Uber and Lyft Accident Claims in Louisiana

The Uber/Lyft-type (transportation network company) driver, or the company on the driver's behalf, must carry primary auto insurance. While the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request (pre-trip acceptance period), coverage must be at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for death and bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. During a prearranged ride, coverage must be at least $1,000,000 for death, bodily injury and property damage. Both periods must include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required by R.S. 22:1295, and if the driver's insurance lapses or falls short, the company must provide the coverage from the first dollar.

Minimum liability coverage is $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Under the "no pay, no play" rule, an owner or driver who did not carry required coverage cannot recover the first $100,000 of bodily injury damages or the first $100,000 of property damage from an accident, with exceptions (for example, if the other driver is convicted of DWI, caused the crash intentionally, or fled the scene).

Modified comparative fault with a 51% bar, effective January 1, 2026. An injured person who is 51% or more at fault cannot recover damages; a person who is less than 51% at fault has damages reduced by his or her percentage of fault. Fault is assigned to everyone who contributed, including non-parties. Damages are not reduced when the other party was an intentional wrongdoer.

Two years. Delictual (tort) actions, including personal injury claims, are subject to a two-year prescriptive period that begins on the day the injury or damage is sustained. This two-year rule took effect July 1, 2024, when the former one-year rule (Civil Code art. 3492) was repealed.