What are the lower coverage limits while a rideshare driver is logged in but has no passenger?
While a rideshare driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride or picked up a passenger, the available coverage sits at roughly 50/100/50 limits, and for a seriously injured person the real problem is that this modest amount can fall well short of the actual losses. The practical question is then what other sources can make up the difference.
When the limits do not cover the harm ¶
A single serious crash can produce hospital bills, surgery, lost income, and long-term care costs that run past $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per person quickly. When the harm exceeds the waiting-phase limit, the gap does not simply disappear; the injured person has to look for additional coverage to reach the rest of the loss. The amount left uncovered is the figure that drives the rest of the claim strategy.
Stacking the available sources is usually where recovery is found. Depending on the facts, an injured person may be able to draw on:
- Their own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, which can apply when the at-fault driver’s coverage is too low to cover the loss.
- The rideshare driver’s personal auto policy, if it is not excluded for the ride-hailing use at issue.
- Any other policy that may respond given the circumstances, such as a household relative’s UM/UIM coverage.
How fault and timing shape the recovery ¶
Two further factors affect what actually reaches the injured person. First, fault: O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 has the jury assign the injured person a percentage of responsibility, reducing the award by that share and barring recovery entirely at 50% or more, so the conduct of everyone involved matters. Second, app status: because the limits hinge on whether a request had been accepted, pinning down the driver’s exact status at the moment of impact can determine whether the claim is capped near $50,000 or reaches a far larger trip-phase tier. Preserving the trip data tied to the ride is often important for that reason.
The bottom line ¶
In the logged-in, no-passenger phase the 50/100/50 limits can leave a real gap after a serious injury, so the injured person’s focus shifts to other coverage, especially their own UM/UIM under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11. What is ultimately recovered is shaped by Georgia’s percentage-based fault rule and by the driver’s precise app status when the crash occurred.
This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.