Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer in Rohnert Park 

Rideshare has changed the way we get around Sonoma County. Still, when an Uber or Lyft driver crashes, the aftermath is far more complicated than a typical car accident. A single accident may involve 4-5 different policies and two multi-billion-dollar legal teams, and raise questions about whether the driver was logged in and waiting for a ride or transporting a passenger. Insurance companies thrive on this level of confusion; therefore, they have numerous opportunities to postpone, deny, or underpay a valid claim.  

Most injury victims have no idea that rideshare crash investigations often depend on data that only Uber or Lyft control, GPS information, driver activity logs, trip-status timestamps, and app communications. Without fast action, this information can disappear or become extremely difficult to obtain. That’s why it is critical to hire a law firm that understands how to secure and preserve rideshare evidence before it is lost forever. We also work with accident reconstruction experts and technology specialists who know how to interpret the data and prove exactly how the crash occurred. 

At Flahavan Law Offices in Santa Rosa, Brian Flahavan has spent more than twenty years untangling the most complex accident cases in the North Bay. We have forced Uber, Lyft, and their insurers to pay millions in damages to injured passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists in Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, and across Sonoma County. We understand the tactics these companies use to protect their profits, and we know how to beat them. 

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a rideshare accident near Highway 101 or in Rohnert Park, call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you. 

Why Rideshare Accidents Are So Much Harder Than Regular Crashes 

Traditional car accidents usually involve two personal auto policies. Rideshare accidents can involve all of these: 

1. The rideshare driver’s personal insurance often excludes commercial use. 
2. Uber or Lyft’s $1 million commercial policy (only kicks in under specific conditions) 
3. The at-fault third-party driver’s insurance 
4. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) 
5. Medical payments coverage from multiple sources 

The coverage changes dramatically depending on the driver’s status at the exact moment of the crash: 

• App off → only the driver’s personal policy (often $15,000–$50,000 limits) 
• App on, waiting for ride request → Uber/Lyft provides limited liability ($50,000/$100,000) plus contingent UM/UIM 
• En route to pick up or carrying passenger → full $1 million commercial policy plus $1 million UM/UIM 

Insurance companies fight over which phase the driver was in, sometimes claiming the driver was “off the clock” even when GPS data proves otherwise. 

Common Rideshare Crash Scenarios in Rohnert Park 

• Rear-end collisions on Highway 101 while drivers stare at their phones waiting for pings 
• Left-turn crashes at Rohnert Park Expressway and Redwood Drive when drivers rush to accept a ride 
• Sideswipes on Golf Course Drive or Stony Point Road from distracted lane changes 
• Pedestrian and bicycle strikes near Sonoma State University and downtown bars after last call 
• High-speed crashes when drivers speed to improve ratings or reach surge zones 
• DoorDash/Uber Eats drivers running red lights with food in the car (still considered rideshare activity) 

Who Can Be Held Responsible 

• The rideshare driver (negligence, distraction, fatigue) 
• Uber or Lyft (negligent hiring, training, or pressure to drive tired) 
• Another motorist who caused or contributed to the crash 
• Vehicle manufacturer if the brakes or autopilot malfunctioned 
• Bar or restaurant that overserved a drunk rideshare passenger who then caused a second crash 

We leave no policy or defendant unexplored. 

How Insurance Companies Play Games in Rideshare Cases 

Uber and Lyft’s insurers (usually James River, Progressive, or Allstate) are masters of delay: 

• Claiming the driver was not logged in despite ride logs proving otherwise 
• Refusing to disclose the full $1 million policy until sued 
• Blaming the victim for not wearing a seatbelt or choosing a dangerous pickup spot 
• Offering quick $10,000–$25,000 settlements before victims know they need surgery 
• Hiring private investigators to follow injured passengers 
• Forcing arbitration clauses buried in the app’s terms of service 

We have beaten every one of these tactics in court and at the negotiating table. 

