Pasadena, California
In an Uber or Lyft crash, the coverage that applies depends on what the driver's app was doing at the moment of the collision. California sets those tiers by statute in Public Utilities Code § 5433, and the first job in a Pasadena rideshare claim is proving which tier applies.
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Public Utilities Code § 5433 sets the tiers. With the app off, only the driver's personal policy applies. With the app on and the driver waiting for a match, the statute requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for death and injury, plus $30,000 for property damage. From acceptance of a ride through completion of the trip, the statute requires at least $1,000,000 in coverage.
Which tier applies is a factual question answered by the trip record, not by the driver's recollection. We request that record early, with the police report and any footage.
Most Pasadena rideshare conflicts happen at the curb: a driver stopping in a travel lane on Colorado Blvd or Fair Oaks Ave, a passenger opening a door into a bike lane, or a pickup blocking a crosswalk. Vehicle Code § 22517 prohibits opening a door into traffic when it is not reasonably safe, and that applies to passengers as well as drivers.
Cameras on Old Pasadena storefronts and in the Paseo and city garages often capture these collisions, and that footage overwrites quickly.
Screenshot the trip in the app: driver name, vehicle, times and route. That screenshot is often the cleanest proof of app status.
Report the collision — Vehicle Code § 20008 requires a written report to the investigating agency within 24 hours if no officer took one at the scene — and get evaluated at Huntington Hospital on West California Blvd.
If the driver had accepted your ride or the trip was underway, Public Utilities Code § 5433 requires at least $1,000,000 in coverage for that period. If another driver caused the crash, their policy is also in play. Passengers rarely face a fault argument, so the question is which policies respond and in what order.
Vehicle Code § 22517 prohibits opening a door on the traffic side when it is not reasonably safe, and it applies to passengers. Depending on where the driver stopped, the driver and the rideshare coverage may also be involved, which is why app status and the trip record still matter.
Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). If a city, county, or state agency is a defendant — a municipal vehicle, a dangerous roadway condition, a public sidewalk — you generally have six months to present a written government claim first (Government Code § 911.2). Talk to a lawyer early so a deadline never decides the case for you.
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Call (323) 850-0101Disclaimer: This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Hollywood Injury Law Center — Bash & Polyachenko P.C. is licensed to practice law in California.
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