
- Executive Law 160-cc (Black Car Fund definitions)
- NY DFS: FAQ about ride sharing
- NYC TLC Rules, 35 RCNY 59A-12
- NYC TLC: 2026 no-fault minimum rule
- Lyft driver insurance page (company statement)
- Insurance Law 5102 (no-fault; serious injury)
- Insurance Law 5103 (who no-fault covers)
- Insurance Law 5104 (pain and suffering claims)
- 11 NYCRR 65-1.1 (no-fault notice)
- CPLR 214 (three-year deadline)
- CPLR 1411 (comparative fault)
- DFS Circular Letter No. 3 (2026)
- Vehicle and Traffic Law 388 (owner liability)
- EPTL 5-4.1 (wrongful death)
- 49 U.S.C. 30106 (Graves Amendment, rented or leased vehicles)
Hurt in a Lyft or other rideshare crash?
Tell us where the trip started, what role you had and how you were hurt. We will help identify which insurance applies and which deadlines are running. The consultation is free.