If you’ve ever taken an Uber or Lyft in Denver or Lakewood, you probably assumed that if something went wrong, the company’s insurance would cover you. And right now, in Colorado, that assumption is mostly accurate. But a recent report from Consumer Watchdog — a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization — raises questions about whether that could change and who is driving it.
Understanding what’s at stake now matters because the time to protect your rights is before legislation limits them.
Why Rideshare Insurance and Liability Laws Matter to Colorado Riders
Rideshare passengers in Colorado are covered under a framework that requires companies like Uber and Lyft to carry significant insurance while drivers are actively transporting riders. That coverage exists because legislators recognized that ordinary riders shouldn’t bear the financial burden of someone else’s negligence.
What the Consumer Watchdog report alleges is that Uber — sitting on a reported $12.5 billion insurance reserve — is actively lobbying in multiple states to change the rules that make that coverage meaningful. If those efforts succeed, what you’re entitled to recover after a serious accident could look very different.
What the Consumer Watchdog Report Found
Consumer Watchdog, a California-based nonprofit advocacy group, released a report in May 2026 outlining what it describes as Uber’s efforts to simultaneously fund a $10 billion robotaxi expansion and lobby for legislation that limits passenger injury recovery.
According to the report, the lobbying push targets three areas:
Capping your medical recovery at Medicare rates. Medicare reimbursement rates are significantly lower than standard medical billing rates. If injury compensation is capped at those rates, you could receive far less than your actual treatment costs.
Combining legal fee and medical bill limits into a single 25% cap. If attorney fees and medical expenses are pooled into one 25% cap, it becomes financially impossible for injured passengers to find attorneys willing to take their cases. The math simply doesn’t work.
Shielding the company from liability for both human drivers and autonomous vehicles. As robotaxi deployment expands, so does the question of who is responsible when something goes wrong. The report alleges Uber is pursuing broad liability protections that would apply whether the vehicle involved a human driver or an automated system.
It’s worth noting that Consumer Watchdog is an advocacy organization with a stated position on these issues. We have not independently verified every claim in the report. What we can say is that the policy changes described, if enacted, would have real consequences for injured Coloradans.
What Colorado Rideshare Passengers Are Entitled to Today
Under Colorado law today, if you are injured in a rideshare accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including future treatment costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent impairment
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to your recovery
Colorado’s comparative negligence law (C.R.S. § 13-21-111) also means that even if you bore some small degree of fault, you can still recover compensation as long as your share is less than 50%. These protections exist because injured people deserve fair treatment. Legislation that caps recoveries or limits attorney access would directly undercut what Colorado law currently provides.
Why Limiting Legal Fees Matters More Than It Sounds
Personal injury attorneys in Colorado typically work on contingency — meaning no upfront cost to you. They take a percentage of your recovery, usually 33% before litigation and up to 40% if a case goes to trial. That arrangement exists specifically so that injured people who can’t afford hourly rates can still access experienced representation.
If an attorney’s fee and your medical expenses are pooled into a single 25% cap, representation becomes effectively impossible in all but the smallest cases. The real-world result is that injured rideshare passengers would face insurance companies — whose adjusters negotiate claims every day — without professional help on their side.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Rideshare Accident in Colorado
Right now, Colorado law still provides meaningful protections for rideshare passengers. The steps you take early matter.
Get medical attention immediately. Your health comes first, and documented treatment establishes the connection between the accident and your injuries.
Don’t give recorded statements to the rideshare company’s insurer without speaking to an attorney first. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and early statements can be used against you before you even understand the full extent of your injuries.
Contact a personal injury attorney early. Colorado has a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims under C.R.S. § 13-80-102, but insurers routinely push for quick settlements before your damages are fully known.
Document everything. Police reports, photographs, witness contact information, and medical records all strengthen your case.
Free Consultation for Rideshare Accident Injuries in Colorado
At Buckley Simpson Law, we represent injured riders throughout the Denver Metro area, including Lakewood, Arvada, and surrounding communities. Jennifer Simpson has handled personal injury cases involving rideshare accidents, car accidents, and situations where insurance companies pushed back against fair recovery.
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, we offer free consultations — no pressure, no obligation, just a straightforward conversation about what happened and what your rights are. Call (720) 900-2003, email info@buckleysimpsonlaw.com, or visit our contact page.
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. For advice about your specific situation, please contact a licensed Colorado personal injury attorney.
About the Author: Jennifer Simpson, Esq. is a partner at Buckley Simpson Law and a proud Colorado native dedicated to helping individuals harmed by others. She focuses on personal injury cases, including car accidents, rideshare accidents, slip and fall cases, wrongful death, and motorcycle accidents. Jennifer has tried many cases to successful verdicts and has been recognized as a Colorado Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2020-2025) and Top 40 under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers (2019-2024).
