Rideshare Accident Statistics (Uber and Lyft) | 2026 Statistical Analysis

Throughout the last six months, our research team compiled a comprehensive dataset analyzing rideshare accident statistics across the United States, with particular emphasis on New York State data. This report examines accident rates, injury patterns, and safety trends for Uber and Lyft passengers, drawing from company safety reports, national traffic data, and insurance industry research.

This analysis focuses on accidents involving rideshare passengers and drivers during active trips, including motor vehicle collisions, injury rates, and contributing factors affecting rideshare safety outcomes.

Key Takeaways: 

• Uber and Lyft both report fatality rates below the national average at 0.87 and 0.94 deaths per 100 million miles, respectively, yet rideshare drivers face 73% higher accident involvement rates than the general population due to increased road exposure.
• Distracted driving accounts for 32% of rideshare accidents, with drivers frequently checking phones for ride requests and navigation, while third-party drivers, rather than rideshare operators, cause 95% of fatal crashes involving Uber vehicles.
• Urban intersections represent 42% of all rideshare accidents, with head and traumatic brain injuries being the most severe category of passenger injuries, particularly in side-impact collisions where passengers lack frontal protection.

Disclosure: The settlement ranges and case outcome information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only. All data has been compiled from publicly available sources, industry research, and third-party reporting. This information is not based on the outcomes of cases handled by our firm and should not be interpreted as a promise or guarantee of any specific result in your case.

The following table compares accident and fatality rates between major rideshare companies based on their most recent safety reports. Note that official safety data from Uber and Lyft covers the 2021-2022 reporting period, as companies typically release comprehensive safety reports 2-3 years after data collection.

Key Research Findings:

• Both Uber and Lyft report fatality rates below the national average at 0.87 and 0.94 deaths per 100 million miles traveled during the 2021-2022 period. Yet, rideshare drivers face 73% higher accident involvement rates than the general population due to increased time on the road.
• Uber reported a 40% increase in fatal crashes from the 2019-2020 reporting period to 2021-2022, rising from 107 to 153 incidents, while Lyft saw a 31% increase in motor vehicle fatalities during the same timeframe.
• Third-party drivers (not rideshare drivers) accounted for 95% of fatal crashes involving Uber vehicles, according to Uber’s safety report, indicating that rideshare passengers often face risks from outside their vehicle rather than from their own driver.

Rideshare accidents result in a range of injuries depending on collision type, speed, and point of impact. The following table categorizes the most common injuries sustained by rideshare passengers.

Key Research Findings:

• Head and traumatic brain injuries represent the most concerning category of rideshare accident injuries, often resulting from side-impact collisions where passengers lack the same frontal protection as drivers.
• Neck and back injuries, including strain and herniated discs, are among the most frequently reported injuries in rideshare accidents, particularly in rear-end collisions at pickup and drop-off locations.
• Rideshare passengers in urban areas face a higher injury risk during rush hours when congestion increases the likelihood of multi-vehicle collisions and sudden-stop accidents.

Understanding the causes of rideshare accidents can help passengers recognize risk factors and support injury claims when accidents occur.

Key Research Findings:

• Distracted driving is the leading cause of rideshare accidents, with drivers frequently checking their phones for the next ride request, navigation updates, or communication with passengers through the app.
• Each additional 100 rideshare trips in a given area increases the odds of an injury crash by 4.6%, according to research, demonstrating a correlation between rideshare volume and accident risk.
• Approximately 90% of Uber crashes occur in urban areas where higher traffic density, frequent stops, and congested roadways create more opportunities for collisions.

Where rideshare accidents occur significantly affects both injury severity and liability determinations.

Key Research Findings:

• Urban intersections account for over 40% of rideshare accidents, with left-turning vehicles and failure-to-yield violations representing the most common collision scenarios for rideshare passengers.
• Highway rideshare accidents, while less frequent, result in the most severe injuries due to higher speeds and reduced reaction times, with traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage occurring more frequently in these crashes.
• An increasing number of rideshare accidents occur at pickup and drop-off locations, where drivers make sudden stops in traffic lanes, or passengers exit vehicles into moving traffic, creating hazards for both vehicle occupants and pedestrians.