Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation that would significantly limit when ride-share companies such as Uber and Lyft can be sued by their own passengers following an injury.
As it stands now, House Bill 1417 would prohibit a Transportation Network Company (TNC) rider from bringing a civil lawsuit—or receiving damages—from a TNC when the rider is injured by a TNC driver or during a TNC ride. The restriction would apply regardless of the circumstances of the injury, effectively shielding ride-share companies from liability in those cases.
The bill, introduced in the 2026 session of the Indiana General Assembly, would take effect July 1, 2026.
Under the proposal, a rider “may not maintain a cause of action against, or receive an award of damages from,” a TNC for claims arising from injuries suffered during a ride or caused by the TNC driver. The language applies broadly and does not distinguish between minor incidents and more serious crashes.
Beyond ride-share services, HB 1417 makes sweeping changes to Indiana civil liability law by limiting when individuals, businesses, and governments can be sued for injuries tied to public nuisance claims, criminal acts by third parties, and noneconomic damages.
The bill narrows the definition of a “public nuisance” and restricts who may bring such claims. Governmental entities would be limited to seeking prospective injunctive relief to abate a nuisance and would be barred from recovering economic, noneconomic, or exemplary damages tied to future harm. Private individuals could bring a public nuisance claim only if they suffered an injury that is both proximately caused by the unlawful condition and materially different from injuries suffered by others.
The legislation also bars lawsuits against property owners, business owners, third-party business operators, or property managers for criminal acts committed by another person on their property, unless the person being sued was the individual who committed the criminal act. Aggregating multiple injuries or private nuisances would not be sufficient to establish a public nuisance claim.
In addition, HB 1417 places new limits on noneconomic damages—such as pain and suffering—in civil cases. Under the bill, noneconomic damages would be capped at $1 million. Judges or juries would still determine the amount of noneconomic damages without considering the cap, but courts would be required to reduce awards exceeding $1 million to comply with the statutory limit.
When multiple defendants are involved, the court would apportion fault among all parties, including nonparties, and then reduce noneconomic damages proportionally if necessary to meet the cap.
Supporters of the bill argue the changes are needed to curb excessive litigation and provide predictability for businesses operating in Indiana. Critics have raised concerns that the bill restricts access to the courts and limits compensation for injured individuals, particularly in ride-share cases.
HB 1417 has been read for the first time and referred to committee for further consideration.
