Uber & Lyft Accident Attorney in Washington State
Rideshare Injury Claims Handled Alongside Workers’ Compensation When Your Job Is on the Line
When a rideshare crash turns your life upside down, the insurance questions start almost immediately. Which policy applies? Who was at fault? What if you were the driver? At Palace Law, we’ve been working through exactly these kinds of questions for injured people across Washington State since 1995. Our team has handled thousands of personal injury claims, including complex cases against large corporations and government entities, and we’ve represented more than 15,000 people in a single class action. We bring that depth of case work to every Uber and Lyft accident claim we take on.
We’re based in University Place, near Tacoma, and we represent clients across Washington State, from Seattle to Spokane. If you were hurt as a passenger, another driver, a pedestrian, or a rideshare driver working at the time of the crash, we’re ready to look at your situation.
Don’t try to navigate rideshare insurance rules on your own. Call us today at (253) 544-5935 for a free consultation with our Washington State rideshare accident attorney, and we can walk you through where you stand.
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- Natalie S.
I had an outstanding experience working with Ciana on a personal injury matter. Without her expertise, I would have never realized that I even had a case. Ciana’s attention to detail and deep understanding of personal injury law were invaluable. She guided me through every step with professionalism and care, ensuring I understood the process and felt supported. Thanks to her diligence and expertise, what could have been overlooked became a well-handled case. I highly recommend Ciana to anyone needing a knowledgeable and dedicated legal professional.
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- Jay R.
Hailey was super helpful and communication was always prompt and professional. Thank you for all your hard work Hailey and the rest of the team at Palace law.
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- Former Client
They are an amazing team and made my case an easy process to cope with. They stayed in great communication with me every step of the way and fought to maximize my profit. Palace Law is hands down THE BEST law firm I’ve dealt with. Attorney John H and assistant Hailey make an amazing team.
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- Sharon R.
I highly recommend Palace Law for your work place injury. I would definitely use them again but hopefully I won’t have to.
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- John A.
I’ve spent the last 7 years working with them and it hasn’t been a easy ride but they work very hard to get the best outcome for there clients. Sandra has done an outstanding job keeping me informed of the process and keeping me feel safe and secure with my future. I couldn’t of asked for a better person and team to help me during this stressful time and working hard to get me what I deserved.
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- Chad F.
Exceptional legal representation! My experience with Kim was outstanding. She was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated to ensuring I received the outcome I deserved. Kim’s communication throughout the process was clear and timely, providing me with peace of mind during a challenging time.
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- Kelly Y.
Aria has been working with me and she is very thorough. I don’t get good sleep at night because of my injury but knowing that Palace Law is on the job gives me peace of mind specially, when they have employees like Aria thanks for letting me give my feedback and putting me in a position to give feedback.
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- Jacob H.
They have been entirely helpful since they accepted my case. Thorough and informative every step of the way. When I had an IME and no gas in my car they arranged for a ride to and from. After fighting tooth and nail myself with little to no results Palace Law stepped in and immediately Sedgwick stopped dragging me through the mud.
How Washington State’s Rideshare Insurance Law Applies to Your Claim
Washington State law, specifically RCW 46.72B.180, sets different required insurance coverage levels depending on what a driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. Getting this right matters because the amount of coverage available can shift dramatically from one period to the next.
The three coverage periods work like this:
- App off: Only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. Many personal policies exclude coverage for rideshare or commercial use, which can leave little or no protection for anyone hurt in this window.
- App on, waiting for a ride request: A minimum of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury applies, plus $30,000 for property damage.
- Ride accepted through passenger drop-off: A $1 million combined single limit of liability coverage applies for death, injury, and property damage. From the moment a passenger enters the vehicle until they exit, underinsured motorist coverage of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident also applies.
Riders, other drivers, pedestrians, and rideshare drivers themselves may all have grounds to pursue compensation. Which coverage applies, and how much, turns on the driver’s app status at the exact moment of impact.
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents in Washington State
Rideshare drivers depend on their smartphones constantly while working. Accepting a ride request, reading messages, and navigating to pickup and drop-off locations all pull attention away from the road. Looking at an app notification or a GPS screen for even a few seconds at highway speed covers a significant distance without the driver’s eyes on traffic.
This built-in reliance on technology is a leading source of distracted driving in rideshare crashes. When distraction is a factor, establishing what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of impact becomes a key part of the liability analysis. App records can be central evidence in these cases, which is one reason preserving them early matters so much.
A Firm Built on Decades of Washington Injury Law
Founding attorney Patrick A. Palace is a past president of the Washington State Bar Association and has been recognized for his leadership in advancing workers’ compensation and personal injury law in Washington State. Our attorneys collectively bring more than 100 years of combined legal experience to case work. That background directly shapes how we approach rideshare accident claims, which sit at the intersection of auto liability, insurance contract law, and, for working drivers, workers’ compensation.
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When You Were Driving for Uber or Lyft at the Time of the Crash
Rideshare drivers occupy an unusual position in Washington injury law. Under ESHB 2076, transportation network companies are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage for drivers during dispatch and passenger platform time. That means a driver hurt on the job may have both a workers’ compensation claim through the Department of Labor and Industries and a personal injury claim against another at-fault driver.
Because we handle both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims, we can look at how a crash affects your health, your income, and your job all at once. You don’t need separate teams working in silos. We review the L&I claim and the third-party injury claim side by side so nothing falls through the gap between them.
How We Handle a Rideshare Accident Case
Each client is assigned a team of attorneys and legal professionals who track medical records, deadlines, court dates, and insurance contacts throughout the case. We coordinate with doctors, Medicare, L&I, and other agencies so you aren’t left managing those contacts yourself. We use modern case management tools to keep everything organized and accessible. When a client couldn’t afford gas to make it to an independent medical exam, we arranged the ride. That kind of practical support is part of how we work, not an exception to it.
Our team offers multilingual services and reflects the diverse communities we serve across Washington State. We provide flexible meeting options and can come to you if travel isn’t possible. Clients receive plain-spoken updates on forms, hearings, and next steps at every stage of their case, so they’re not left guessing about where things stand.
Steps That Protect Your Rideshare Injury Claim
What you do in the days after a rideshare crash can shape what your claim looks like months later. A few practical steps make a real difference.
- Report through the app: Reporting the crash through Uber or Lyft helps preserve the trip data that establishes which insurance period applied at the time of impact.
- Screenshot everything: Capture the trip record, receipt, and driver profile as soon as possible. These are simple to grab in the first days and difficult to reconstruct later.
- Seek medical care promptly: Getting evaluated right away protects your health and creates the medical record your claim depends on. Gaps in treatment can be used against you.
- Be cautious with recorded statements: Insurance adjusters often request a recorded statement within days of a crash. Giving one before speaking with an Uber accident attorney in Washington State carries real risk to your claim.
Talk to Our Team Before the Insurance Company Shapes Your Claim
We offer free initial consultations to evaluate your rideshare accident claim, and we’re available around the clock. If you can’t travel, we can come to you. The sooner we can look at the app data, the coverage period, and your medical situation, the better-positioned we are to evaluate your claim.
Palace Law represents injured people across Washington State, including in Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane. Call us now at (253) 544-5935 to speak with an Uber accident attorney about your Washington State rideshare claim at no cost.
