Can a Parent Sue Uber or Lyft if Their Child Is Injured While Riding Alone?

Teen sitting in a rideshare car at sunset on their phone, illustrating a rideshare child injury concern.

When a teen takes a Lyft or Uber alone and is injured in a rideshare accident, it can leave stunned parents wondering about their options, particularly, whether or not they can sue the rideshare company for negligence.

These cases are unique and raise important questions about liability and the duty of care that’s owed to minors traveling in a rideshare vehicle. This guide offers insight into what parents should know about rideshare injury claims involving minors, as well as the legal options available to them.

Rideshare Rules About Traveling With Minors

Per their policies, neither Lyft or Uber allows drivers to accept a ride from a minor unless they are accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. This is because users must be at least 18 years old to sign up for a Lyft or Uber account and request rides.

While these policies are in place to discourage rideshare drivers from picking up minors, the reality is that it happens more often than people think. There are reports on popular forums, including Reddit, where drivers recount their experiences picking up minors and turning a blind eye to the passenger’s age in order to maintain their streak, obtain good ratings, and make money.

Even if an Uber or Lyft driver was acting in good faith when they accepted the ride request, that doesn’t change the fact that they broke company policy…and that’s troubling news for your lawsuit if your child gets injured.

Challenges to Filing a Lawsuit Against Uber and Lyft

Like most big corporations, Lyft and Uber have dedicated insurance and legal teams to help them minimize liability in the event of an accident. If you file a claim against them for injuries your child sustained while traveling in an Uber or Lyft, both companies will deny culpability, citing that the driver is responsible for damages since they were the ones who violated company policy.

That being said, you are fortunately not out of options.

Who Can be Held Liable in a Rideshare Crash Involving Minors

Determining who can be held liable in a Lyft or Uber accident involving a minor is dependent on several factors. In some cases, one party may be responsible and in others, liability may be shared.

Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, the following parties may be liable for an accident and your child’s subsequent injuries:

The Rideshare Driver

Every driver on the road, regardless of whether they’re working for a rideshare company, owes a duty of care to other drivers. When that duty of care is breached by speeding, talking on their phone, or driving intoxicated, then the driver may be held liable for damages.

Even if the rideshare driver broke policy by allowing a minor in their vehicle, they still have a responsibility to transport that passenger from Point A to Point B safely.

The Rideshare Company

Just because the Lyft or Uber driver violated company policy, doesn’t mean that the rideshare company who employed them can’t still be held liable for damages. Both companies have minimal security screening for their drivers, and have a history of ignoring complaints of unsafe drivers, as reported in this New York Post article.

If Lyft and Uber failed to properly screen their drivers for a history of negligence or have ignored past company violations, they can be held liable for keeping that driver employed.

Another Driver

In some cases, another driver may be partially or fully responsible for the crash. Even though you can still file a claim against the rideshare driver for violating company policy, you still have the right to pursue compensation against the driver who actually caused the accident. Multi-vehicle accidents are extremely common in New Jersey.

A skilled personal injury attorney can help you identify who is responsible for the crash, or if both parties contributed to it. For example, maybe your child’s Uber driver was speeding, but another driver failed to stop at a red light. In cases like this, liability will be shared amongst both drivers, with their financial responsibilities split based on whose actions contributed more to the accident.

Third Parties

Sometimes, a third party establishment like a bar or restaurant will hold some culpability. Under New Jersey’s dram shop laws, establishments are required to cut off guests who appear to be visibly intoxicated. If they ignored these signs of intoxication and continued to serve them and they got behind the wheel, whether as a rideshare driver or another driver on the road, a claim against the place that served them may be possible.

What Parents Need to Know About Uber’s Teen Accounts

In 2023, Uber introduced teen accounts, which allows teens between the ages of 13-17 to operate the app with parental supervision.

While the teen feature offers more oversight, parents still need to understand what it does and does not include. Parents can:

View their teen’s trip details in real time, including spending monitoring
Receive safety notifications
Speak with their teen’s Uber driver
Contact Uber Support, if necessary
Set up ride preferences for their teen

Although these tools help parents monitor their teen’s travel, they don’t eliminate the safety risks or liability challenges that arise when an accident occurs. Couple this with how Uber classifies drivers and it can quickly make a devastating situation all the more complicated. A lawyer who is experienced with Uber accident claims can explain your rights and fight for the compensation your family needs to move forward.

Justin Drazin is Your Advocate After an Uber Accident

If your teen was injured while riding in an Uber, you’re not alone or out of options. As the founder of UberHurtMe.com, personal injury attorney Justin Drazin understands what it takes to fight big corporations like Uber. He will thoroughly investigate your case, negotiate with Uber’s insurers, and advocate for the compensation your family needs to move forward.

He represents clients throughout New Jersey, including Red Bank, Hazlet, and Brick. Call 732-333-8141 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.