Injured While Driving for Uber or Lyft in Maryland? Know About Your Legal Rights
If you’re searching for a rideshare accident lawyer Maryland drivers can turn to after an Uber, Lyft, or delivery crash, you’re not alone. These cases often involve multiple insurance policies and timelines that don’t look like a standard car accident claim.
Whether you were transporting a passenger, waiting for a request, or delivering through an app, your next steps matter. This guide breaks down practical actions to take after a collision, what information to gather (including app status and screenshots), and how coverage may apply. If questions come up about fault, medical bills, or missed work, getting informed early can help you make careful, confident decisions.
The gig economy offers incredible flexibility and opportunities for drivers in Maryland, whether you’re shuttling passengers for Uber or Lyft, or delivering meals and groceries through apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. But what happens if the unthinkable occurs and you’re injured in an accident while on the job? The lines can get blurry quickly, and understanding your legal rights is crucial.
At The Law Offices of Nicholas A. Parr, we represent injured individuals in Baltimore and throughout Maryland, and we’ve seen firsthand the complexities that arise when rideshare and delivery drivers are involved in accidents. It’s not as straightforward as a typical car accident, and often, drivers are left confused about where to turn.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Rideshare Driver Classification
When you’re driving for a rideshare or delivery company, you’re not considered a traditional employee. Instead, you’re typically classified as an independent contractor. This distinction isn’t just semantics. It has significant implications for your compensation, liability, and ability to recover damages after an injury.
As an independent contractor in Maryland, you typically don’t have access to:
- Workers’ compensation benefits,
- Employer-provided health insurance,
- Paid sick leave or disability benefits, and
- Unemployment benefits if you can’t work.
This means that if you’re injured while driving, you can’t simply file a workers’ comp claim like a traditional employee would. Your path to compensation is more complex and requires a different legal strategy.
Understanding Insurance Coverage: The Three-Tier System
Rideshare companies, such as Uber and Lyft, use a three-period insurance system that determines what coverage applies when you’re injured. Understanding these periods is crucial to protecting your rights.
Period 1: App Off
When your rideshare app is off, you’re covered only by your personal auto insurance policy. Most personal policies, however, specifically exclude coverage for commercial activities. If you’re in an accident during this time and your insurer discovers you drive for Uber or Lyft, they may deny your claim entirely.
Period 2: App On, Waiting for a Ride Request
Once you turn on the app and are waiting for a passenger request, rideshare companies provide limited liability coverage, typically around $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25 in property damage per accident in Maryland. This coverage is contingent, meaning it only applies if your personal insurance doesn’t cover the accident.
Period 3: En Route to Pickup or During a Trip
From the moment you accept a ride request until you drop off the passenger, you’re covered by the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy. This is when you have the most robust protection, but even this coverage has limitations and exclusions.
What About Delivery Drivers?
If you drive for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, or similar platforms, your insurance situation may be even more precarious. Many delivery platforms provide minimal or no insurance coverage while you’re on delivery. Some offer occupational accident insurance, but these policies often have significant gaps and lower limits than rideshare coverage.
Your Legal Options After an Injury in Maryland
When you’re injured as a rideshare or delivery driver, you may have several potential paths to compensation:
Third-Party Liability Claims
If another driver caused your accident, you can file a claim against their insurance policy. Maryland follows a contributory negligence rule, which means if you’re found even 1% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages. This makes having experienced legal representation essential.
Rideshare Company Insurance Claims
Depending on which period you were in when injured, you may be able to file a claim against Uber or Lyft’s insurance policy. These companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize payouts, so don’t expect a fair settlement without a fight.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance, your own UM/UIM coverage may provide compensation. This is why rideshare drivers should carry substantial UM/UIM coverage on their personal policies.
Occupational Accident Insurance
Some platforms offer occupational accident policies that may cover medical expenses and lost income. However, these policies often have strict reporting deadlines and coverage limitations that can trap unsuspecting drivers.
Premises Liability Claims
If you’re injured due to a dangerous condition on someone’s property while making a delivery, you may have a premises liability claim against the property owner.
Maryland-Specific Legal Considerations
Maryland law creates unique challenges and opportunities for injured rideshare and delivery drivers:
- Contributory negligence: Maryland is one of only a few states that follows pure contributory negligence. If you share any fault—even 1%—you cannot recover damages from other parties. This harsh rule makes thorough accident investigation and strong legal representation critical.
- Statute of limitations: In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, some insurance policies require much shorter notice periods, sometimes as little as 30 days.
- Minimum insurance requirements: Maryland requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. These limits are often insufficient for serious injuries, which is why identifying all available insurance policies is essential.
- Medical bills and insurance: Maryland follows a “collateral source rule,” which means the compensation you receive shouldn’t be reduced because you had health insurance. However, your health insurer may have a right to reimbursement from your settlement.
Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Case
After representing numerous injured rideshare drivers in Maryland, we’ve seen certain mistakes repeatedly undermine valid claims:
- Delaying medical treatment: Waiting to see a doctor—even if you feel “fine” initially—gives insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries aren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident.
- Failing to document the scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and your injuries. Screenshot your app showing you were on a trip. Collect witness contact information.
- Giving recorded statements without legal advice: Insurance adjusters are skilled at getting you to say things that hurt your case. Anything you say can and will be used to devalue or deny your claim.
- Accepting the first settlement offer: Insurance companies, which count on drivers being desperate for quick cash, typically give an offer that is far below what your case is worth.
- Missing reporting deadlines: Both insurance policies and Maryland law impose strict deadlines for reporting accidents and filing claims. Missing these can forfeit your rights entirely.
- Not disclosing your rideshare activity: Some drivers hide their gig work from their personal insurer, which can lead to denied claims and even policy cancellation for fraud.
Why Insurance Companies Fight Rideshare Claims
Uber, Lyft, and their insurers have a financial incentive to pay as little as possible. Common tactics include:
- Arguing you weren’t “on the clock” when injured,
- Claiming your personal policy should cover the accident,
- Alleging pre-existing conditions caused your injuries,
- Using contributory negligence to deny your claim entirely,
- Pressuring you to settle quickly for far less than your case is worth, and
- Disputing the severity of your injuries or necessity of treatment.
Without legal representation, you’re facing billion-dollar companies and their experienced legal teams alone.
Take Action to Protect Your Rights
If you’ve been injured while driving for Uber, Lyft, or a delivery platform in Maryland, don’t navigate this complex legal landscape by yourself. The insurance companies have lawyers protecting their interests, and you deserve the same protection.
At The Law Offices of Nicholas A. Parr, we understand the unique challenges rideshare and delivery drivers face after an injury. We’ve helped numerous gig economy workers throughout Baltimore and Maryland recover the compensation they deserved when insurance companies tried to minimize their claims.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and help you understand what your claim may be worth. You don’t pay unless we win your case.
Don’t let an injury while working destroy your financial future. Call us now to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances. Contact a qualified Maryland personal injury attorney to discuss your individual situation.
