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$1.45 Million
Car Accident Case
Charleston Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers
When a rideshare vehicle is involved in a crash, recovering compensation is far more complicated than after an ordinary collision, and the Charleston Uber accident lawyers at Steinberg Law Firm can identify which policy applies, how much coverage exists, and who is actually responsible.
For a free case review, call us at 843-720-2800.
Representing Injured People Since 1927
A Legal Team on Your Side
Uber and Lyft are woven into daily life in Charleston, from late-night King Street pickups to early-morning runs to Charleston International Airport. That convenience carries a cost.
One question decides almost everything after an Uber crash in South Carolina. What was the driver doing on the app at the moment of impact? Answer that, and you know which policy pays, how much coverage exists, and who you are actually fighting. Get it wrong, and you may file against an insurer that owes you nothing.
You can trust our clients:
Mr. Crosland was very personable and very knowledgeable concerning my Auto Accident. He was able to give us a very fair and much appreciated settlement. If I ever need to be represented again, I would not hesitate to use the Steinberg Law Firm. - Cole
Answering Your Questions
Assessing liability for an Uber accident is not always as simple as it may seem for an accident victim.
Who is liable for my damages after an Uber accident in Charleston, SC?
South Carolina answers the question by statute. The Transportation Network Company Act, codified at S.C. Code Ann. §§ 58-23-1610 et seq., splits an Uber driver's shift into distinct coverage windows. Sitting idle with the app off puts the driver under an ordinary personal policy. Logging on and waiting for a ping triggers a mid-level tier. Accepting a ride or carrying a passenger unlocks a full million dollars. Those windows can shift in seconds, which is exactly why these claims turn adversarial so fast.
Which Insurance Pays After an Uber Crash in South Carolina?
There are three coverage periods, and the statute defines each one precisely. Where your crash falls determines the money available:
- App off. The driver is not working. Only a personal auto policy applies, subject to South Carolina's minimum limits under S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140
- App on, no ride accepted. Section 58-23-1630(B) requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person for death or bodily injury, $100,000 per incident, and $50,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage under § 38-77-150.
- Prearranged ride in progress. Section 58-23-1630(C) requires TNCs to maintain at least $1 million in primary automobile liability insurance covering death, bodily injury, and property damage combined during a prearranged ride in progress.
Note where that third window opens. Under § 58-23-1610(9), a prearranged ride begins the instant a driver accepts the request, not when the passenger climbs in, and it ends when the last rider steps out. A driver racing across the peninsula toward a pickup already sits inside the million-dollar tier.
Does Uber's $1 Million Insurance Policy Always Apply?
No, and this misunderstanding costs injured people real money. That million dollars attaches only during a prearranged ride. Should an Uber driver strike you while cruising for a fare with an empty back seat, you are looking at the $50,000 tier rather than seven figures. Serious injuries can exhaust that amount before anyone finishes reading your first MRI report.
Coverage gaps matter enormously here, which makes your own underinsured motorist policy worth reviewing early. Our attorneys check every available layer rather than accepting the first policy an adjuster mentions.
Practice Areas
Results
WE HAVE RECOVERED OVER $1 BILLION FOR CLIENTS, INCLUDING:
$3.15 Million
Truck Accident with Car
$1.45 Million
Fatal Car Crash
$1.3 Million
Drunk Driving Car Accident
Can Your Own Insurance Deny an Uber Accident Claim?
Yes, and South Carolina law expressly permits it.
Under § 58-23-1625(A), an insurer writing personal auto coverage in South Carolina may exclude coverage under a personal policy while the driver is logged onto the Uber network but has not yet accepted a ride request (Period 1); however, TNC-provided insurance coverage is required during Period 2 (ride accepted) and Period 3 (passenger in vehicle), so personal-policy exclusions do not apply across all phases of a rideshare trip. Liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist, medical payments, comprehensive, and collision can all vanish the moment the app goes live.
Drivers frequently learn this after a wreck rather than before.
South Carolina's Transportation Network Company Act, S.C. Code Ann. §§ 58-23-1610 et seq., establishes insurance requirements for TNCs like Uber across different operational periods, which may include disclosure obligations—consult the full statute for specifics.
