Standard personal auto policies typically exclude coverage when you are logged into a ride-share app and are available for or transporting a passenger for pay. During this “period of livery,“ you rely on the ride-share company’s commercial policy, which often has significant coverage gaps. Many insurers now offer a specific “ride-share endorsement” or hybrid policy to cover these gaps. Never assume your personal policy covers commercial activities; notify your agent if you drive for a ride-share service to ensure you have proper protection.

It means you must collect and share basic contact and insurance details with everyone involved in the incident, not just one person. This includes drivers, vehicle owners, and any witnesses. You should get full names, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance policy details. This step is the foundational first action after ensuring everyone’s safety. It creates a clear record of who was involved and how to contact them and their insurers, which is required by law in most places after a collision.

It means the legal action is a civil lawsuit, not a prosecution by the state. The goal is not to punish someone with jail time for breaking a law. Instead, the person bringing the claim (the plaintiff) is seeking compensation or a specific solution from the other party (the defendant) for a harm or loss they have suffered. The focus is on resolving a dispute between private parties, often involving money damages, rather than determining guilt for a crime.