East Providence Rideshare Accident Lawyer

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Last Updated: September 10, 2026
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Injured in an Uber or Lyft Crash? Our East Providence Rideshare Accident Attorneys Can Help

A rideshare crash can leave passengers, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians facing emergency treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about who will pay for any of it.

Uber and Lyft accidents can involve additional issues beyond an ordinary car accident, including the rideshare driver’s app status and the insurance requirements that apply during different stages of a trip.

An East Providence rideshare accident lawyer can investigate the collision, determine which insurance policies may provide coverage, seek relevant trip and app records, and pursue compensation for losses supported by the evidence.

Marasco & Nesselbush represents injured people throughout East Providence and Rhode Island and can explain the next steps in a rideshare accident claim.

Marasco & Nesselbush: Representing Rhode Islanders Since 1999

A rideshare accident can involve the Uber or Lyft driver, another motorist, and multiple insurance policies.

The coverage available may depend in part on whether the rideshare driver was offline, waiting for a request, traveling to pick up a passenger, or completing a ride.

Since 1999, Marasco & Nesselbush has represented Rhode Islanders injured in serious motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury cases.

Our team brings more than 350 years of combined experience, and the firm has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients across its personal injury practice.

Our attorneys investigate how rideshare accidents occur, preserve available evidence, review applicable insurance coverage, and document losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Our bilingual team communicates with clients in English or Spanish throughout the claim.

If you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, Marasco & Nesselbush can review what happened, evaluate which insurance coverage may apply, and explain your legal options under Rhode Island law.

We offer free consultations and handle qualifying rideshare accident claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact Marasco & Nesselbush today or use the chat feature on this page to speak with an East Providence rideshare accident lawyer.

Why Rideshare Accident Victims in East Providence Choose Marasco & Nesselbush

A rideshare crash can involve issues that may not arise in a typical car accident.

Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve the rideshare driver, the at fault driver’s insurer, a rideshare insurance policy, or questions about whether personal auto insurance applies.

Marasco & Nesselbush has represented Rhode Island injury victims since 1999.

Our attorneys understand how personal injury law applies to motor vehicle accidents and can investigate the additional insurance and digital evidence issues that may arise when Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing companies are involved.

Rideshare accident victims in East Providence choose Marasco & Nesselbush for:

  • Experience representing injured Rhode Islanders: Our attorneys have handled serious auto accident and personal injury cases for more than 25 years.
  • Rideshare insurance analysis: An Uber and Lyft accident lawyer from our team can review the driver’s app status, available car insurance policies, and other coverage that may apply to the crash.
  • Evidence preservation: We can seek trip records, app information, the accident report, photographs, witness statements, and other available evidence that may help establish how the collision occurred.
  • Identification of responsible parties: Depending on the facts, liability may involve the rideshare driver, another motorist, a vehicle owner, an employer, or another responsible party.
  • Handling insurance communications: Our attorneys can communicate with insurance carriers and adjusters while documenting the injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and other losses caused by the accident.
  • Access to qualified experts when needed: Some claims may benefit from medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, economists, or other qualified experts who can address disputed issues.
  • English- and Spanish-language support: Our bilingual team can communicate with clients throughout the claim and explain the evidence, insurance issues, and legal process in clear terms.

Rideshare accident claims can differ significantly depending on how the crash happened and what the driver was doing through the app at the time.

Marasco & Nesselbush evaluates each claim individually to determine what evidence, insurance coverage, and legal options may be available.

Our East Providence Rideshare Accident Attorneys Get Results

Although the cases listed below were not necessarily rideshare accident claims, they demonstrate the experience our attorneys bring to claims involving serious, permanent, or fatal harm.

Results in one matter may say little about another, and nothing listed here is a promise about what a different claim might bring.

