Rideshare companies often try to dodge responsibility after a Huntsville crash. Mama Justice cuts through the confusing coverage rules to fight for you. Call now for a free consultation!
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, you may have legal options available. Contact the Huntsville rideshare accident lawyers at Mama Justice today.
If you were hurt in a Lyft or Uber crash in Huntsville, Alabama, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit under Alabama law. Alabama requires at least $1 million in coverage while a driver is on a ride. A Huntsville rideshare lawyer at Mama Justice can sort out who is responsible. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.
Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft have become hugely popular during the last several years. This popularity, however, comes with a cost, as it is not uncommon for passengers to be injured in a rideshare accident. Pedestrians and other drivers have sustained injuries after they were struck by a vehicle operated by a rideshare driver.
Serious and life-altering injuries caused by rideshare accidents often pose numerous hardships for the victim and their family. These obstacles are made even more complicated when companies like Lyft and Uber refuse to take responsibility for the victim’s injuries.
Instead, these companies typically attempt to shift both legal liability and blame elsewhere. Considering the various complexities that often accompany automobile accident claims, it is essential to make sure you have the legal assistance of an experienced and reputable rideshare accident attorney.
If you or a family member have been injured in a car crash that was caused by a Lyft or Uber driver, reach out to the Huntsville rideshare accident attorneys at Mama Justice. You can contact us through our online form or by calling (833) 626-2587 to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Written by the Mama Justice legal team. Legally reviewed by Missy Wigginton, Founding Attorney (also known as Mama Justice).
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026
How Does Rideshare Work in Huntsville, and Who Is Involved in a Crash?
Ridesharing companies offer a convenient transportation option by joining drivers with passengers looking for a ride via a smartphone app. The drivers have a contract with the ridesharing company and agree to use their personal vehicles to transport passengers.
Even though these services provide customers with needed transportation, they are not without their problems. Just like other motorists, rideshare drivers can be involved in accidents, and when that happens, many questions arise regarding who is responsible for the victim’s injuries.
Why Is Distracted Driving a Problem With Rideshare?
Rideshare services link drivers to patrons via smartphone apps. Anytime a potential passenger logs on to the app and requests a ride from a driver, the driver only has about 10 to 15 seconds to accept the ride before it gets passed to someone else. Distraction is a serious road safety problem in general. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,208 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2024. In most cases, it isn’t feasible for a driver to promptly pull over to a safe place before accepting the new ride.
A rideshare driver who forgoes a ride request loses out on the money for that ride. Their acceptance rate will also be negatively impacted, which will ultimately affect their pay and could even result in them being deactivated as a driver. Due to this, the very nature of the job lends itself heavily to distracted driving, which increases the chances of a rideshare accident.
Are Ridesharing Companies Required to Provide Insurance?
Lyft and Uber both have policies in place designed to protect passengers and other potential victims from injuries that could occur should one of their independent contractors be involved in an accident.
These insurance policies are the consequence of many years spent contesting lawsuits and taking various other actions in an attempt to shirk responsibility for injuries that occurred during rideshare accidents. States eventually passed laws that required these corporations to supply liability coverage.
Liability coverage serves as secondary coverage to the contracted driver’s own policy only when the driver is logged into the app and waiting for a passenger. Additionally, a much more extensive $1 million policy acts as the immediate liability insurance policy as soon as the driver accepts a passenger through the app and is headed to pick them up, as well as anytime there is a passenger in the car.
The company’s auto insurance coverage is used when:
The rideshare driver strikes a vehicle.
The rideshare driver strikes a pedestrian or cyclist.
The rideshare driver is the cause of an accident with a passenger in their vehicle.
Another driver causes an accident involving a rideshare vehicle carrying a passenger.
Here at Mama Justice, our Huntsville personal injury lawyers know how Lyft and Uber insurance policies operate and how to pursue a successful claim for recovery based on that knowledge. We can begin building your rideshare claim today.
These minimum coverage levels come from Ala. Code § 32-7C-2, Alabama’s rideshare insurance law.
How Much Rideshare Insurance Applies in a Huntsville Crash?
