Dallas- Fort Worth freeways move fast and rideshare drivers are part of that traffic every single day. With that many Uber and Lyft drivers on the road, it’s no surprise that some of them end up causing serious crashes. What surprises most people, once they’re hurt in one of these accidents, is that there isn’t just one insurance policy that might owe them money. There may be three. A Dallas, TX car accident lawyer can help individuals injured in Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare accidents identify the insurance policies that may apply, determine who may be liable for their injuries, and pursue the compensation available under Texas law.

Three Possible Sources of Compensation

The driver’s personal auto policy is the first one, and every driver in Texas is required to carry one. But the state minimum, at $30,000.00 per person, $60,000.00 per accident, is relatively low, and on a freeway where impacts happen at higher speeds and injuries tend to be more serious, that coverage can be exhausted before treatment is even fully underway.

The rideshare company’s own insurance is the second, and usually the most important. Once a driver has accepted a ride, Texas law requires Uber or Lyft to carry $1 million in coverage for that trip. Lawmakers added this rule because they knew a driver’s personal policy would not be nearly enough once that driver is using their car to carry paying passengers. This is the policy that can actually cover the full cost of a serious freeway crash, which is also why rideshare insurers fight so hard to avoid paying it.

Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is the third, and it’s the one almost nobody thinks to check. If the driver’s coverage and the rideshare company’s policy still don’t cover everything you’ve lost, your own insurance may be able to make up the difference. This is some of the most valuable coverage a Texas driver can have, yet most people don’t realize they have it until they need it.

Why Identifying All Three Matters

Insurers generally don’t volunteer information that benefits the person they’re paying out. The rideshare company’s insurer would rather have the driver’s personal policy absorb as much of the claim as possible. The driver’s insurer would rather lean on the rideshare company’s coverage. And nobody on either side is going to remind you that your own policy might apply too.

That’s where reviewing every available policy at the start of a case matters. A good personal injury attorney will look at the trip status, the personal coverage in place, and your own policy together, rather than letting any single insurer settle for less than the full picture supports.

What’s at Stake in Serious Freeway Crashes

High-speed collisions on freeways like LBJ, the Tollway, and I-35 tend to produce injuries that don’t resolve quickly: traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, multiple fractures. The financial toll of recovering from injuries like these is substantial, and it’s exactly the kind of situation Texas’ $1 million rideshare insurance requirement was designed to address. Whether that coverage actually gets applied to your case is a separate question, and one that depends on building the record correctly from the very beginning. Do not allow essential information to get lost in the process of dealing with the rideshare insurance companies, who only look out for the best interest of the rideshare company. Call a personal injury lawyer today and allow them to do the work that is needed to compensate you for your injuries and damage.

Kelso Law works with rideshare accident victims throughout Dallas to identify every policy that may apply to a crash and pursue full compensation under each one. If you were hurt by an Uber or Lyft driver on a Dallas freeway, reach out to a Dallas rideshare accident lawyer to talk through what coverage may apply to your case.