Injured In An Uber Or Lyft In St. Louis — What Are My Rights?

Sansone & Lauber | | Car Accidents
Injured In An Uber Or Lyft In St. Louis

St. Louis depends on rideshare—from Downtown/Ballpark Village to Central West End, The Delmar Loop, Soulard, Clayton, and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Uber and Lyft drivers make quick curbside stops, last-second lane changes, and frequent pickups near venues, hospitals, and campuses.

Add in weather swings, construction zones, and freeway interchanges like I-64/40, I-44, I-55, and I-70, and you’ve got a recipe for complex crashes.

What makes these cases unique:

  • Layered, period-based insurance that changes minute-to-minute with the driver’s app status.

  • Multiple at-fault parties (rideshare driver, another driver, commercial vehicles, property owners).

  • Data-heavy proof (in-app trip logs, GPS breadcrumbs, dashcams, storefront and municipal cameras).

  • Sophisticated claims teams trained to limit exposure early—especially on concussions, herniated discs, and other “invisible” injuries.

Your edge is fast evidence preservation + strategic medical documentation + a Missouri trial firm that rideshare insurers know will litigate. That’s Sansone & Lauber.

Who’s Covered After an Uber/Lyft Crash?

Passengers:
If you were riding in an Uber/Lyft when hurt, you’re generally protected by rideshare commercial insurance during an active trip (from acceptance through drop-off). Depending on the facts, UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist) may also apply.

Other Drivers & Occupants:
Hit by an Uber/Lyft? Coverage depends on the rideshare driver’s app period (off, on without a ride, en route to pickup, transporting a passenger).

Pedestrians & Cyclists:
Struck by a rideshare vehicle? The same period analysis applies. We pursue the highest available limits and every liable party.

Uber/Lyft Drivers (Not at Fault):
If you drive for a rideshare and someone else causes the crash, you can pursue the at-fault driver’s liability insurance and, when applicable, rideshare UM/UIM—critical for Missouri’s frequent hit-and-run and low-limit scenarios.

Uber/Lyft Insurance Periods in Plain English

Coverage turns on app status:

  • Period 0 — App Off: Personal auto policy applies (many policies exclude livery when app is on).

  • Period 1 — App On, No Ride Accepted: Limited contingent liability may apply above personal coverage.

  • Period 2 — Ride Accepted / En Route to Pickup: Higher commercial limits typically activate.

  • Period 3 — Passenger in Vehicle: Highest commercial coverage, often including UM/UIM.

Insurers love to argue “wrong period” or “no coverage.” We match timestamps, GPS, and receipts to the exact period and force the correct policy layer.

What To Do in the First 24–72 Hours (Step-by-Step for Missouri Cases)

Immediately:

  1. Call 911 for police + EMS. Even if you “feel okay,” document the crash.

  2. Take photos/videos: Vehicle positions, plates, Uber/Lyft decals, interior/exterior damage, skid marks, traffic signals, lane markings, weather, visible injuries.

  3. Screenshot the app: Trip screen, driver info, timestamps, pickup/drop-off, route, and your receipt when available.

  4. Get witnesses: Names, phone numbers—record a quick voice memo if needed.

  5. Seek medical care now. Tell the provider you were in a rideshare—mechanism matters.

  6. Call Sansone & Lauber. We send same-day preservation letters for rideshare data and nearby video before it’s overwritten.

Within 72 hours:

  • Follow referrals (urgent care → ortho/neuro/PT as needed).

  • Start a pain & limits journal: Sleep, mobility, headaches, missed work, childcare needs.

  • Track expenses & time off.

  • Avoid recorded statements and broad authorizations until you’ve spoken with us.

In the STL area, useful video can come from storefronts along Washington Ave, garage cams in Clayton, gas stations near interchanges, and airport property. We canvass fast.

Common St. Louis Crash Scenarios—and How We Prove Fault

Rear-Ends at Pickups/Drop-Offs (Downtown, CWE, The Loop)
Abrupt stops to grab a passenger. We analyze dashcam angles, following distance, brake data, and cone/sign placement if curb zones are restricted.