The insurance that applies depends on what the driver was doing when the crash happened. Alabama’s rideshare law sets minimum coverage levels (Ala. Code § 32-7C-2). Here is the short version:
What the driver was doing
Rideshare company coverage
App off, not logged in
Generally none from the rideshare company. The driver’s personal auto policy may apply.
Logged in to the app, waiting for a ride request
At least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injury or death, plus $25,000 for property damage.
On a ride (heading to pick up a rider or with passengers)
At least $1 million for death, injury, and property damage.
These are minimum levels required by law, and the details of any claim depend on the facts and the policies involved. An attorney can help you figure out which coverage applies to you.
Who Is Responsible for Injuries After a Huntsville Rideshare Accident?
If you are hurt in a collision with a rideshare vehicle, the company might offer you some insurance coverage. That insurance could provide financial compensation for your accident-related injuries and other damages, but many victims quickly discover that the rideshare company plans to dispute the amount of insurance available. They might even argue that no insurance is available.
Multiple factors come into play when dealing with the company’s insurance coverage, including:
The driver was not signed into the rideshare app: Neither Lyft nor Uber will take responsibility for any injuries caused by the driver. Injured victims will have to file a claim with the rideshare driver’s commercial or personal car insurance policy.
The driver was signed in to the app but was waiting on a fare: Lyft and Uber offer liability coverage in the amount of $50,000 for each person and $100,000 for each accident, in addition to the rideshare driver’s commercial or personal auto insurance coverage.
The driver was on their way to pick up a customer: Both Lyft and Uber offer up to $1 million in liability coverage.
The driver had customers in their vehicle: Both Lyft and Uber offer coverage of up to $1 million.
It is not guaranteed that the rideshare driver or the rideshare company will take responsibility, even when they should. This makes professional legal representation of the utmost importance if you plan on pursuing economic recovery for your damages caused by an Alabama rideshare accident.
Who Do I File a Claim Against After a Huntsville Rideshare Accident?
The situation can be made even more complicated if the accident was caused by another driver or more than two vehicles were involved. Filing claims with more than one insurance company is highly stressful, especially when you are injured.
Along with filing a claim with the rideshare company’s insurance carrier, you might also need to file a claim with the rideshare driver’s insurance provider, the other drivers involved in the accident, and use the benefits offered under your own car insurance policy.
At Mama Justice, our Huntsville rideshare accident attorneys determine exactly who is responsible for your accident, make sure you know your rights, and walk you through the claims process from start to finish.
What If the Rideshare Driver or the Other Driver Has No Insurance?
It can happen, and you still have options. Alabama’s rideshare law says it does not take away a rider’s right to uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage under Ala. Code § 32-7-23. That means your own auto policy may be able to help if the at-fault driver has no coverage or too little.
Policies are full of fine print, and insurance companies are quick to point to it. Bring us your policy and the details of the crash, and we will go through it with you.
What If I Was Partly at Fault for My Rideshare Accident?
Alabama follows a strict rule called contributory negligence. If you are found even slightly at fault for a crash, you can be barred from recovering compensation. This matters for drivers, passengers who did something that added to the risk, pedestrians, and other people hurt in a rideshare crash.
Insurance companies for rideshare drivers and for Uber and Lyft are skilled at looking for any piece of blame to place on you. Do not argue about fault with them. Alabama law recognizes some limited exceptions, and every case turns on its own facts. Call us before you give a statement.
What Should I Do if I Am Injured as a Rideshare Driver in Huntsville?
If you are a driver who was hurt in a rideshare accident caused by another person, speaking with an attorney who has experience dealing with these kinds of cases is essential.
Our rideshare accident lawyers will make sure that your rights are defended and help steer you through the process of filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and your rideshare company as well. We will also help you with any legal problems that arise involving customers who may have been injured in the accident.
As stated above, Lyft’s and Uber’s auto insurance policies will not cover your injuries if you were not signed in to the app, and they do not cover property damage. Making sure you have plenty of collision, liability, and uninsured driver coverage on your personal car insurance policy will guarantee that you are well protected in the event of a collision.
We can analyze your current insurance policy and advise you on the most practical course of action that will safeguard your livelihood and help you circumvent potential issues in the future.
