Work With a Local Boston Rideshare Accident Lawyer Who Has Your Back
Brooks Law Firm keeps you in the loop at every stage, in plain language, as many times as it takes for things to make sense. If you or a loved one don’t speak English, we serve you in Spanish or Portuguese too, with no interpreters and no middlemen.
When you choose Brooks Law Firm, you also get:
- Contingency fee structure: You pay nothing out of pocket. Legal representation starts right away, so you can focus on recovering.
- Direct communication in your language: You work directly with a dedicated attorney who speaks your language.
- A personalized legal plan: We shape a strategy around the specific facts of your accident and the insurance policies involved.
- 24-business-hour callback commitment: Calls and emails are answered directly by our team, not a virtual assistant.
- Real command of rideshare insurance: Uber and Lyft cases involve layered commercial and personal policies most attorneys rarely handle correctly.
- Recovery of trip data and GPS records: We know how to request and preserve this evidence before the platform deletes it.
- Experience with TNC legal teams: Uber and Lyft’s in-house teams work to hold payouts down. We know how to push back.
The Rideshare Accident Cases We Handle
Brooks Law Firm handles the full range of Uber and Lyft accident cases across Boston, from rides around the universities to downtown pickups and drop-offs in the busiest parts of the city. If your situation isn’t listed below, call (617) 245-8090 for a free case review.
When a Passenger Is Hurt During a Ride
If you were an Uber or Lyft passenger injured by your driver’s negligence or by another driver on the road, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Under Massachusetts law, a rideshare driver must carry substantial liability insurance once a trip has been accepted or a passenger is aboard. That coverage can come from the TNC’s policy, the driver’s personal policy, or a mix of the two, and the amount and source that actually apply turn on the specific facts of your accident, under M.G.L. c. 159A½, § 5 and M.G.L. c. 175, § 228. We help identify every available source of coverage and pursue the full amount owed.
When a Rideshare Vehicle Strikes You
If a rideshare driver hit you — whether you were in another vehicle, on a bike, or on foot — your compensation depends on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. Massachusetts law treats rideshare coverage differently based on the driver’s status at that moment, and those details can significantly affect how much compensation is available.
If you were on foot when it happened, our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers can explain how this overlaps with a standard pedestrian claim.
Related article: What Happens After a Pedestrian Is Hit by a Car in Massachusetts?
Injuries to Rideshare Drivers
If you drive for Uber or Lyft and were hurt while working, your situation comes with its own set of insurance questions. Your personal auto policy may not cover you during rideshare activity, and whether the TNC’s coverage applies — and how much — depends on which period was active at the time of the crash. We help identify every available source of recovery, including third-party liability claims and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Crashes With an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver
When a rideshare driver or third-party driver doesn’t carry enough insurance, recovering fair compensation can feel out of reach. We handle uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) claims under both the TNC’s policy and any applicable personal policies, so you’re not left without options.
Multi-Party and Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Some rideshare accidents involve more than two vehicles or several potentially liable parties: the rideshare driver, a third-party driver, a vehicle manufacturer in cases of mechanical failure, or even a municipality responsible for dangerous road conditions. These cases call for careful investigation to identify every liable party and every source of coverage.
Hit-and-Run Rideshare Crashes
If a rideshare vehicle struck you and fled, or a hit-and-run driver struck the rideshare vehicle you were riding in, there are still real paths to compensation. We investigate, request trip data and GPS records from the TNC platform, and pursue claims through uninsured motorist coverage.
What Is My Rideshare Accident Case Worth?
Short answer: there’s no fixed formula. Case value depends on the specific facts, and rideshare cases often involve multiple overlapping insurance policies. The only reliable way to learn what your case is worth is a free case evaluation at (617) 245-8090.
Rideshare cases can pull in the driver’s personal insurer, the TNC’s commercial policy, and potentially a third-party driver’s insurer, all at once. We understand how these policies interact, which lets us give you a realistic, straightforward picture of what to expect, not a guess from an AI search summary or an online calculator.
How severe your injuries are, your current and future medical costs, lost wages, and the overall impact on your life all feed into your claim’s value.
You may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Reduced earning ability
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Scarring or permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Additional losses such as travel to medical appointments, in-home assistance, childcare, or home modifications
How Rideshare Accident Compensation Works in Massachusetts
When it comes to compensation for your injuries, the term “damages” refers to the losses you’ve suffered, both financially and in terms of physical and psychological impact. The goal of a rideshare claim is to help you return, as nearly as possible, to where you were before the accident.
Massachusetts governs rideshare insurance specifically through M.G.L. c. 159A½, § 5 and M.G.L. c. 175, § 228, which require different levels of coverage depending on the driver’s activity at the time of the accident: more when a trip was accepted or a passenger was aboard, less when the driver was simply logged in and waiting, and generally just the driver’s personal policy if the app was off entirely. This coverage can come from the TNC, the driver’s own policy, or a combination of both, and depending on your accident, other coverage may apply as well.
Massachusetts also follows a modified comparative negligence rule under M.G.L. c. 231, § 85. If you’re found partially at fault, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. As long as you’re under 51% at fault, you can still recover.
