Rideshare accidents present unique challenges that most passengers never think about until they find themselves hurt in the back seat of a stranger’s car. Unlike a typical car accident, where one driver’s insurance covers the damage, rideshare crashes involve multiple layers of coverage that shift depending on what the driver was doing at the moment of the accident. Knowing what to do after a rideshare accident can make the difference between a successful claim and one that falls apart due to missing evidence or missed deadlines.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we have helped thousands of injured Texans navigate complicated insurance claims and recover the compensation they deserve. This guide explains the steps you should take to protect your health and your legal rights after a rideshare accident, and how our team can help if you need experienced legal representation.
Rideshare accidents are not like typical car accidents, and understanding these differences matters when you are trying to figure out what to do. When two regular drivers collide, the at-fault driver’s insurance usually covers the damages in a relatively straightforward process. Rideshare accidents involve a complex web of insurance policies and legal questions that can leave injured passengers unsure where to turn for help.
Uber and Lyft, two of the largest rideshare companies, classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This distinction affects how liability works and which insurance policy applies to your injuries. The company’s responsibility for the driver’s actions depends on whether the driver was logged into the app at the time of the crash and whether they had accepted a ride request.
Rideshare insurance operates on a tiered system that varies based on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident. When the app is turned off, only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies. When the driver has the app on but has not yet accepted a ride, Uber’s insurance program provides limited liability coverage with caps of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.[1] Once a driver accepts a ride request or has a passenger in the vehicle, the rideshare company’s $1 million commercial liability policy and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage become available.[1] Lyft’s coverage follows a similar tiered structure with the same coverage limits during active rides.[2]
The good news for injured passengers is that you are rarely considered at fault for a rideshare accident. You were simply a paying customer when the crash occurred, and your right to compensation typically does not depend on proving you did nothing wrong. Your focus should be on documenting your injuries and understanding which insurance policy will cover your losses.
The moments after a rideshare accident can feel chaotic and disorienting, especially if you are dealing with injuries or shock from what just happened. Knowing what to do after a rideshare accident can help you stay calm and take steps that may protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation later. The following suggestions are general guidelines based on common best practices, and your specific situation may require different actions.
If you are able to move safely, getting away from traffic and potential hazards such as leaking fuel or broken glass can help prevent further injuries while you wait for emergency responders to arrive. You should check on yourself and others in the vehicle to assess whether anyone appears to be seriously hurt, though you should avoid moving anyone who may have spinal injuries unless there is an immediate danger like fire or oncoming traffic.
Calling 911 ensures that police officers will respond to document the scene and that emergency medical personnel can evaluate everyone involved in the accident. The police report created during this process becomes an official record of what happened, and this documentation can be critical when navigating the complexities of rideshare insurance claims. According to Texas Transportation Code Section 550.026, the operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death must immediately notify local law enforcement.[3]
Adrenaline and shock can mask pain and other symptoms in the immediate aftermath of an accident, which means you may have injuries that do not become apparent until hours or even days later. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible after a rideshare accident helps ensure that any injuries are identified and treated promptly, and it also creates medical documentation linking your injuries to the accident itself. Insurance companies and their attorneys sometimes argue that delayed treatment suggests injuries were not caused by the accident or were not as serious as claimed, so prompt medical attention can help you avoid these disputes.
You should keep all medical records, receipts, and documentation related to your treatment, as these records will be important if you later need to file a claim for your medical expenses and other losses.
Both Uber and Lyft require passengers to report accidents through their respective apps, and doing so creates a digital timestamp that confirms you were on an active ride when the crash occurred. This step is important because it establishes the driver’s status at the time of the accident, which determines whether the company’s $1 million commercial liability policy applies to your injuries. Reporting promptly through the app also preserves ride details, including pickup and drop-off times, the route taken, and the driver’s information.
When law enforcement arrives at the scene, you should provide your own account of what happened rather than relying on the rideshare driver to speak for you. The driver may have their own interests to protect, and their version of events may differ from yours in ways that could affect your claim later. You should stick to the facts of what you observed and avoid speculating about fault, speed, or other details you are not certain about. Do not apologize or admit any responsibility for the accident, even out of politeness, because these statements can be included in the police report and used against you later. You should note the police report number so you can reference it when reporting the accident through the rideshare app and when speaking with your own insurance company.
If you are unsure how to answer a question or feel pressured to make statements you are not comfortable with, you have the right to say you would prefer to speak with an attorney before providing additional details.
