Whether you’re a passenger using Uber, a driver for Lyft, or another motorist sharing the road, accidents involving rideshare vehicles can present unique legal challenges. These cases are governed by rules that differ from typical car crashes, especially in Texas. Understanding how rideshare accidents work can help you act strategically to protect yourself and your potential claim for financial relief after a crash.
At the Kolodny Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how overwhelming a serious accident can be—especially when a large company is involved. Our legal team is here to help you understand your rights after a Texas rideshare accident, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Rideshare Accidents Occur in Texas
Busy Texas cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas see thousands of rideshare trips daily. However, the surging popularity of these services in recent years has also led to an increase in accidents—many caused by preventable issues.
Rideshare accidents often involve:
- Distracted driving—operators checking the rideshare app, using GPS, or texting while operating a vehicle;
- Driver fatigue—long shifts or overnight work leading to reduced alertness;
- Inexperience—drivers unfamiliar with Texas roads or traffic rules;
- Speeding or aggressive driving—common tactics to maximize rides or beat traffic patterns; and
- Lack of maintenance—skipped inspections or repairs essential to keep vehicles roadworthy.
Unlike traditional crashes, rideshare accidents can involve multiple insurance policies and varying legal responsibilities depending on the driver’s activity at the time of the crash.
Texas Rideshare Accident Laws: When Coverage Applies
Texas law classifies Uber, Lyft, and similar companies as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). Under state regulations, specific insurance requirements apply depending on the driver’s status during the crash.
Here is how the insurance framework under Texas rideshare accident laws operates in different situations:
- When the driver is offline. If the app is closed, only the driver’s personal auto policy applies.
- When the app is active, but no ride is accepted. The rideshare company provides contingent coverage. Under Texas law, this is typically $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
- When the driver is en route to or transporting a passenger. Once a ride is accepted or underway, the company’s mandatory $1 million liability policy becomes primary.
Understanding which coverage applies is vital for determining how to file a Texas rideshare accident claim and from whom to seek compensation.
What to Do After a Texas Rideshare Accident
If you’ve been in a rideshare accident, taking the right steps can protect your health and legal rights. Your actions at the scene and in the days following are crucial for any future claim.
Take the following steps after a rideshare crash in Texas:
- Call 911 and get medical attention. Emergency responders should assess everyone involved. Even if you feel fine, internal injuries may not appear immediately.
- Report the accident to police. A formal report provides objective details and helps document the cause of the crash.
- Gather evidence at the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, damage, and any visible injuries. Document driver and witness information.
- Avoid discussing fault. Stick to the facts when speaking with others or providing statements. Admitting fault—even unintentionally—can hurt your claim.
- Notify your insurer. Let your insurance company know about the incident, even if you weren’t driving.
- Contact a rideshare accident lawyer. Legal guidance is essential for navigating insurance complexities and preserving your rights.
These actions set the foundation for a strong case and give your attorney the tools needed to begin the claim process.
Understanding the Texas Rideshare Accident Claim Process
Filing a Texas rideshare accident claim involves several steps that differ from typical auto insurance claims. Multiple companies, policies, and legal standards may be involved, depending on the facts of your case.
Here’s how the process typically unfolds:
- Case review and evidence collection. Your lawyer will gather crash reports, medical records, witness statements, and app data to help build your claim.
- Determining liability. Your legal representative will investigate the responsible party. This could be the rideshare driver, another motorist, or even the rideshare company.
- Filing with the appropriate insurer(s). Depending on the driver’s status, your attorney may file with their personal policy, the rideshare company’s insurer, or both.
- Claim valuation. Your lawyer can calculate the value of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Settlement negotiations or litigation. Many accident claims settle out of court, but if the insurer doesn’t offer a fair amount, your attorney may file a lawsuit.
Because each step can affect your recovery, it’s critical to have legal representation from the start.
Damages Available After a Rideshare Accident
Victims of rideshare crashes in Texas may be eligible for compensation covering both financial losses and emotional harm. Your specific recovery depends on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of the accident.
You may recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses—emergency care, follow-up visits, surgeries, medications, therapy, and future treatment;
- Lost wages—time missed from work during recovery or reduced earning ability due to long-term injuries;
- Property damage—costs to repair or replace your vehicle or other personal items;
- Pain and suffering—ongoing physical pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, and reduced quality of life; and
- Loss of enjoyment of life—inability to return to hobbies, activities, or social interactions once enjoyed.
An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can help calculate and pursue the full value of your claim.
Why You Need a Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Rideshare accident cases are often more complicated than they first appear. There may be overlapping insurance coverage, unclear liability, and attempts by insurers to minimize your claim. A skilled legal team understands how to navigate these barriers.
At the Kolodny Law Firm, we help clients by:
- Investigating the crash and preserving evidence,
- Determining all responsible parties,
- Filing and managing insurance claims,
- Negotiating aggressively with insurers, and
- Taking the case to trial if needed.
Our approach is tailored to each client’s situation, ensuring their story is heard and their recovery prioritized.
Speak with a Texas Rideshare Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident in Texas, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. At the Kolodny Law Firm, we have over a decade of experience offering Texans skilled representation grounded in personal attention, honest advice, and relentless advocacy. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward protecting your rights and reclaiming your future.
Alan Kolodny is committed to representing injured clients in Texas and throughout the United States. Alan earned his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
He focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving the following matters: maritime and offshore accidents, including those under the Jones Act; automobile and 18-wheeler truck accidents; and industrial site accidents, work-related accidents, and claims for injured railroad workers under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
Loading...