§ 58-23-1630(A) and (B)
Under § 58-23-1630(A) and (B), a TNC driver or the TNC on the driver's behalf must maintain primary automobile insurance covering the driver while logged onto the digital network or engaged in a prearranged ride. Under § 58-23-1630(C), an automobile insurer that has validly excluded coverage has no duty to defend or indemnify excluded claims; however, an insurer that does defend such a claim may seek contribution from other applicable insurers. Subsection (D) separately requires TNCs and insurers to cooperate and share information, such as driver login/logout times, during a claims coverage investigation.
What Crash Data Shows About Rideshare Accident Risk in South Carolina
Numbers give useful context to a claim that can otherwise feel like your word against a corporation's. Several findings stand out.
Research from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which tracked Uber and Lyft rollouts across major cities between 2001 and 2016, associated the arrival of ride-hailing with roughly a 3% rise in motor vehicle fatalities, amounting to close to 987 additional deaths annually. Uber's own US Safety Report documented 127 fatal crashes resulting in 153 deaths across 2021 and 2022, up from 91 fatal crashes and 101 deaths in the 2019 to 2020 cycle. Uber reports its motor vehicle fatality rate is roughly half the national average and, in its second report, attributes 94% of fatalities to third-party drivers rather than Uber drivers.
Locally, South Carolina recorded 1,035 traffic deaths during the federal fiscal year 2023-2024. Charleston's tourism volume, late-night King Street traffic, and steady runs to Charleston International Airport concentrate rideshare activity in exactly the conditions where those statewide numbers get made. The same pattern holds across the Lowcountry, from Mount Pleasant and Daniel Island to West Ashley, James Island, Summerville, Goose Creek, and North Charleston.
Local Rideshare Activity
Deadlines That Apply to Your Charleston Uber Accident Claim
Timing is unforgiving. Most injury claims in South Carolina carry a three-year filing deadline under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), measured from the date of the crash.
Wrongful death actions follow a separate framework under S.C. Code Ann. §§ 15-51-10 et seq. Claims involving a governmental vehicle or entity may require notice far sooner.
Evidence disappears well before any of those clocks run out. App data, dashcam footage, and vehicle telematics all sit on retention schedules measured in weeks. Reaching a lawyer within days protects proof that no deadline extension can be recovered.
Glen: Seriously injured in a car accident. Represented by the Steinberg Law Firm.
Why Choose The Steinberg Law Firm
What South Carolina Requires of Uber and Lyft Drivers
Uber must screen and monitor its drivers, and any failures in that regard can open a separate claim against the company.
State requirements under § 58-23-1650 include:
- A valid driver's license and a minimum age of 21.
- A certified ten-year driving record from the DMV is required.
- Local and national criminal background checks, including a sex offender registry search, are conducted.
- Proof of personal liability insurance meeting § 38-77-140 is necessary.
- Annual reverification of every one of those items is also required.
Uber designates their drivers as independent contractors, and thus, they are not considered to be employees of the company.
Section 58-23-1650(F)
Section 58-23-1650(F) further bars anyone convicted of DUI within the past ten years from driving on the platform.
Vehicles carry their own obligations under § 58-23-1640, which mandates a licensed mechanic's inspection within thirty days of first service and annual inspections covering brakes, steering, tires, lights, and safety belts. Should Uber have approved a driver or vehicle that these rules excluded, that lapse becomes evidence.
What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Crash in Charleston
Your first hours shape the entire claim. Work through these as soon as you safely can:
- Call 911 and make sure an officer creates a report, which becomes the anchor document for every insurer involved.
- Take a screenshot of your trip in the Uber app, including the driver's name, vehicle, and ride status.
- Photograph both vehicles, the roadway, visible injuries, and the scene from several angles.
- Ask the driver directly whether they were logged on or carrying a passenger,since § 58-23-1630(H) requires them to say.
- Get a medical evaluation the same day, because spine and head injuries often surface later.
- Decline to record statements to any insurer until counsel reviews your situation.
Preserved early, this information usually resolves the coverage dispute before it starts. If you were seriously injured in an Uber accident, contact our firm today to learn more about your options.
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FAQs About Uber Accident Claims in South Carolina
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What Our Attorneys Can Do For You
If you were injured in an Uber car accident, contact an Uber accident attorney today at Steinberg Law Firm to get the compensation you deserve.
Our experienced lawyers know how to build your case to pursue the best outcome for you and your family. We have the resources and knowledge to investigate the circumstances of your accident and to deal with insurance companies so you do not have to. We are committed to offering our clients high-quality legal representation.