What We Do Within the First 48 Hours 

Time is the enemy in rideshare cases. Evidence disappears fast: 

• Send preservation letters to Uber/Lyft demanding all ride logs, GPS data, and driver acceptance records 
• Download the driver’s phone records and app activity 
• Obtain traffic-camera footage from Caltrans and the City of Rohnert Park 
• Secure the vehicle before it is repaired or auctioned 
• Interview witnesses before memories fade 
• Request black-box data showing speed and braking 
• File suit early if the insurer stonewalls (this forces disclosure of the full $1 million policy) 

Injuries From Rideshare Crashes Are Often Severe 

Because rideshare drivers are often rushing or distracted, crashes tend to be high-impact: 

• Whiplash and cervical disc herniations 
• Traumatic brain injuries from unrestrained rear-seat passengers 
• Broken bones and compound fractures 
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis 
• Internal organ damage and bleeding 
• Knee and shoulder tears requiring surgery 
• PTSD from violent collisions 

Passengers sitting in the back seat without headrests or proper seatbelts are especially vulnerable. 

Full Compensation You Are Entitled To 

When the rideshare company’s $1 million policy is triggered, victims recover: 

• All past and future medical expenses 
• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity 
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress 
• Out-of-pocket costs and transportation 
• Loss of enjoyment of life 
• Punitive damages in extreme cases of gross negligence 

Settlements and verdicts in severe rideshare cases frequently range from $250,000 to more than $5 million. 

Special Protections for Passengers 

If you were a paying Uber or Lyft passenger, you are almost always covered by the full $1 million policy regardless of who caused the crash. California Insurance Code §11580.24 requires rideshare companies to provide primary coverage the moment you are in the vehicle. 

This means you do not have to prove the rideshare driver was at fault to access significant compensation. Even if another driver caused the collision, or if responsibility is shared, Uber and Lyft must still provide coverage for your medical bills, future treatment needs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Passengers are considered the most protected class of individuals in a rideshare incident because they had no control over the vehicle and could not prevent the crash.  

However, securing the full policy benefits is not automatic. Insurance companies may still dispute injuries, question medical treatment, or attempt to settle quickly for far less than your case is worth. That is why having an attorney who understands the rideshare insurance system is essential. We ensure that passengers receive the maximum protection the law provides and that Uber or Lyft cannot avoid their financial responsibilities. 

Local Knowledge That Wins Cases 

We know precisely where rideshare drivers idle for pings near Sonoma State University, the dangerous merge at Rohnert Park Expressway and Highway 101, and the late-night pickup zones outside the bars on Southwest Boulevard. We have taken depositions of the same Uber safety managers multiple times and know which insurance adjusters try to hide the million-dollar policy. 

The Timeline of a Rideshare Accident Case 

• Immediate medical treatment and reporting the crash to Uber/Lyft through the app 
• Preservation of all digital evidence 
• Demand a letter to every possible insurer 
• Negotiation with Uber/Lyft’s billion-dollar legal team 
• Filing suit in Sonoma County Superior Court if necessary 
• Discovery of hidden policies and driver records 
• Mediation or trial preparation 
• Structured settlement with lifetime medical care when injuries are catastrophic 

We guide you through every step in plain English. 

No Fees Unless We Recover Money for You 

Rideshare cases are expensive: accident reconstruction, biomechanical engineers, economists, life-care planners, and technology experts. We advance every penny. You pay nothing out of pocket, ever. Our fee is based only on the recovery we obtain. 

What many people don’t realize is that rideshare claims are far more complex than standard auto accidents. Multiple insurance policies may apply, including the driver’s personal policy, Uber or Lyft’s commercial coverage, and even supplemental umbrella policies. Each insurer will often try to shift responsibility to someone else, delaying your claim and minimizing what they pay. We cut through that finger-pointing by immediately securing critical evidence, vehicle data, app data, dash-cam footage, witness statements, and traffic-camera recordings to prove exactly how the crash occurred and who is legally responsible. 

If you have been injured as an Uber or Lyft passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist, or another motorist in a rideshare-involved crash anywhere in Rohnert Park or Sonoma County, do not accept any check and do not sign any release until you speak with an experienced attorney. One signature could permanently waive your right to full compensation for medical bills, future treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. 



Call Flahavan Law Offices today or contact us online for your free case evaluation. You trusted Uber or Lyft to get you home safely. When they failed, let us make sure they are held fully accountable and that you are financially protected for the future.