Examples of case results obtained by our attorneys include:

  • $6.2 Million Awarded: Recovered for a client who sustained serious injuries in a rollover crash caused by a distracted driver.
  • $4.5 Million Recovered: Secured for a client who sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident.
  • $2.5 Million Awarded: Obtained for the estate of a woman after an investigation uncovered the truth about a fatal pedestrian accident.
  • $1.25 Million Recovered: Obtained on behalf of a young woman injured as a passenger in a recklessly operated vehicle.
  • $1.025 Million Pre-Trial Award: Recovered for a brain injury survivor who was struck by a vehicle while walking.

Each of those recoveries began with an investigation opened long before any insurance company discussed a figure.

Common Causes of Uber and Lyft Accidents in East Providence

Accidents involving rideshare vehicles can result from many of the same forms of negligence involved in other motor vehicle crashes, including distracted driving, speeding, unsafe lane changes, and failure to yield. Rideshare driving can also involve additional demands, such as following app-based directions, locating passengers, and making frequent pickups and drop-offs in unfamiliar areas.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Safety Research found that one-third of the rideshare drivers surveyed reported having been involved in a work-related crash.

The researchers also found increased crash risk among drivers who frequently drove while tired, traveled on unfamiliar roads, or completed 10 or more rideshare trips per day.

Common factors that may contribute to Uber and Lyft accidents include:

  • Distracted driving: A rideshare driver may be interacting with navigation, ride requests, passenger information, or other app features while operating the vehicle.
  • Driver fatigue: Many rideshare drivers work long or irregular hours, and fatigue can reduce attention, reaction time, and judgment behind the wheel.
  • Unfamiliar roads: Drivers frequently rely on GPS directions while traveling through areas they may not know well, which can contribute to sudden turns, missed exits, or unsafe lane changes.
  • Speeding and unsafe driving: A driver who speeds, follows another vehicle too closely, runs a traffic signal, or makes an unsafe maneuver may cause a collision.
  • Unsafe pickups and drop-offs: Stopping suddenly, double parking, pulling into traffic, or allowing passengers to enter or exit in an unsafe location can contribute to crashes involving rideshare vehicles.
  • Negligence by another motorist: An Uber or Lyft driver does not have to cause the collision. Another driver may be responsible because of distraction, impairment, speeding, failure to yield, or another traffic violation.
  • Road and weather conditions: Construction, poor visibility, snow, ice, standing water, or damaged roadways can contribute to a crash, particularly when a driver fails to adjust to the conditions.

Determining the cause of a rideshare crash is important because it can affect which parties and insurance policies may be involved.

Police reports, witness accounts, photographs, vehicle damage, app records, and other evidence may help establish fault when insurance adjusters dispute how the accident occurred.

Injured and not sure what your case is worth? Find out for free.

Common Rideshare Accident Injuries in East Providence

People using rideshare services can suffer injuries in rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, side impacts, pedestrian accidents, and other types of motor vehicle collisions.

The severity of an injury depends on factors such as the speed and direction of impact, the person’s position in or around the vehicle, and whether appropriate restraints were in use.

Passengers are not the only people who may be injured in a rideshare accident. Uber and Lyft drivers, occupants of other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians can also suffer serious or lasting harm.

Common injuries associated with rideshare accidents include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries: A collision can cause a concussion or more serious brain injury when the head strikes a window, seat, dashboard, or another surface. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or changes in mood.
  • Spinal cord injuries: Severe trauma to the spine can damage the spinal cord and may result in weakness, sensory loss, reduced mobility, or paralysis in the most serious cases.
  • Neck and back injuries: Whiplash, herniated discs, vertebral fractures, muscle strains, and nerve injuries can cause pain and restricted movement and may require ongoing treatment.
  • Broken bones: Motor vehicle crashes can cause fractures involving the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, wrists, ankles, or other parts of the body. Treatment may include immobilization, surgery, rehabilitation, or physical therapy depending on the injury.
  • Internal injuries: Blunt-force trauma can injure internal organs or cause internal bleeding that may require emergency medical treatment.
  • Soft tissue injuries: Damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments can cause pain, swelling, weakness, and limitations on movement.
  • Emotional and psychological injuries: A serious crash may contribute to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or other emotional effects that can become part of the damages analysis when supported by appropriate evidence.
  • Catastrophic injuries: Severe brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and other permanent injuries may require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, or changes to a person’s daily life.