Left-Turn/T-Bone Collisions (City & County Intersections)
Think Kingshighway & Lindell, Grand & Chouteau, Hanley & Brentwood, Olive & I-170. We use signal timing, lane cam footage, and witness sightlines to reconstruct right-of-way.

Dooring into Bike Lanes & Shoulders
Passengers swing doors into cyclists/scooter riders in Downtown, Cherokee, and Forest Park perimeters. We document door swing, lane markings, and visibility.

Freeway Merges & Missed Exits (I-64/40, I-44, I-55, I-70)
Last-second lane changes when the app reroutes. We pair GPS timestamps with traffic/dash cameras to show unsafe maneuvers.

Pedestrian Crosswalk Hits (Ballpark Village, Union Station, The Grove)
Turning rideshares failing to yield. Intersection video, crosswalk beacons, signage, parked-car sightline issues—each piece matters.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups
We allocate fault across multiple drivers, employers (commercial vehicles), and sometimes premises owners to unlock the most coverage.

Missouri Law That Affects Your Claim: Comparative Fault & Key Rules

Comparative Fault (Missouri):
Missouri uses pure comparative fault. That means you can still recover damages even if you’re partially at fault—your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. We minimize that number using human-factors analysis, lighting and sightline studies, phone/app distraction timing, and lane/sign evidence.

Insurance & Rideshare Layers:
Missouri minimum auto limits are often low. In rideshare crashes—especially hit-and-runs or when the at-fault driver has minimal coverage—UM/UIM becomes critical. We stack the right policies in the right order.

Government & Public Entities:
If a government vehicle is involved or a dangerous public property condition contributed (e.g., poor signage, malfunctioning signals), special rules may apply. Timing and procedural steps are strict. Call us quickly so we can preserve your rights.

Damages You Can Recover

Economic Damages

  • ER, imaging (X-ray/CT/MRI), specialist visits, PT, injections, surgery

  • Medications and medical devices (braces, TENS, walkers)

  • Future care: revision surgery, pain procedures, PT “booster” rounds, home/work modifications

  • Lost wages & reduced earning capacity (W-2/1099, gig income documentation)

  • Household/transport services you now have to pay for

  • Out-of-pocket costs (parking, mileage, OTC supplies)

Non-Economic Damages

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional distress, anxiety, sleep disruption

  • Loss of enjoyment of life and hobbies

  • Physical impairment and disfigurement (scarring)

Wrongful Death
If a loved one is lost in a rideshare crash, Missouri wrongful death claims include funeral/burial and other statutory damages for eligible family members.

We can guide you through appointment of a plaintiff ad litem when needed.

We tie objective medical proof to real-life impact so insurers can’t pretend your harm is “just bills.”

Evidence That Moves the Needle

Rideshare App & Telematics

  • Trip accept time, GPS breadcrumbs, speed estimates, pickup/drop timestamps, reroutes

  • In-app messaging/notes tied to the ride

Video Everywhere

  • Dashcams (yours, rideshare driver’s, third parties)

  • Storefront & garage cameras along Olive, Delmar, Washington Ave, Hanley, Manchester, and Kingshighway corridors

  • Municipal/traffic cameras at major intersections and ramps

Vehicle & Scene

  • ECM/black-box data (speed, brake, throttle)

  • Crush profiles, airbag deployment, skid marks, debris

  • Cone/sign placement, construction detours, lane closures, lighting measurements

Medical Record Integrity

  • Prompt, consistent care; specialist referrals; diagnostic confirmation (MRI/EMG when indicated)

  • Work restrictions in writing; vocational limits when injuries persist

We send preservation letters immediately. If evidence “disappears,” we pursue appropriate remedies.

Timelines & Deadlines in Missouri—Protect the Clock

  • General personal injury statute of limitations in Missouri: commonly 5 years from the date of injury (different rules can apply depending on claim type/defendant).

  • Wrongful death: different deadline (often shorter).

  • Claims involving public entities: strict procedural requirements and shorter timelines may apply.

Because details vary—and missing a deadline can end a valid case—call us right away so we can lock down evidence and calendars.

(This is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation.)