What Should I Do After a Rideshare Accident in Huntsville?
A rideshare crash adds a few extra steps to the usual ones. Here is what we tell Huntsville riders and drivers:
Call 911 and get medical care. Your health comes first. Accept an ambulance if the paramedics recommend it.
Take screenshots of the app. Save the trip details, the driver’s name and photo, the license plate, and the time of the ride before they disappear.
Photograph the scene. Capture the vehicles, the road, and your injuries. Get names and contact details for any witnesses.
Report the crash in the app, but keep it short and factual. Do not guess about fault.
Do not give a recorded statement to the rideshare company’s insurer or the other driver’s insurer before you talk with a lawyer.
Keep every record. Save medical bills, pay stubs, and any messages with the driver or the company.
Call Mama Justice. We are here 24/7, and the first call is free.
How Long Do I Have to File a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?
Alabama has a deadline of two years from the day of your accident for filing a car accident lawsuit. This deadline comes from Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l). Deadlines vary by claim type, so confirm yours with an attorney. Although it isn’t always necessary to file a suit to recover fair compensation in a rideshare accident claim, it is essential that your right to do so is protected by negotiating a settlement or taking legal action before the deadline passes.
It will be virtually impossible for any attorney to negotiate an honest settlement with the insurance carrier if we have missed our chance to file a personal injury suit in your case. This is just one of the many reasons why it is vital that we get to work on your claim as soon as possible.
What Compensation Can I Get After a Huntsville Rideshare Accident?
In terms of recovering financial compensation for a rideshare lawsuit or settlement, the damages you are entitled to collect should reflect the documented damages you sustained.
For instance, a victim who was seriously injured and required hospitalization would be eligible for a considerably larger payout than a victim who broke their arm, was treated, and sent home later that same day because the first victim will have much higher medical bills.
Due to this, it isn’t possible to know exactly how much your claim may be worth until your lawyer completes their investigation and fully understands all your current and anticipated accident-related damages.
The recoverable damages in a Huntsville rideshare accident award or settlement could include:
Current and anticipated medical care, treatments, and therapy
Current and future lost income
Reduced earning capacity if you are unable to go back to work or unable to perform the job you had
Property damages, including damage to your car and any personal property you had with you
Pain and suffering
Various other non-economic losses
In cases where victims experienced the death of a family member in a rideshare accident, we can help them seek damages for wrongful death as available according to the Alabama Wrongful Death Statute.
Immediately after a Huntsville rideshare accident, there are steps victims can take to safeguard their rights. Taking the actions listed below will put you in the best possible position for collecting full and fair financial compensation for your injuries:
Make sure that everybody who was involved in the incident is okay. Call 911 for emergency assistance if necessary.
Notify the police so an accident report can be created.
Collect the names, contact information, insurance information, and vehicle information of the other motorists involved in the accident.
Take pictures or videos of the scene. The images need to include any visible damage to the vehicles and any visible injuries. Road conditions, traffic, weather conditions, obscured road signs, and anything else that may have contributed to the collision should be documented.
Record the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.
Seek professional medical treatment right away, even if you think you managed to escape unharmed. Many crash-related injuries, such as whiplash, can take several days to manifest.
Speak with an experienced rideshare accident attorney in Huntsville. Make sure that you fully understand your rights and all of your options for financial compensation.
How Long Does a Huntsville Rideshare Accident Case Take?
There is no set timeline. Rideshare claims often take longer than regular car accident claims because more than one insurance company can be involved, and each one may point at someone else. Some cases settle in months. Others take a year or longer, especially when injuries are serious or the case goes to trial in Madison County.
We will keep you updated, we will not rush you into a deal that does not cover your needs, and we will handle the insurers so you can heal.
How Much Is My Huntsville Rideshare Accident Case Worth?
Every case is different, and no one can promise you a number on day one. The biggest factors are how serious your injuries are, your medical bills now and in the future, your lost income, how fault is decided, and how much insurance is available. In rideshare cases, what the driver was doing when the crash happened can change which coverage applies.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and the case results shown on this page are not a promise of what we can do for you. What we can do is look at your facts, build your case, and fight for the full compensation the law allows.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
As a general practice, insurance carriers typically offer unfairly small settlements or will deny a claim, even a legitimate one, outright. If you are involved in a rideshare accident, never provide a statement to anyone, sign anything, or agree to an insurance company’s settlement offer without speaking to a lawyer.
