Getting hit by a rideshare driver puts you in an unusual spot right from the start. You’re dealing with the pain, the ER visit, maybe a totaled car, and somewhere in the middle of all that you’re trying to figure out whose insurance is even supposed to cover it. When the at-fault driver works for Uber or Lyft, that question gets more complicated. One of the first things we ask every client in this situation is simple: was the driver logged into the app when the crash happened? It sounds like a small detail. Under Texas law, it’s the detail that decides whether you’re working with a $30,000 policy or one worth $1 million. A Dallas, TX Uber accident lawyer can help determine which insurance coverage applies based on the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the crash, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue the compensation available for your injuries and losses.

What Texas Law Requires of Rideshare Companies

Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954 sets the insurance rules for rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. The amount of coverage that applies depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. There are three different levels, and walking through them in order is the easiest way to see why that $30,000.00 versus $1 million gap exists.

If the driver’s app was off entirely, they’re just a regular driver on the road, and only their own personal auto insurance applies. Texas only requires drivers to carry $30,000.00 in insurance policy limits per person. That’s the bare minimum, and it can run out fast if someone is seriously hurt.

If the driver was logged on and waiting for a ride, but hadn’t accepted one yet, the law requires the rideshare company to provide $50,000.00 in insurance coverage per person, up to $100,000.00 total per accident, plus $25,000.00 for property damage. That’s better than nothing, but it’s still a fairly small amount if someone is seriously hurt.

If the driver had already accepted a ride, whether they were on the way to pick up the passenger or already had the passenger in the car, the insurance coverage jumps dramatically. The law requires the rideshare company to carry $1 million in liability coverage for that trip, which can apply to a wide range of losses, including medical bills, property damage, lost income, and other injuries and damage caused by the crash. That’s a massive difference, and it’s exactly why we always start by asking what the driver’s app showed at the time of the crash.

Why Insurers Push Back on the Timeline

Knowing what the law requires is one thing. Getting an insurer to apply it correctly is another matter entirely.

The insurers may attempt to push the timeline in a manner that keeps the smaller contingent policy in play instead of the full $1 million coverage.

A personal injury attorney can help you secure the evidence needed to ensure that the timeline is not pushed in the wrong direction. The evidence may come from the driver’s app records, trip acceptance timestamps, and GPS data. That information is primarily maintained by the rideshare company, not the driver, which means getting it requires a formal legal request made promptly and handled correctly.

What This Means for Your Recovery

When the full $1 million policy applies, you have real room to recover what the accident actually cost you. That can include medical bills, future treatment, lost income, and compensation for the pain and disruption the injury caused in your life.

The difference between the $50,000.00 contingent policy that applies while a driver is just waiting for a ride, and the $1 million policy that applies once they’ve accepted one, isn’t just a number. For someone facing months of treatment, or an injury that doesn’t fully heal, it’s the difference between a settlement that actually covers what happened to them and one that leaves them paying out of pocket for years. An experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through the complex process of navigating through accidents involving ride-share drivers and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries and damages.

Kelso Law was founded by Rhiannon Kelso, a Dallas-Fort Worth native with over a decade of experience handling personal injury cases and more than 25 trials in front of Texas juries. If you were hit by an Uber or Lyft driver and you’re not sure which policy applies to your case, reach out to a Dallas rideshare accident lawyer. We’ll help you figure out what happened and what your case may be worth.