ATLANTA, GA — May 2, 2026 — Lonnie Law LLC, an Atlanta-based personal injury practice, today released a public analysis examining how two significant Georgia laws — House Bill 529 (effective July 1, 2023) and Senate Bill 68 (signed April 21, 2025) — have fundamentally changed what injured rideshare passengers may recover after an Uber or Lyft accident in Georgia. The firm's goal in publishing this analysis is to help Atlanta-area riders understand the legal landscape they are operating in, before they ever need to use it.

The 90% Coverage Cut Most Atlanta Riders Don't Know About

In July 2023, Georgia quietly reduced the minimum uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) insurance that transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft must carry for passengers — by 90%. Under the prior framework established by Georgia's HB 190 (2015), O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24 required TNCs to carry at least $1 million per incident in UM coverage. Under 2023 Georgia Laws Act 70 (H.B. 529), that floor dropped to $300,000 for all persons in a single accident, with a $100,000 per-person cap — a reduction that directly limits what a seriously injured passenger may recover when the crash is caused by an uninsured or underinsured third-party driver.

That scenario is more common than many riders realize. According to Uber's own safety data, 95% of fatal crashes involving Uber vehicles are caused by third-party drivers — not by the Uber driver — making UM coverage the most critical financial protection in many rideshare accident cases. The $900,000 difference between the old and new per-incident UM caps is not theoretical; it represents the gap between adequate compensation for a catastrophic injury and a policy limit that may be exhausted by a single hospital stay.

The Three Periods: Why the Timing of a Crash Determines Everything

Georgia's TNC insurance statute creates three distinct coverage periods, and the gap between them is significant. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24, as analyzed by The Champion Firm and HOV Law:

• Period 0 (app off): Only the driver's personal auto policy applies. Rideshare companies disclaim all liability.

• Period 1 (app on, no ride accepted): Minimum TNC liability coverage of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $25,000 property damage. No UM coverage requirement above the personal policy.

• Periods 2 and 3 (ride accepted through passenger drop-off): A $1 million commercial liability policy and, post-HB 529, UM coverage capped at $100,000 per person.

The practical consequence: a passenger injured in an Uber during Period 1 — say, a driver who picks up a second app request while still logged into the first — may have access to only a fraction of the coverage available moments later when a ride is accepted. Determining which period applies to a specific crash requires examining the driver's app data, which is held by Uber or Lyft.

"Most riders assume that being inside an Uber or Lyft means they're fully covered by a million-dollar policy," said Attorney Lonnie Duong of Lonnie Law LLC. "What they don't realize is that the coverage framework is divided into stages — and the stage that applies to their crash can mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in available insurance."

SB 68: Georgia's Sweeping Tort Reform and Its Impact on Rideshare Cases

Layered on top of the HB 529 coverage changes is Senate Bill 68, signed by Governor Brian Kemp on April 21, 2025. Described by DLA Piper as "the most significant overhaul of Georgia's tort system since 2005," SB 68 introduces several provisions with direct implications for injured rideshare passengers:

Phantom damages rule (Section 7): Juries now see both the full billed amount of a medical bill and the amount that insurance actually paid. Previously, juries only heard the billed amount. For rideshare victims who have good health insurance — a population that often includes employed professionals, tourists, and business travelers — this rule can substantially reduce the recoverable medical damages figure presented to a jury. (Reynolds Injury Law)

Bifurcated trials: Under SB 68, trials may now be divided into three sequential phases — fault, then compensatory damages, then punitive damages. Jurors decide who caused the crash before hearing evidence about the nature and extent of injuries. (AWJ Law) In rideshare cases, where disputes over which insurance period applies often complicate the fault question, this structural change adds another layer of complexity.

