You booked a ride, got in the back seat, and someone ran a light on Flamingo. Now you are standing on the curb wondering whose problem this is. The short answer: not yours. A rideshare passenger almost never carries fault for the driving, and Nevada law puts substantial insurance behind every active Uber trip. What you do in the next hour still matters, because the evidence that makes the claim easy has a short shelf life.
The first minutes: health, then screenshots
Call 911 if anyone may be hurt, and accept medical evaluation even if you feel fine. Adrenaline hides real injuries, and an early medical record ties your injuries to the crash. Then, before you close the Uber app, screenshot everything about the trip: the driver profile, the route map, the pickup time, the trip status. Those screenshots prove you were on an active trip, and an active trip is what unlocks the largest layer of coverage.
If it is safe, photograph the vehicles, the plates, and the scene, and get the names and insurance information of every driver involved, including your own Uber driver.
Whose insurance pays when your Uber crashes
Nevada requires at least $1 million in liability coverage while a rideshare driver is providing transportation services, which includes the entire time a passenger is on board. That is Period 3 in rideshare coverage terms, and it is set by statute, NRS 690B.470. The coverage is written by Uber's third party insurers, not by Uber itself, and it applies to your injuries whether your Uber driver caused the crash or another motorist did.
If the other driver was at fault, that driver's own liability policy is also in play, and Uber's coverage during an active trip includes uninsured and underinsured motorist protection if that driver carries no insurance or too little. In other words, a passenger on an active Uber trip is usually the best protected person on the road. The fights are rarely about whether coverage exists. They are about which policy pays, in what order, and for how much.
The mechanics of Uber's coverage periods, its insurers, and its trip data are covered in detail on our Las Vegas Uber accident page.
Report the crash through the app
Uber accepts accident reports through the trip's help section in the app. Reporting creates a timestamped record tied to the ride and does not waive any rights. Report the facts: where it happened, who was involved, and that you were injured if you were. After that report, Uber's claims team and the insurer's adjuster will reach out. You are not required to give anyone a recorded statement, and you should not discuss fault or the extent of your injuries until you have spoken with an attorney.
What if you feel fine today and hurt next week
Soft tissue injuries, concussions, and back injuries commonly surface days after a crash. That is one more reason the early paper trail matters: the app report, the police report, and a same day medical visit connect later symptoms to the collision. If symptoms appear, get evaluated promptly and tell the provider about the crash so it enters the record.
What a passenger claim can cover
A passenger claim can include medical bills, future treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. Nevada's two year filing deadline under NRS 11.190(4)(e) applies, but the practical deadlines are shorter because trip data and camera footage sit on retention cycles measured in days and weeks. Details on timing are in our guide to rideshare filing deadlines in Nevada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I sue my Uber driver personally?
Usually the claim proceeds against insurance rather than against the driver as a person. During an active trip, Uber's $1 million commercial policy responds to the driver's fault, and the driver's or another motorist's policies can also apply. An attorney identifies every policy in play and tenders the claim to the right carriers.
Does it cost me anything to bring a passenger claim?
Sellouk Law handles rideshare passenger claims on contingency. There is no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Court costs, litigation expenses, and possible opposing party fees or costs may still apply.
What if the crash was the other driver's fault, not my Uber driver's?
Your claim proceeds against the at fault driver's liability coverage first. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, the UM and UIM coverage Uber maintains during active trips may protect you, along with any UM and UIM coverage on your own auto policy, which generally follows you as a person even when you are a passenger.
Should I keep the ride receipt?
Yes. The trip receipt shows the driver, route, and timestamps, and it proves you were on an active trip, which is what places the crash inside the $1 million coverage period. Save the email and screenshot the trip in the app.
See also: our Las Vegas Uber and Lyft accident page, the dedicated Uber accident page and Lyft accident page, and the Strip rideshare guide.