In cases where more than one insurance company is involved, they might even work together to dispute your valid claim, trivialize the degree of your injuries, or be adamant in the fact that their insured party was not liable.
Our rideshare accident attorneys are proficient at handling negotiations with multiple insurers. We are resolute in our dedication to acting as your advocate, and we will not give up until you have recovered the financial compensation you are entitled to.
Do I Need a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Huntsville?
As of 2018, new laws enabled ridesharing businesses to operate in Alabama. Uber and Lyft are the best-known rideshare companies that operate in Alabama.
The laws governing rideshares are fairly new and have a lot of gray areas which means they are open to interpretation by the courts. This is just another reason why it is so important for victims to reach out to an experienced Alabama rideshare accident lawyer.
The Mama Justice rideshare accident attorneys in Huntsville will make sure you are fully informed of all your legal rights and options. We will investigate your rideshare accident and determine how it happened and which driver was at fault. If we find that a rideshare vehicle was responsible for your injuries, our law firm will advocate aggressively on your behalf. We will use our considerable legal experience to bring the driver and rideshare company to account.
Our Huntsville office is at 200 West Side Square, Suite 975, Huntsville, AL 35801, on West Side Square in downtown Huntsville. You can reach us at (256) 255-4792, or call our 24/7 line at 888-805-6010. If your injuries make it hard to travel, tell us when you call and we will work out the best way to meet.
Mama Justice, Huntsville 200 West Side Square, Suite 975 Huntsville, AL 35801 Phone: (256) 255-4792
Huntsville Rideshare Accident FAQ
How long do I have to file a rideshare accident lawsuit in Huntsville, Alabama?
In Alabama, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit (Ala. Code § 6-2-38). Deadlines vary by claim type, so confirm yours with a Huntsville rideshare accident attorney as soon as possible.
How much insurance do Uber and Lyft have in Alabama?
Alabama law requires at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage while a driver is logged in to the app but not on a ride, and at least $1 million while the driver is on a ride (Ala. Code § 32-7C-2). Actual coverage and how it applies depend on the facts of your crash.
Who is responsible if I am hurt in a rideshare crash in Huntsville?
It depends on who caused the crash and what the rideshare driver was doing at the time. The at-fault driver, the rideshare driver, or the rideshare company’s insurance may be involved. An attorney can review the facts to see who may be responsible.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft after an accident in Huntsville?
It depends on the facts of your case. Many claims are made against insurance policies connected to the driver or the company rather than the company itself. An attorney can look at your situation and explain your options.
What if the rideshare driver was not logged in to the app?
If the app was off, the rideshare company’s coverage generally does not apply, and the driver’s personal auto policy may be the main source of coverage. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also help. Have an attorney review your situation.
What if I was partly at fault for my rideshare accident?
Alabama follows contributory negligence, which means being found even slightly at fault can bar you from recovering compensation. There are limited exceptions, and every case is different, so talk with an attorney before you discuss fault with an insurance company.
What if I was injured as a rideshare driver in Huntsville?
If another driver caused the crash, you may be able to make a claim against that driver’s insurance. Your own auto coverage can also matter, so review it with an attorney. Mama Justice can help you understand your options.
What compensation can I seek after a Huntsville rideshare accident?
Depending on your case, you may be able to seek compensation for medical care and therapy, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. In cases involving a death, a wrongful death claim may also be possible.
How much does a Huntsville rideshare accident lawyer cost?
Mama Justice handles rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fee unless we win. Your first consultation is free.
Where is the Mama Justice office in Huntsville?
Our Huntsville office is at 200 West Side Square, Suite 975, Huntsville, AL 35801. You can call the office at (256) 255-4792, or call our 24/7 line at 888-805-6010.
If you or a family member was injured in a Huntsville rideshare accident, contact the Huntsville rideshare accident attorneys at Mama Justice today by calling (256) 255-4792. We will schedule a free consultation to review your potential rideshare accident claim.