Seatbelt evidence (Section 5, SB 69): Evidence of seatbelt non-use is now admissible on the question of comparative negligence — a provision directly relevant to rideshare passengers, who may not always buckle up in the back seat of a ride-hail vehicle. (Reynolds Injury Law)

SB 68 applies to causes of action arising on or after April 21, 2025, meaning every rideshare crash that occurs today in Atlanta is subject to these new rules.

"Georgia's tort reform changes don't eliminate a passenger's right to pursue a claim — but they do change the evidence, the trial structure, and the way damages are calculated," said Attorney Lonnie Duong. "Passengers and their families benefit from understanding these shifts, especially when deciding how quickly to preserve evidence and seek guidance."

Atlanta's Rideshare Exposure: A City at the Intersection of Scale and Risk

Atlanta is consistently ranked among the top five rideshare markets in the United States, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — the world's busiest airport — generating millions of rideshare trips annually. Rideshare vehicles circulate continuously through the airport's staging lot and pickup decks, cycling through Period 1 coverage as drivers wait for ride requests.

The city's overall traffic safety picture reinforces the stakes. According to a December 2025 Propel ATL report, metro Atlanta recorded 425 traffic deaths across five core counties (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett) in 2024 — a figure that exceeded metro homicides for the year. Within Atlanta city limits, GDOT data compiled by Attorney Stephen T. LaBriola shows 33,459 total crashes, 59 fatalities, and 13,477 injuries in 2024 alone.

In Midtown — one of the city's highest-volume rideshare corridors — CBS News Atlanta reported 2,197 total crash incidents in 2025, with 436 involving injuries — roughly one injury crash per day. Key rideshare corridors identified in the data include Peachtree Street and 10th Street, the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector, and the Buckhead entertainment district. (Munley Law)

What Injured Rideshare Passengers May Want to Consider Doing

People injured in rideshare crashes in Georgia may wish to take the following general documentation steps, ideally at the scene or as soon as medically possible:

1. Request and retain a copy of the trip receipt from the rideshare app immediately. The receipt contains timestamps that help establish which coverage period was active at the time of the crash.

2. Photograph the scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries before the vehicle is moved, where safe to do so.

3. Note the driver's full name, license plate, and the vehicle make and model as displayed in the app — and verify they match the physical vehicle.

4. Seek prompt medical evaluation, even if injuries are not immediately apparent. Documenting the timing of symptoms is important in any injury claim.

5. Preserve all communications, including the ride receipt, any in-app messages, and screenshots of the trip status at the time of the crash.

6. Consult a licensed Georgia attorney about specific legal rights and options. Under SB 68, the evidentiary landscape has changed, and the period of time in which evidence can be preserved through formal legal channels may be significant.

About Lonnie Law LLC

Lonnie Law LLC is an Atlanta-based personal injury law firm founded by Attorney Lonnie Lan Thi Duong, Esq. The firm represents individuals and families injured in car, truck, motorcycle, and rideshare accidents, as well as cases involving wrongful death, premises liability, dog bites, and slip-and-fall incidents. Lonnie Law LLC serves clients throughout the Atlanta metro area, including Brookhaven and Lawrenceville. The firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis — clients pay no attorney's fees unless compensation is recovered. Attorney Lonnie Duong brings a client-centered approach grounded in clarity, confidence, and genuine advocacy for those navigating the aftermath of serious injuries. The firm is committed to helping Georgia residents understand their rights under a rapidly changing legal landscape.

Media Contact

Lonnie Law LLC
Attorney Lonnie Lan Thi Duong, Esq.
2987 Clairmont Rd NE, Suite 140, Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: 404-424-3878
Email: lonnie@lonnielawfirm.com
Website: lonnielawfirm.com

Disclaimers

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this release does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individuals injured in a rideshare accident should consult a licensed Georgia attorney about their specific circumstances.

Contact Information:

Lonnie Law Firm

2987 Clairmont Rd NE Suite 140
Atlanta, GA 30329
United States

Lonnie Duong
(404) 424-3878
https://lonnielawfirm.com