Some injuries are immediately apparent after a collision, while others may become more noticeable in the hours or days that follow.

Medical records, diagnostic testing, treatment history, and expert opinions can help document the extent of the injuries and whether they were caused or aggravated by the crash.

Personal injury attorneys can use this evidence to evaluate the medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, future treatment needs, and other losses that may be included in a rideshare accident claim.

Who May Be Liable for an East Providence Rideshare Accident?

Rideshare accident claims can involve multiple parties depending on how the collision occurred, who contributed to it, and what the Uber or Lyft driver was doing through the app at the time.

Liability and insurance coverage are separate questions, so identifying who caused the accident does not always determine which policy will provide coverage.

Rhode Island law also addresses the relationship between transportation network companies and their drivers. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-16, a rideshare driver may be treated as an independent contractor when the statutory requirements are satisfied.

Whether Uber or Lyft may be directly liable therefore depends on the company’s own conduct and the facts of the particular case rather than simply the driver’s involvement in a crash.

Potentially liable parties may include:

  • The rideshare driver: An Uber or Lyft driver may be responsible when distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, following too closely, an unsafe pickup or drop-off, or another negligent act causes the collision.
  • Another motorist: A driver of another vehicle may be liable when that person’s negligence causes or contributes to the rideshare accident.
  • Uber or Lyft: A ridesharing company may potentially face direct liability when its own conduct contributed to the harm, such as issues involving driver screening or other statutory responsibilities. Whether such a claim exists depends on the evidence and applicable law.
  • The vehicle owner: A person who owns the vehicle may potentially share responsibility under circumstances where the owner’s own negligence contributed to the accident.
  • An employer: If another driver involved in the collision was acting within the scope of employment, that driver’s employer may also be among the liable parties.
  • A government entity: A municipality or state agency may potentially be involved when a dangerous roadway condition or other government-controlled hazard contributed to the crash. Special notice requirements, defenses, and damages limitations can apply to government claims.
  • A vehicle or parts manufacturer: A defective tire, brake, restraint system, or other vehicle component may support a separate product liability claim if the defect contributed to the collision or resulting injuries.

Some accidents involving rideshare vehicles involve multiple parties whose actions contributed to the same crash.

Rhode Island’s comparative negligence rules allow fault to be allocated among responsible parties based on the evidence.

The rideshare driver’s app status can also affect available insurance even when Uber or Lyft is not directly liable for causing the accident.

Depending on the circumstances, the rideshare company’s insurance policy, the driver’s personal coverage, another motorist’s policy, or a combination of available coverage may become relevant.

Marasco & Nesselbush can investigate how the crash occurred, identify potentially liable parties, and evaluate the insurance coverage that may apply to the claim.

Insurance Coverage After a Rideshare Accident in Rhode Island

Insurance coverage after a ridesharing accident can depend heavily on what the Uber or Lyft driver was doing through the app when the crash occurred.

Rhode Island law establishes different insurance requirements for a driver who is logged into a rideshare platform and waiting for a request and a driver who has accepted a passenger’s request and is providing a prearranged ride.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-14, the required coverage may be maintained by the rideshare driver, the transportation network company, or a combination of both.

Uber and Lyft coverage therefore changes based on driver status, and determining that status can be an important part of identifying which insurance providers and policies may apply.

Driver Offline, App Closed

When a rideshare driver is not logged into the transportation network company’s digital platform, the special insurance requirements under Rhode Island’s rideshare statute generally do not apply.

Coverage may instead be available through the driver’s personal automobile insurance policy, another at-fault driver’s policy, or other applicable insurance.

Whether a personal policy will cover accidents in this period depends on the policy terms and the circumstances of the collision.

