Accidents during Period 1—when the rideshare app is on but the driver hasn't accepted a ride—present unique insurance challenges. This waiting period has the lowest coverage limits, creating potential gaps that can leave accident victims undercompensated.

Understanding Period 1 Coverage

When a rideshare driver has the app active but is waiting for a ride request, insurance coverage is significantly limited compared to active rides:

Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. This is far less than the $1 million coverage available during active rides.

"Contingent" means secondary: The rideshare coverage only activates if the driver's personal insurance denies the claim, is insufficient to cover damages, or excludes rideshare activity. The personal policy must respond first.

No collision coverage is provided for vehicle damage during Period 1, and uninsured motorist coverage may be limited or unavailable.

The Personal Insurance Problem

Many personal auto policies exclude commercial driving activity. When a driver is logged into a rideshare app, personal insurers may deny claims, arguing the driver was engaged in commercial activity:

Some policies specifically exclude rideshare driving

Others exclude any commercial vehicle use

Coverage may be voided if the insurer discovers undisclosed rideshare activity

This creates a dangerous gap: personal insurance denies the claim because of rideshare activity, but rideshare coverage is minimal during the waiting period.

Impact on Accident Victims

For those injured by a rideshare driver during Period 1, the limited coverage can be problematic:

Serious injuries may exceed limits: The $50,000 per-person limit may be inadequate for significant medical expenses, particularly injuries requiring surgery, hospitalization, or long-term treatment.

Multiple victims share coverage: The $100,000 per-accident limit must cover all injured parties, potentially leaving each victim with only a fraction of their damages.

Pursuing the driver personally may be necessary if insurance is insufficient, though many drivers lack significant personal assets.

Proving the Period

Disputes often arise about whether an accident occurred during Period 1 or a higher-coverage period. Evidence matters:

App data from Uber or Lyft shows exactly when ride requests were accepted and when the driver was merely available.

GPS tracking can indicate whether the driver was stationary (likely waiting) or traveling toward a pickup location (Period 2).

Passenger presence: If no passenger was in the vehicle and the driver wasn't actively traveling to a pickup, Period 1 likely applies.

Maximizing Your Recovery

If injured during a Period 1 rideshare accident:

Pursue all available coverage including the driver's personal policy (even if a denial is expected) and rideshare contingent coverage.

Document injuries thoroughly to establish damages exceeding policy limits, preserving claims against the driver personally.

Investigate driver assets—some drivers may have homeowners' insurance umbrella policies or other assets that can satisfy judgments.

Consult an attorney who can navigate the complex coverage issues and identify all potential sources of compensation.