Uber and Lyft Have Their Own Legal Teams — You Should Too
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have made getting around Texas easier than ever. But when an accident happens — whether you were a passenger, another driver, or even a pedestrian — the situation gets legally complicated.
Whose insurance pays? Can you sue Uber directly? What if the driver wasn’t even logged in? These questions matter — and the wrong move could cost you the compensation you deserve.
Led by Texas’ most recognized civil trial lawyer, Jim Adler & Associates has:
A team of aggressive attorneys who fight to get every dollar you deserve
We handle:
With 4 office locations across Texas, we’re ready to help — starting with a FREE case review.
Call 1-800-505-1414 now or click here to get started online.
A pickup truck struck our client’s vehicle from behind while travelling 70 miles per hour and nearly killed him. He sustained a shattered spine, multiple rib fractures, and an aortic injury that he only survived due to immediate first aid.
Eyewitnesses described the pickup truck driver as weaving through traffic while on his phone shortly before the wreck, and he quit his job afterward to avoid taking a post-crash drug test.
After our client underwent a reconstructive spinal surgery with embedded hardware, we obtained a jury verdict to vindicate him: $5,908,403
Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t professionals. Many are part-time workers juggling multiple gigs, racing the clock to complete as many rides as possible. The result? Risky behavior.
Common causes of rideshare crashes include:
Houston, Dallas, and Austin are especially prone to Uber and Lyft crashes due to high traffic density and heavy rideshare usage.
Liability depends on what the rideshare driver was doing at the moment of the crash — and Texas law treats this very differently depending on their status in the app.
The driver is considered off-duty. Their personal auto insurance is responsible. Uber and Lyft provide no coverage in this scenario.
Texas law requires Uber and Lyft to provide contingent liability coverage:
This kicks in only if the driver’s personal insurance denies or doesn’t cover the claim.
Uber and Lyft now provide their $1 million commercial insurance policy, which includes:
This is the highest level of protection — but it often takes a lawyer to trigger it properly and ensure you’re paid fairly.
You may have a valid case if you were:
Each scenario has a different liability path, but all should start with legal guidance before speaking to insurance adjusters.
Maria’s Story:
Maria, a schoolteacher in Dallas, was riding in a Lyft when her driver ran a red light and was hit by another car. She suffered a fractured wrist and severe whiplash. The driver’s app was active, which triggered Lyft’s $1 million policy — but their insurance team delayed payout for months, claiming “contributory fault.”
With a lawyer’s help, Maria proved she was an innocent passenger and recovered over $220,000 — enough to cover surgery, lost wages, and rehab.
Texas law allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
You may be eligible for:
Tip: Always request the driver’s accident report and a record of their app activity at the time of the crash. These details are often essential for proving coverage.
This gray area is where most rideshare accident disputes arise — and why having a lawyer matters.
Uber and Lyft don’t want to pay. Their insurers may try to:
They’re betting you’ll take the first offer — or never call a lawyer.
If you’ve been in a regular car crash, you typically deal with one driver and one insurance company. But in a rideshare accident, it’s common to deal with:
That’s three or more insurers, all trying to avoid responsibility. The paperwork, delays, and blame-shifting can feel impossible to deal with — unless you have someone on your side who’s done it before.
Rideshare cases often take longer than standard car accident claims. That’s because:
We’ll give you a realistic timeline based on your injuries and who’s involved — and we’ll handle every step so you can focus on healing.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we’re not just here to get you a check (though we’re great at that, too).
We also help:
Texas defines Uber and Lyft as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and regulates them under Chapter 2402 of the Texas Occupations Code.
Key points:
In most cases, no. Their drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees. However, if Uber or Lyft failed to properly screen a dangerous driver, you may have grounds to sue them for negligence.
You can still file a claim against the other driver’s insurance — and possibly use the rideshare policy’s underinsured coverage if needed.
Absolutely. If a rideshare driver hit you while using the app, you may be covered under their commercial policy.
If you’ve been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident, don’t try to fight the insurance companies alone. They have lawyers. So should you.
Call Jim Adler & Associates now at 1-800-505-1414 or click here to request your free case review online.
Hurt in an accident? Tell us what happened. We’ll give you straight answers — fast, free, and with no strings attached.*
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