Rideshare Accidents: Uber, Lyft, and Insurance Coverage Issues
If you are injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, getting answers about insurance may be harder than you expect. You may be dealing with your injuries while trying to figure out whether the rideshare driver, another driver, or an insurance company is responsible for your losses. In Texas, the available coverage may depend on what the rideshare driver was doing in the app at the time of the crash.
At Rodman Law Office, we represent people injured in rideshare accidents in Austin and throughout Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. We can investigate who caused the crash, determine the driver's rideshare status, and identify the insurance policies that may apply. Those questions matter whether you were an Uber or Lyft passenger or were hit by a rideshare driver. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about your options.
The Driver's App Status Determines the Required Coverage
Texas requires different levels of rideshare insurance based on what the driver is doing at the time of the crash. When a driver is logged into the rideshare network and available to receive requests but has not begun a prearranged ride, Texas law requires at least $50,000 in liability coverage for bodily injury or death per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage.
Once the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride, the required liability coverage increases substantially. Under Texas rideshare insurance law, the policy must provide at least $1 million in total liability coverage for death, bodily injury, and property damage.
In practical terms, establishing exactly what the driver was doing in the app can make a significant difference. It can affect which coverage applies and how much insurance must be available for the crash.
What If You Were a Passenger in the Uber or Lyft?
If you were injured as a rideshare passenger, determining who caused the collision is still the starting point. Your Uber or Lyft driver may have caused the crash, another motorist may have been responsible, or more than one driver may share fault.
Because you were already in a prearranged ride, Texas requires the rideshare insurance policy to carry at least $1 million in aggregate liability coverage for the incident. If your rideshare driver caused the collision, that coverage may be relevant to your claim.
If another motorist caused the rideshare crash, that driver's liability insurance may instead be a source of recovery. Texas rideshare insurance requirements also address uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, as required by state law, which can be important when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage.
The key is not simply that you were riding in an Uber or Lyft. You still need to determine who caused the crash and which coverage applies in that situation.
What If an Uber or Lyft Driver Hits Your Car?
You do not have to be a rideshare passenger for the driver's rideshare status to affect an insurance claim. If an Uber or Lyft driver hits your vehicle, the driver's activity in the app can still determine the level of rideshare insurance required under Texas law.
For example, if the driver was logged in and waiting for a ride request, the required liability limits are lower than those required during a prearranged ride. That distinction can matter when injuries or property damage are substantial.
The Texas Department of Insurance explains that most personal auto policies do not cover a vehicle used for ridesharing. That means you should not assume that the driver's ordinary personal auto policy is the only policy involved.
Through rideshare accident representation, we can examine the driver's rideshare activity, who caused the collision, and the insurance coverage that may apply to your claim.
Who Is Responsible for a Rideshare Accident?
Insurance coverage does not decide who caused the crash. Liability still depends on the conduct that led to the collision.
A rideshare driver may be responsible if actions such as speeding, failing to yield, following too closely, or distracted driving caused the accident. Another driver may instead be responsible, or responsibility may be divided among multiple parties.
Evidence such as the police report, photographs or video, witness accounts, vehicle damage, and information about the circumstances of the collision can help establish fault. In a rideshare case, trip or app information may also be important because it can help establish the driver's status at the time of the crash.
This creates two related but separate questions: who was legally responsible for the collision, and which insurance coverage applies once responsibility is established.
More Than One Insurance Policy May Need to Be Reviewed
A rideshare accident may involve several insurance policies, but that does not mean every policy will cover the crash.
Depending on what happened, potentially relevant coverage may include the rideshare policy, another driver's liability policy, a rideshare driver's personal policy if applicable, or uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Texas law allows the required rideshare coverage to be maintained by the driver, the transportation network company, or both.
For you, the important point is that the first insurance policy identified after the accident is not necessarily the end of the coverage analysis. Establishing fault and the rideshare driver's status can help determine which policies should actually be considered.
Talk to Rodman Law Office About an Austin Rideshare Accident
At Rodman Law Office, we bring more than 30 years of litigation experience to personal injury cases. Our founder and principal attorney, Jim Rodman, is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We are prepared to advocate for our clients in negotiations and in the courtroom when necessary.
After an Uber or Lyft accident, we can investigate how the collision happened, determine the driver's rideshare status, identify potentially responsible parties, and examine the insurance coverage that may apply. These issues can be particularly important when more than one driver or insurer is involved.
As a boutique firm, we provide personalized, one-on-one attention to clients in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. If you need Austin rideshare accident representation, contact us to discuss what happened, the insurance issues involved, and your options for pursuing a personal injury claim.