Special Situations We Handle Regularly

Hit-and-Run (common in STL metro):
We trigger UM coverage (yours or rideshare’s), pull route cameras, and coordinate with law enforcement. Report quickly to strengthen your claim.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport:
Pickup zones, shuttles, and curb congestion create unique hazards. We request airport video, ground-transport logs, and shuttle operator records, and we analyze premises vs. auto liability angles.

Minor Children as Passengers:
Court approval of settlements may be required. We design future-care plans sensitive to growth and development.

Uber/Lyft Drivers (Not at Fault):
We coordinate claims to access rideshare UM/UIM, document booking revenue loss, and protect your right to treat.

Multiple At-Fault Parties:
We divide liability across drivers, employers, and property owners to reach multiple insurance policies, raising your recovery ceiling.

“What’s My Case Worth?”—Real Drivers of Value in Missouri

  • Liability clarity: Video and app data beat “he said/she said.”

  • Injury severity & permanence: Fractures, ligament tears, herniations, TBI, CRPS, surgery.

  • Medical proof & treatment consistency: Objective findings + documented progress.

  • Future care & economics: Life-care plans, vocational limits, economist projections.

  • Venue: City vs. County juries, and where the suit is filed.

  • Insurance limits & number of defendants: Rideshare layers, UM/UIM, commercial umbrellas.

We give honest, evidence-based ranges as the medical picture matures—never a one-size-fits-all “multiplier.”

Costly Mistakes That Shrink Settlements

  • Delaying medical care or skipping follow-ups (creates “gap in treatment”).

  • Giving recorded statements to any insurer before you have counsel.

  • Posting on social media about activities that undercut your claimed limits.

  • Failing to preserve the app screenshots (trip, route, receipts).

  • Admitting fault to adjusters without knowing how Missouri comparative fault works.

  • Settling before maximum medical improvement (MMI).

Call Sansone & Lauber first. We protect your claim while you focus on getting better.

FAQs for Uber/Lyft Injury Victims in St. Louis

Q: I was a passenger. Do I have a case even if my Uber/Lyft driver wasn’t at fault?
A: Yes. Passengers can recover from the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and, where appropriate, rideshare UM/UIM—especially helpful in hit-and-run or low-limit situations.

Q: The insurer says the driver was on the “wrong period.” What does that mean?
A: Rideshare coverage depends on the app status. We match receipts, GPS, and timestamps to force the correct policy layer.

Q: I was hit as a pedestrian by a Lyft—what now?
A: You may pursue rideshare liability coverage if the driver was on the app. If the driver fled or has low limits, UM/UIM can fill the gap.

Q: I’m an Uber driver hurt by another driver—can I claim lost income?
A: Yes. We pursue the at-fault driver and, when applicable, rideshare UM/UIM, documenting your booking history and capacity loss.

Q: How long will my Missouri rideshare case take?
A: It depends on medical recovery, liability disputes, and insurer cooperation. We push for fair resolution at the right time—and file suit when needed.

Q: Do I pay you up front?
A: No. We work on a contingency fee—no fee unless we win.

Why Choose Sansone & Lauber

  • Missouri Rideshare Focus: We know STL corridors, cameras, and insurer tactics.

  • Rapid Evidence Preservation: Same-day letters for app data, dashcams, storefront/garage video, and traffic cameras.

  • Medical & Economic Firepower: Access to top specialists, life-care planners, vocational experts, and economists.

  • UM/UIM Strategy: We structure claims to trigger the right coverage layers and protect you under your own policy.

  • Trial-Ready Approach: Insurers know which firms try cases—leverage that moves numbers.

  • Client-Centered: Clear communication, frequent updates, and relentless advocacy. No fee unless we win.

Free Consultation—What Happens When You Call Us

  1. We listen to your story and answer urgent questions (medical, rental, work).

  2. We act fast—preserving rideshare data and nearby video, notifying insurers properly.

  3. We coordinate care so records support both healing and proof.

  4. We build leverage with evidence, negotiate hard, and file suit if they won’t be fair.

Injured in an Uber or Lyft anywhere in St. Louis or the surrounding metro?

Call Sansone & Lauber for a FREE case review at 314-863-0500. 

We’ll protect your rights, preserve the evidence, and fight for maximum compensation. No fee until we win.