App On, Waiting for a Request

When a driver is logged into the rideshare platform and available to receive ride requests but has not yet accepted a prearranged ride, Rhode Island requires primary automobile liability insurance of at least:

  • $50,000 for bodily injury or death to one person;
  • $100,000 for bodily injury or death per accident; and
  • $25,000 for property damage.

The required policy must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required by Rhode Island law.

These requirements can be satisfied by insurance maintained by the rideshare driver, insurance maintained by the rideshare company, or a combination of the two.

If coverage maintained by the driver to satisfy these requirements lapses or does not provide the required coverage, insurance maintained by the TNC must provide the statutory coverage beginning with the first dollar of the claim.

Driver Providing a Prearranged Ride

Rhode Island requires a higher level of coverage while a driver is providing a prearranged ride.

Under state law, that period begins when the driver accepts a passenger’s request through the rideshare platform and continues until the last requesting passenger leaves the vehicle.

During this period, Rhode Island requires at least $1.5 million in primary automobile liability insurance for death, bodily injury, and property damage.

The required coverage must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required by R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1.

Because a prearranged ride begins when the request is accepted, the higher coverage requirement can apply while a driver is traveling to pick up a passenger, before the passenger enters the vehicle.

As with the waiting period, the required insurance may be maintained by the driver, the rideshare company, or both.

Personal Auto Insurance and Rideshare Exclusions

A rideshare driver’s personal auto insurance does not necessarily provide coverage while the driver is working through Uber, Lyft, or another transportation network company.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-15, Rhode Island insurance providers may exclude coverage for losses or injuries that occur while a rideshare driver is logged into the company’s digital network or providing a prearranged ride.

Depending on the policy, an exclusion may apply to liability coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, or personal injury protection.

Rhode Island law does not require personal auto insurers to exclude rideshare activity, and some policies may provide coverage through their terms or an endorsement.

The applicable policy therefore needs to be reviewed rather than assuming that personal auto insurance either does or does not apply.

The statute also provides that coverage maintained by a transportation network company cannot be conditioned on the driver’s personal insurer first denying the claim.

Determining the driver’s app status and reviewing the available policies can help establish which coverage may respond after an Uber or Lyft accident.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Rideshare Accident in Rhode Island?

Victims of rideshare accidents may be able to claim both economic and non-economic damages for losses caused by the collision.

The value of a claim depends on factors such as the severity and permanence of the injuries, medical treatment, time away from work, available evidence, liability, and applicable insurance coverage.

Compensation in a rideshare accident claim may include:

  • Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and other medical care related to the injuries.
  • Future medical care: Additional treatment, therapy, assistive equipment, or long-term care reasonably expected to be needed because of the accident.
  • Lost wages: Income lost while the injured person is unable to work during recovery.
  • Reduced earning capacity: Compensation may be available when lasting injuries limit the person’s ability to work or earn income in the future.
  • Property damage: An injured driver or passenger may be able to recover for a damaged vehicle, phone, laptop, or other personal property involved in the crash.
  • Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages may compensate for physical pain, discomfort, and limitations caused by the injuries.
  • Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and other psychological effects of a serious accident may be considered when supported by the evidence.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation may account for an injury’s effect on hobbies, activities, independence, and other parts of daily life.
  • Permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement: Lasting physical changes or functional limitations may support additional damages.
  • Wrongful death damages: When a rideshare accident results in death, the personal representative of the estate may be able to bring a wrongful death action under Rhode Island law for losses available under the state’s wrongful death statutes.

Punitive damages may also be available in rare cases involving conduct substantially more serious than ordinary negligence.

Rhode Island applies a demanding standard to punitive damages, so they should not be assumed to be available simply because a crash caused severe injuries.

Our East Providence attorneys can evaluate the losses supported by the evidence and explain how Rhode Island personal injury law may affect the compensation available in a particular claim.

Rhode Island Laws That May Affect Your Rideshare Accident Claim

Several Rhode Island laws can affect fault, available compensation, insurance coverage, and filing requirements after a rideshare accident.

The rules that apply depend on how the crash occurred, who was involved, and where the accident happened.