If you are physically able to do so, collecting photos and other evidence at the scene can be valuable for any future claim you may need to file. Consider taking pictures of vehicle damage, license plates, the accident location, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries you or others have sustained. Screenshots of your rideshare trip summary, including the route, pickup and drop-off times, and driver details, can also serve as important evidence.
You should collect contact and insurance information from all drivers involved in the accident, as well as names and phone numbers from any witnesses who saw what happened. If the accident occurred near businesses, you may want to note which ones might have surveillance cameras that could have captured footage of the crash.
Writing down what happened while the details are fresh in your memory can help you preserve an accurate account that may become important weeks or months later when memories have faded. You should save your trip summaries, receipts, and any correspondence you receive from Uber or Lyft, as these records may be relevant to your claim.
One of the most confusing aspects of what to do after a rideshare accident involves figuring out which insurance policy covers your injuries and who should be held responsible for what happened. Unlike a typical car accident, where the at-fault driver’s insurance generally pays for damages, rideshare accidents involve multiple layers of coverage that shift depending on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the accident. Understanding how this system works can help you know what to expect as you navigate the claims process.
The insurance coverage available after a rideshare accident depends entirely on the driver’s status in the Uber or Lyft app at the time of the accident. This tiered system can significantly affect the amount of compensation available to cover your injuries and other losses. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954 establishes the insurance requirements that transportation network companies and their drivers must maintain while operating in the state.[4] The following table summarizes how coverage changes based on driver status, according to information published by Uber and Lyft on their respective insurance programs and the requirements established by Texas.[1][2][4]
Determining liability after a rideshare accident requires looking at everyone whose actions or negligence may have contributed to the accident. In some cases, more than one party shares responsibility, and identifying all potentially liable parties can increase the total insurance coverage available to compensate you for your injuries.
The rideshare driver may be liable if their negligence caused the accident, such as running a red light, following too closely, or failing to yield the right of way. Another motorist involved in the collision could be responsible if they caused the crash by driving recklessly or violating traffic laws. When the rideshare driver is logged into the app and transporting a passenger, Uber or Lyft’s insurance carrier typically steps in to cover claims up to the policy limits.
In less common situations, other parties may share liability for a rideshare accident. Vehicle manufacturers could be responsible if a defect in the car contributed to the crash, and repair shops may be liable if faulty maintenance played a role. Government entities can sometimes be held accountable if dangerous road conditions, missing signage, or poorly designed intersections contributed to the collision, though claims against government agencies involve special procedures and deadlines.
Understanding why rideshare accidents happen can help you recognize when you may have a valid claim against a negligent driver or another responsible party. Many of these rideshare accidents are the result of behaviors that put passengers and other motorists at unnecessary risk, including the following common causes:
Rideshare apps may delete trip data after a certain period, so you should save screenshots of your ride summary, route, receipt, and driver profile as soon as possible after the accident. This information confirms that you were on an active ride when the crash occurred, which is essential for establishing that the rideshare company’s $1 million commercial policy applies to your claim. You should also save any correspondence you receive from Uber or Lyft regarding the accident.
Keeping a pain journal can help document your symptoms, limitations, and recovery progress in your own words, which may be valuable if your claim goes to trial or if insurance adjusters question the severity of your injuries. You should follow your doctor’s medical advice and maintain copies of all diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, and work restrictions, as these records connect your injuries to the accident and demonstrate the impact on your daily life.
You should file a claim with your own insurance company to notify them of the accident, even if you believe the rideshare company’s insurance will cover your losses. Your own policy may provide benefits such as personal injury protection or medical payments coverage that can help with immediate expenses while you wait for the at-fault party’s insurance to pay. In some situations where the rideshare driver’s coverage is insufficient or disputed, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may step in to fill the gap.
Review your policy carefully to understand your coverage and how it interacts with the rideshare company’s insurance. Sometimes personal auto coverage does not apply when you are a passenger in a commercial vehicle, which means the rideshare company’s insurance becomes your primary source of recovery.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.[5] Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to seek compensation forever, no matter how strong your case might be. Waiting too long also allows evidence to disappear, witnesses to forget important details, and records to become harder to obtain.
Two years may sound like plenty of time, but building a strong rideshare accident case requires thorough investigation, and the sooner you begin protecting your rights, the better your chances of a successful outcome.