If you carry Massachusetts auto insurance, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage under M.G.L. c. 90, § 34M can cover up to $8,000 in initial medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault. To pursue a pain-and-suffering claim, your medical expenses generally must exceed $2,000, or your injuries must meet the seriousness threshold under M.G.L. c. 231, § 6D.
The Arguments Uber, Lyft, and Their Insurers Will Make
Rideshare companies and their insurers have processed thousands of accident claims and know exactly how to limit what injured people recover. Here’s what to expect:
- “The driver was an independent contractor, not our employee.” Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, which can make it harder to hold the company directly liable. It doesn’t erase your right to compensation through the TNC’s commercial insurance policy, which is what we pursue.
- “The app was off, so our policy doesn’t apply.” Insurers will dispute which period was active at the time of your crash. Without trip data, GPS records, and platform logs, this argument can go unchallenged. We know how to obtain and use that data.
- “Your injuries aren’t that serious.” Early medical records matter enormously. If you delayed treatment or downplayed your symptoms, the insurer may use that against you. We connect you with appropriate medical providers early to help make sure your injuries are fully documented.
- “You were partially at fault.” Under Massachusetts’ modified comparative negligence rule, any fault attributed to you reduces your recovery. We build your case with evidence, witness statements, camera footage, and platform records to counter unsupported fault arguments.
How Long Does a Rideshare Accident Settlement Take?
Some claims settle soon after a demand letter goes out. Others require litigation, a trial, or an appeal, and rideshare cases can run longer than a standard car accident claim given the multiple parties and policies usually involved. Many Massachusetts negligence cases are placed on the court’s “Fast Track” (about a year); more complex cases go on the “Average Track” (three years or longer).
Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident
Get Medical Care Right Away
Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, call 911 and get evaluated even if you feel fine. Internal injuries and soft-tissue damage aren’t always obvious at first.
Capture the Scene
Photograph all vehicles, license plates, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries. If you were a passenger, screenshot your trip in the Uber or Lyft app before closing it. This confirms the trip was active and which driver was assigned to you. Note any nearby cameras for your attorney to follow up on.
File a Report
Make sure the Boston Police Department files an official report, and also report the accident through the Uber or Lyft app so the platform creates its own record. Keep any statement to the company limited to what’s necessary to report the crash.
Track Your Losses
Hold on to ER bills, treatment records, prescription receipts, physical therapy invoices, and proof of missed wages.
Handle Adjusters With Care
Whether it’s the driver’s personal insurer, the TNC’s commercial insurer, or your own, steer clear of recorded statements, admitting fault, or accepting an early offer before you talk with a lawyer.
Talk to a Rideshare Accident Attorney in Boston, MA
You generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a claim in Massachusetts, under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A, but rideshare platforms may not keep trip data indefinitely, so acting quickly matters. An attorney can also handle all communication with insurance companies for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing out of pocket. Brooks Law Firm works on contingency. Our fee is a percentage of your final settlement. If we don’t recover compensation, you generally don’t owe attorney’s fees.
It depends on the circumstances. TNCs must maintain insurance coverage for incidents during active rideshare periods, but because Uber and Lyft classify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, holding the company itself directly liable can be difficult. We evaluate the strongest path to recovery, whether through the TNC’s policy, the driver’s personal policy, or both.
You’re not required to, but rideshare cases are more complex than standard car accident claims. Multiple insurance policies may apply, the TNC has its own legal team limiting exposure, and figuring out which coverage period applied requires trip data you likely can’t get on your own.
Be cautious. Initial offers are usually lower than what your claim is worth, especially before the full extent of your injuries is known.
Under M.G.L. c. 231, § 85, you can still recover as long as you’re found less than 51% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Yes. Massachusetts law protects everyone injured by another person’s negligence, regardless of citizenship or documentation status. In most rideshare accident cases, immigration status simply isn’t relevant to how the claim is decided. Immigration is also part of our practice at Brooks Law Firm.
Many claims settle before any lawsuit is needed. If litigation becomes necessary, smaller civil claims are typically filed in the Boston Municipal Court (its Central Division sits at the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114), while larger matters — generally those seeking more than $25,000 — go to Suffolk County Superior Court (3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108).
It depends on the driver’s status at the time, and honestly, that’s just the starting point. Massachusetts law requires different levels of coverage depending on whether a trip was accepted, a passenger was aboard, or the driver was simply logged into the app, and that coverage can come from the TNC, the driver’s personal policy, or both. If the app was off entirely, typically only the driver’s personal auto policy applies. The coverage actually available in your case depends on the specific facts, which is exactly what we help sort out. Call (617) 245-8090 and we’ll walk through it together.
Hire an Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Boston, MA
Bringing on a local Boston rideshare accident lawyer from Brooks Law Firm can give you real peace of mind and a much stronger shot at the compensation you deserve. Rideshare accidents carry layers of legal and insurance complexity that are hard to manage alone. Don’t try to face Uber, Lyft, or their insurers without an experienced attorney in your corner.
You and your family shouldn’t have to shoulder the financial and emotional costs of an accident someone else caused. Let us help you get the justice and fair compensation you need to move forward. Call us at (617) 245-8090 or fill out our contact form to set up a free, confidential consultation.