Important laws and legal issues include:

  • Comparative negligence and seat belt use: Rhode Island follows a pure comparative negligence rule under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4. An injured person may still recover compensation when partially responsible for an accident, although the recovery is reduced according to that person’s percentage of fault. Rhode Island also provides under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22 that failure to wear a required safety belt is not negligence and is not admissible in a civil action.
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Rhode Island law requires certain uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which may become important when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage for the injuries and medical costs caused by the crash. Rideshare insurance requirements also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage during applicable periods under Rhode Island’s transportation network company laws. Which coverage may apply depends on the driver’s app status, the available policies, and the circumstances of the accident.
  • Claims involving a city or town: A rideshare accident involving a defective municipal highway, causeway, or bridge may be subject to a separate written notice requirement under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-9. Rhode Island law also generally limits damages in tort claims against cities and towns to $100,000 under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-3, although the cap does not apply when the municipality was engaged in a proprietary function. Different rules may apply to accidents involving municipal vehicles or other government-related claims.
  • Accidents involving travel into Massachusetts: Rides beginning in East Providence can quickly cross into Massachusetts, where different rideshare insurance and automobile injury laws apply. Massachusetts requires different transportation network company coverage and generally uses a no-fault personal injury protection system for initial medical costs and certain lost wages. The law governing a particular claim may depend on where the collision occurred, which policies apply, and other facts surrounding the trip rather than simply where the ride began.

Because rideshare accidents can involve overlapping insurance and liability rules, the applicable law should be evaluated based on the specific facts of the crash.

An attorney can determine which statutes, insurance requirements, and procedural rules may affect the claim.

Deadlines for Filing a Rideshare Accident Lawsuit in Rhode Island

Rhode Island generally has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, but different rules may apply depending on who was injured, who may be responsible, and whether the claim involves a government entity.

An insurance claim may also be subject to separate policy notice requirements, so the deadline for filing a lawsuit should not be confused with requirements imposed by an insurance policy.

Important deadlines and timing rules include:

  • Three-year personal injury deadline: Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), an action for personal injuries generally must be filed within three years after the cause of action accrues. For many rideshare accident claims involving an identifiable injury, that period generally begins on the date of the crash. Opening or negotiating an insurance claim does not by itself extend the statutory filing period.
  • Tolling for certain injured people: R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-19 may postpone the ordinary limitations period when the injured person was under 18, of unsound mind, or outside the United States when the cause of action accrued. The effect of a tolling provision depends on the circumstances of the particular claim.
  • Notice for certain municipal roadway claims: A rideshare accident involving a defect in a municipal highway, causeway, or bridge may trigger a separate notice requirement under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-9. The statute generally requires notice of the time, place, and cause of a qualifying injury within 60 days and provides a three-year period for bringing the action.

Separate from these filing deadlines, Rhode Island requires transportation network companies to retain certain trip, driver log-on, and related records for at least two years from December 31 of the calendar year in which the ride occurred.

Those records may be important to determining the driver’s app status, available insurance coverage, and other issues in a rideshare accident claim.

Because filing deadlines, municipal notice requirements, and evidence-retention periods serve different purposes, the applicable dates should be identified as early as possible after a serious rideshare accident.

Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident in East Providence

The steps taken after a rideshare accident can affect both an injured person’s health and the evidence available for a potential claim.

Trip information, witness accounts, photographs, medical records, and other documentation may later help establish how the collision occurred and which insurance coverage may apply.

