Who pays after an Uber or Lyft accident in Texas?

Rideshare crashes raise a question ordinary car accidents do not: was the driver working at the time? In Texas, who pays after an Uber or Lyft accident depends on what the driver was doing in the app when the crash happened. The answer decides which insurance policy applies and how much coverage is available.

Quick answer: if the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger, the rideshare company’s coverage of at least $1 million generally applies. If the driver was only logged in and waiting, lower limits apply. If the app was off, the driver’s personal policy usually applies.

How does rideshare insurance work in Texas?

Texas law sets insurance requirements for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, and they change with the driver’s app status.

Driver’s app status	Coverage that generally applies
App off	The driver’s personal auto insurance
Logged in, waiting for a ride request	At least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage
Ride accepted, on the way, or passenger in the car	At least $1,000,000 of liability coverage

Personal auto policies often exclude rideshare driving, which is why the app status matters so much. Proving it can require records from the rideshare company.

What if you were a passenger?

Passengers are usually in the strongest position after a rideshare crash, because they were not driving. If the rideshare driver caused the crash, the company’s trip coverage generally applies. If another driver caused it, that driver’s insurance is responsible, and the rideshare coverage may still come into play.

What if a rideshare driver hit you?

If an Uber or Lyft driver hit your car, the same app-status rules decide which policy pays. Get the driver’s name and insurance, take a screenshot or photo of anything showing the rideshare company, and note whether there were passengers. The steps in what to do after a car accident in San Antonio still apply.

What should you do after an Uber or Lyft accident?

Get medical care, report the crash in the app if you were a rider, keep your trip receipt, and photograph the scene. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before you understand which policy applies. Remember the Texas deadline: most injury claims must be filed within two years.

How Bergmann Law Firm handles rideshare claims

Rideshare claims involve large companies and layered insurance. The firm works out which policy applies, requests the records needed to prove the driver’s status, and handles the adjusters while you recover. Learn more about rideshare accident cases, what decides how much a car accident case is worth in Texas, or request a free consultation.