An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can issue preservation letters demanding that Uber, Lyft, and other parties secure all evidence related to your accident before anything gets lost or destroyed. Attorneys know how to access app data, obtain electronic records from the vehicles involved, and identify all of the insurance policies and potentially liable parties that may apply to your situation. A lawyer can also protect you from accepting an early settlement offer that does not fully account for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
If you have questions about what to do after a rideshare accident or want to understand your legal options, the team at Jim Adler & Associates offers free consultations so you can get answers before making any decisions about your case.*
Not all personal injury attorneys have experience handling rideshare accident cases, and the unique complexities of these claims require a legal team that understands how to navigate multiple insurance policies, identify all potentially liable parties, and stand up to large corporations like Uber and Lyft. When you are deciding who to trust with your case, you should look for a firm with a proven track record of fighting for injured Texans and the resources to take on well-funded insurance companies.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we have spent more than 50 years standing up for people who have been hurt through no fault of their own. Our team of more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals has the experience and resources to investigate your rideshare accident thoroughly, identify every responsible party, and pursue the full compensation you deserve. We handle rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.*
After a rideshare accident, you probably have a lot of questions about what comes next and how to protect yourself and your health. The answers below address some of the concerns we hear most often from people in your situation. If you have questions that are not covered here, our team is always available to speak with you directly.
Your first priority should be to get to safety and call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if anyone is injured. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not feel seriously hurt, because some injuries do not show symptoms right away. Take photos of the scene and the vehicles involved, save screenshots of your rideshare trip details, and collect contact information from the driver and any witnesses. You should also report the accident through the Uber or Lyft app to create a digital record confirming you were on an active ride when the crash occurred.
Yes, both Uber and Lyft require passengers to report accidents through their respective apps. Reporting the accident creates a digital timestamp that confirms your ride details and establishes the driver’s status at the time of the crash, which is important because it helps determine which insurance policy applies to your injuries. You should report the accident through the app as soon as possible after ensuring your safety and receiving any necessary medical attention. Prompt reporting may also help trigger the rideshare company’s $1 million commercial liability policy if the driver had accepted your ride or you were in the vehicle when the crash occurred.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.[5] Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to seek compensation forever, regardless of how strong your case might be. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident so you can begin protecting your rights and collecting evidence while it is still available, rather than waiting until the deadline approaches.
The answer depends on several factors, including who caused the accident and the driver’s status within the rideshare app at the time of the crash. If you were a passenger on an active ride, the rideshare company’s $1 million commercial liability policy should cover your medical expenses and other losses, though the insurance company may still dispute your claim or try to minimize what it pays. Your own health insurance or personal auto insurance may also provide coverage that helps with immediate expenses while you pursue compensation from the at-fault party. An experienced rideshare accident attorney can help you identify all available sources of coverage and pursue compensation from each responsible party.
You should be very careful about what you say to insurance adjusters from Uber, Lyft, or any other party involved in your accident. These adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to protect their company’s money, not to help you get fair compensation for your injuries. Anything you say can be used against you later to reduce or deny your claim, and even innocent comments about feeling fine or apologizing out of habit can be twisted to suggest your injuries are not serious or that you were at fault. We strongly recommend speaking with an attorney before giving any recorded statements so you can protect your interests and avoid common pitfalls.
While you are not legally required to hire an attorney, rideshare accident cases involve unique complexities that can make it difficult to navigate the claims process on your own. Multiple insurance policies may apply depending on the driver’s status, and identifying all potentially liable parties requires thorough investigation. An experienced rideshare accident lawyer can issue preservation letters to secure evidence, access app data and electronic records, counter lowball settlement offers, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. At Jim Adler & Associates, we handle rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.*
After a rideshare accident, you need a team that knows how to take on large companies like Uber and Lyft and their well-funded insurance carriers. Jim Adler & Associates steps in to secure evidence, handle insurance communications, and build your case while you focus on recovery. We fight rideshare companies with thorough preparation and aggressive representation, not empty promises. Our team is available to speak with you in both English and Spanish.
Rideshare accident cases move fast, and early action protects your rights and preserves critical evidence. The Texas Hammer® is here for injured Texans and their families. If a rideshare accident turned your life upside down, let our team carry the legal load so you can focus on healing.
[1] Uber. “Insurance for Rideshare Drivers.” https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/insurance/
[2] Lyft. “Lyft Driver Insurance Coverage.” https://www.lyft.com/driver/insurance
[3] Texas Transportation Code, Section 550.026. “Duty to Give Information and Render Aid.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm
[4] Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 1954. “Insurance for Transportation Network Company Drivers.” https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/pdf/IN.1954.pdf#1954
[5] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 16.003. “Two-Year Limitations Period.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm
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