After a rideshare accident in East Providence, consider taking the following steps:

  1. Call the police: Report an accident involving injuries to local or state police as soon as possible. Responding officers can investigate the scene and prepare an accident report containing information about the vehicles, people involved, road conditions, and other circumstances they document.
  2. Seek medical attention: Obtain appropriate medical care promptly after the crash, even if an injury initially appears minor. Concussions, internal injuries, soft tissue damage, and other conditions may not be immediately apparent, and medical records can document the injuries and treatment following the accident.
  3. Preserve your rideshare information: Take screenshots of the trip receipt, driver’s name, vehicle information, pickup and destination, and other available trip details in the Uber or Lyft app.
  4. Report the accident to Uber or Lyft: Use the rideshare company’s accident or safety reporting process to document that the collision occurred. Keep copies or screenshots of any reports, confirmation messages, or communications you receive.
  5. Photograph the scene: If it is safe to do so, photograph the vehicles, visible damage, road conditions, traffic signals, nearby signs, and other details that may help show how the crash occurred.
  6. Collect witness information: Obtain names and contact information from people who witnessed the collision or its immediate aftermath.
  7. Be careful with insurance communications: An insurance adjuster may request a recorded statement or ask for documents after the accident. Consider speaking with an attorney before providing a detailed recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting a settlement.
  8. Contact a rideshare accident lawyer: An attorney can investigate the crash, request relevant trip and app records, identify potentially responsible parties, and evaluate the insurance coverage that may apply.

Keep the Uber or Lyft app, trip receipts, photographs, medical records, accident report information, and other documents related to the collision.

Preserving these materials can help establish the circumstances of the crash and support a later insurance or personal injury claim.

Marasco & Nesselbush can review the accident, seek available evidence, and explain the next steps under Rhode Island law.

Talk to a lawyer and get a free case evaluation today.

Evidence That Can Strengthen an East Providence Rideshare Accident Claim

Evidence can help establish how a rideshare accident occurred, who may be responsible, which insurance coverage applies, and what losses resulted from the crash.

Police reports, app ride receipts, photographs, witness information, medical records, and other documentation can all become important in a rideshare accident claim.

Evidence that may support a claim includes:

  • Trip and app records: Ride receipts, driver information, pickup and drop-off details, ride acceptance times, and log-on or log-off records may help establish what the rideshare driver was doing through the app when the crash occurred.
  • Police reports: An accident report may document the vehicles and people involved, road and weather conditions, statements made at the scene, citations, and other information recorded by responding officers.
  • Photographs and video: Images of vehicle damage, the roadway, traffic signals, debris, skid marks, injuries, and other conditions can help document the scene before it changes.
  • Witness information: Statements from passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, or nearby witnesses may help establish how the collision occurred.
  • Medical records: Emergency records, diagnostic testing, treatment notes, and other medical documentation can help establish the nature and extent of the injuries and their relationship to the accident.
  • Driver screening and qualification records: Background checks, driving records, and other screening materials may become relevant when the qualifications or history of a rideshare driver are disputed.
  • Passenger complaint records: Prior complaints involving the same driver may be relevant in some cases when the rideshare company’s knowledge or conduct is at issue.
  • Surveillance and dashcam footage: Nearby businesses, traffic cameras, rideshare vehicles, or other motorists may have video showing the collision or the events immediately before it.
  • Wage and employment records: Pay statements, tax records, employer documentation, and other financial evidence can support claims for lost income. When an injury affects a person’s long-term ability to work, additional evidence may also support a claim for reduced future earning capacity.
  • Property damage records: Repair estimates, photographs, receipts, and replacement records can help document damage to a vehicle, phone, laptop, or other property involved in the crash.

Documenting the scene with photographs and witness information as soon as reasonably possible can help preserve details that may later become disputed.

Medical records and financial documentation can also support successful personal injury claims seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and other losses supported by the evidence.

A rideshare accident lawyer can evaluate which evidence is relevant to the particular crash and take steps to request or preserve records that may not be readily available to the injured person.

Marasco & Nesselbush: Talk to a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in East Providence

Rideshare accident claims can involve issues that do not arise in every car accident, including app-status records, multiple insurance policies, and questions about which parties may be responsible.

Working with an attorney who understands these issues can help an injured person avoid mistakes that may affect the strength or value of the claim.

Marasco & Nesselbush has represented injured Rhode Islanders since 1999.

Our attorneys investigate rideshare crashes, seek available trip and app records, review applicable insurance coverage, identify potentially responsible parties, and document the medical, financial, and personal losses caused by the accident.

We pursue fair compensation based on the evidence available in each case, including compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, future treatment needs, and other qualifying damages.

We handle qualifying rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no attorney fee unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Contact Marasco & Nesselbush today or use the chat feature on this page to discuss your legal options with an experienced East Providence rideshare accident lawyer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Medical bills generally must be addressed while a rideshare accident claim is still pending.

An injured person’s health insurance may initially cover treatment, and medical payments coverage may also be available under an applicable auto insurance policy depending on the policy terms.

Rideshare accidents often involve multiple insurance policies, so available coverage may depend on the rideshare driver’s app status, the driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s insurance policy, and coverage carried by another at-fault motorist.

A health insurer or other benefit provider that pays medical expenses may have reimbursement or lien rights against a later settlement or judgment.

Compensation in a successful personal injury claim may also include medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, and other losses supported by the evidence.

There is no automatic rule requiring available rideshare liability coverage to be divided equally among several injured people.

When multiple claims are made against the same policy and their combined value exceeds the available limits, the amount recovered by each person can depend on the injuries, damages, available coverage, negotiations, and how the competing claims are ultimately resolved.

Other insurance may also be relevant.

Coverage carried by the at fault party, applicable uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, or another potentially responsible party’s policy may affect the total compensation available.

Because rideshare accident claims can involve multiple insurance policies, identifying all potentially applicable coverage can be important when several people were injured in the same collision.

Insurance coverage for an injured rideshare driver depends in part on what the driver was doing through the app when the crash occurred and who caused the accident.

Coverage carried by another at-fault driver may apply, while insurance maintained by the rideshare driver or transportation network company may also be relevant.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-16, a rideshare driver is treated as an independent contractor rather than an employee of the transportation network company when the statutory requirements are satisfied.

The availability of workers’ compensation or other employment-related benefits therefore should be evaluated based on the driver’s classification and the circumstances rather than assumed.

The driver’s personal insurance may also contain exclusions for rideshare activity.

Rhode Island permits personal insurance policies to exclude certain coverage while a driver is logged into a transportation network company’s platform or providing a prearranged ride, so the policy language and app status should be reviewed carefully.

Trip receipts and other digital data from the rideshare app may help establish the driver’s status at the time of the collision and determine which coverage requirements applied.

Rhode Island law does not permit failure to wear a seat belt to be treated as negligence in a civil personal injury case.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-22, failure to be properly restrained is also not admissible as evidence in the trial of a civil action.

A rideshare passenger who was not wearing a seat belt may therefore still pursue compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence.

Rhode Island’s comparative negligence law can reduce compensation when an injured person is partially responsible for an accident, but seat-belt nonuse itself cannot be used as the basis for assigning that negligence.

Lyft or Uber may provide insurance coverage in some accidents even when the driver did not cause the collision, but the coverage available depends on the driver’s app status and the applicable policies.

When another motorist caused the crash, that at-fault party’s liability insurance may be one source of compensation.

If the responsible driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, applicable uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also become relevant.

Rhode Island requires uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required by state law during the periods covered by its transportation network company insurance statute.

A hit-and-run accident may also raise uninsured motorist coverage issues depending on the circumstances and applicable policy.

Determining whether the rideshare company provides insurance coverage in a particular accident requires reviewing the driver’s app status and the insurance policies that were in effect when the crash occurred.

An Uber and Lyft accident lawyer can evaluate how those different sources of coverage may apply.

Possibly.

Whether Uber or Lyft can be held directly liable depends on the company’s own conduct and the facts of the accident rather than simply the fact that one of its drivers was involved.

Rhode Island requires transportation network companies to conduct specified background and driving-history checks before allowing a driver to accept trip requests.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-7, certain driving violations and criminal histories can disqualify an applicant.

Transportation network companies must also maintain specified driver and passenger-complaint records.

Those records may become relevant when a claim involves allegations concerning the company’s screening, knowledge, or other conduct.

Direct liability against a rideshare company is different from making a claim under a rideshare company’s insurance policy.

Legal representation can help determine which parties may be liable and which insurance coverage may apply based on the evidence.

Contingency fee structures are common among personal injury lawyers handling rideshare accident claims.

Marasco & Nesselbush handles qualifying rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront attorney fee and an attorney fee is owed only if the firm obtains a recovery for the client.

Whether someone is looking for an Uber accident attorney or a Lyft accident attorney, the written fee agreement should explain the percentage used to calculate the attorney fee and how case expenses are handled.

Potential expenses may include filing fees, medical records, depositions, and expert services depending on the case.

Marasco & Nesselbush offers a free initial consultation so an injured person can discuss the accident, available insurance coverage, and potential legal options before deciding whether to proceed with legal representation.

Rideshare accidents can involve driver behavior, digital trip records, multiple insurance policies, and coverage that changes according to the driver’s app status.

Rideshare drivers may also face financial pressure to complete more trips or work longer hours, while surge pricing encourages drivers to operate in areas experiencing high demand.

High-demand periods can involve increased rideshare activity, traffic, and time pressure, although surge pricing itself should not automatically be treated as proof that a driver was negligent or that it caused an accident.

Evidence such as trip data, police reports, witness statements, photographs, and medical records is needed to determine what contributed to a particular crash.

People injured in a rideshare accident should seek appropriate medical care promptly, even when symptoms initially appear minor.

Some accident-related guidance recommends obtaining medical evaluation within several days of a crash, including within seven days, but Rhode Island law does not impose a seven-day medical-treatment deadline for preserving a personal injury claim.

Choosing a lawyer can also affect how effectively available evidence, insurance coverage, liability, and damages are identified and presented.

An attorney with experience handling rideshare claims can evaluate these issues and pursue the compensation supported by the facts and applicable law.

What Our Clients Have To Say

4.7 Based on 518 reviews
Kerem Mendez ★★★★★
RI Motor vehicle accident, when I was injured Jim Nelson assisted me. He was wonderful and they were great.
Kristianti Roderick ★★★★★
Marasco & Nesselbush is a great law firm, they staffs help me with my case trough the bottom and treated me with respect and kindness. They fight my case and get me settled what is worth in my case. Thank you to attorneys Whitmore, and her staff Naddasha. I will definitely will recommended this law firm to my family and friends. KR
Alvaro Alexander Gonzalez ★★★★★
Jim & ysmelda excellent service helped with my automobile accident couldn’t have asked for anyone better
Ana Pereira ★★★★★
I was involved in car accident on Boston and I looking for a great place to help me with my concern thank to MARASCO &NESSELBUSH a special thank you to claim manager Jim Nelson and his assistant Ysmelda Madera for help me to get this case resolved. If you need anything don’t just get first help looks for the best representative for you case.
Dionny Velasquez ★★★★★
mi accidente fue en Prov gracias ala abogada Kendall ysmelda por su servicio 100 recomendado
Marelin Rivera ★★★★★
Great communication, very attentive, professional and gave me peace of mind. Thanks so much Alicia Bianco, ESQ. & staff!
Jay Vel ★★★★★
Your tired of going to a lawyer that don’t wanted to listen to you and hear you out TELL ME ABOUT IT ~ Well NOT THIS ONE Give them a call ASAP they will have your back n hear you out 100%

Our Offices

Local offices across Rhode Island & Massachusetts — select one to view it on the map.

Providence, RI 685 Westminster St, Providence, RI
Middletown, RI 809 Aquidneck Ave, Unit 201C, Middletown, RI 02842
East Providence, RI 2224 Pawtucket Ave, East Providence, RI
Wakefield, RI 231 Old Tower Hill Rd #206, Wakefield, RI
Warwick, RI 51 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, RI
Woonsocket, RI 603 Park Ave, Woonsocket, RI
Quincy, MA 234 Copeland St #210, Quincy, MA

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April 15, 2026 · News

Confidential Settlement Awarded

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