What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Texas: Your Complete Action Plan

TLDR: Key Takeaways

• Texas requires police reports for accidents causing injury or $1,000+ in damage—which covers nearly every rideshare crash.
• You have access to up to $1 million in coverage during active rides, but proving your case requires the right evidence.
• The first 24-48 hours after your accident are critical for protecting your health and legal rights.

Your First Hour Can Make or Break Your Case

Getting into a rideshare accident turns your day upside down instantly. Whether you’re a passenger in an Uber that got rear-ended on I-35 or a driver who collided with a Lyft on Loop 289 in Lubbock, the confusion hits immediately. Your phone might be cracked, you’re not sure if you’re hurt, and everyone’s asking what happened.

Here’s the reality: what you do in that first hour directly impacts everything that follows. Skip the wrong step, and you could lose thousands in compensation. Miss documenting key evidence, and insurance companies will use it against you later.

Start with the non-negotiables. Get yourself and others to safety if possible. Call 911 immediately—Texas law demands police involvement for accidents causing injury or property damage over $1,000, and rideshare crashes almost always meet this threshold. Even if you think it’s minor, that fender-bender could easily cost $3,000 to fix with today’s vehicle technology.

Don’t trust how you feel right now. Adrenaline masks pain, and serious injuries like concussions or internal bleeding don’t always show symptoms immediately. Accept medical evaluation at the scene, even if you feel fine. That documentation becomes crucial when insurance companies later try to claim your injuries aren’t serious.

Capture everything while it’s fresh. Take photos of all vehicles, the accident scene, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Screenshot your rideshare app before closing it—that timestamp and trip status can determine whether you have access to $50,000 or $1 million in coverage. Get contact information from witnesses, because they’ll be nearly impossible to track down later.

The Texas Rideshare Insurance Maze Explained

Most people have no idea how rideshare insurance actually works until they need it. The coverage isn’t straightforward it’s a complex system that changes based on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of impact.

Phase 1: App Off, Personal Insurance Only. When rideshare drivers aren’t working, only their personal auto insurance applies. Texas requires minimum coverage of $30,000 per person for injuries, but here’s the catch: many personal policies exclude commercial activities. If the insurance company discovers the driver does rideshare work, they might deny the entire claim, leaving you with no coverage at all.

Phase 2: App On, Waiting for Rides. Once drivers turn on their app but haven’t accepted a ride yet, rideshare companies provide backup coverage. Uber and Lyft offer $50,000 per person for injuries and $25,000 for property damage, but this only kicks in if the driver’s personal insurance won’t cover the accident. It’s better than nothing, but often inadequate for serious injuries.

Phase 3: Active Ride Period. This is where the real protection exists. From the moment a driver accepts a ride request until the passenger is dropped off, rideshare companies provide comprehensive commercial coverage including $1 million in liability insurance. This also includes uninsured motorist protection if another driver causes the accident but lacks adequate insurance.

The problem? Insurance companies will fight over which phase applied during your accident. They might claim a driver was “off duty” when they were actually en route to pick someone up, potentially reducing available coverage by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Why Fault Determination Gets Complicated Fast

Texas operates under modified comparative negligence rules, which sounds technical but has huge practical implications for your case. If you’re found to be 51% or more responsible for the accident, you get zero compensation. Even being 20% at fault reduces your settlement by that same percentage.

Rideshare accidents often involve multiple vehicles and complex scenarios that make fault determination challenging. Picture this: you’re a passenger in a Lyft that’s struck by a drunk driver who ran a red light, but your driver was also speeding and checking their phone. Who’s responsible? The drunk driver bears primary fault, but your driver’s actions might reduce the rideshare company’s liability.

Evidence becomes everything in these disputes. Police reports provide the foundation, but they’re not the final word. Witness statements, traffic camera footage, cell phone records, and data from the rideshare app all play roles in establishing what really happened. Insurance companies will hire investigators and accident reconstruction experts to minimize their liability—you need the same level of preparation.

Even passengers aren’t automatically protected. While passengers generally can’t be held liable for causing accidents, insurance companies will still try to minimize claims by disputing the severity of injuries, questioning medical treatment, or arguing that injuries were pre-existing. They’ll scour your social media for photos that might contradict your injury claims.

The Hidden Costs of Waiting Too Long

Many accident victims make the mistake of waiting to see how they feel or hoping insurance companies will handle everything fairly. That delay often costs them significantly in the long run.

Evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance camera footage gets deleted, witnesses forget details, and physical evidence from the scene gets cleaned up. The rideshare company’s internal trip data might be harder to obtain months later. Even your own memories of the accident will fade, making it harder to provide consistent statements.

Injuries often worsen over time. What feels like minor soreness today could develop into chronic pain requiring months of physical therapy. Concussion symptoms might not appear for days. If you don’t establish medical care immediately, insurance companies will argue that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident.

Texas gives you two years to file a lawsuit, but practical deadlines come much sooner. Insurance companies often have internal deadlines for claims, and gathering all necessary documentation can take months. Starting the process early gives you more options and stronger negotiating position.

When Professional Help Becomes Essential

The decision to hire an attorney often comes down to complexity and stakes. If you walked away with minor soreness and some vehicle damage, you might handle the insurance claim yourself. But most rideshare accidents involve complications that make legal representation valuable.

Multiple insurance companies mean multiple battles. You might be dealing with the rideshare driver’s personal insurance, the rideshare company’s commercial policy, the other driver’s insurance, and possibly your own coverage. Each company has different procedures, different motivations, and different strategies for minimizing payouts. Coordinating between them while recovering from injuries becomes overwhelming quickly.

Serious injuries require long-term thinking. If you’re facing surgery, extended rehabilitation, or permanent disability, early settlement offers rarely account for future needs. An experienced attorney can work with medical experts to project lifetime costs and lost earning capacity that you might not have considered.

Corporate policies favor corporate interests. Rideshare companies have teams of lawyers and adjusters whose job is minimizing claim payouts. They know the system better than individual accident victims, and they’ll use that advantage. Having your own experienced advocate levels the playing field.

Contingency fee arrangements remove financial barriers. Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if they recover compensation for you. This allows you to access experienced legal representation without upfront costs, which is particularly valuable when you’re already dealing with medical bills and lost income.

What You Can Actually Recover

Understanding potential compensation helps you evaluate settlement offers and make informed decisions about your case. Texas law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages in personal injury cases.

Economic damages cover measurable financial losses. This includes all medical expenses from emergency room treatment through long-term rehabilitation, lost wages during recovery, reduced earning capacity if injuries affect your ability to work, property damage to vehicles and personal belongings, and out-of-pocket costs like transportation to medical appointments.

Non-economic damages address life impact. Pain and suffering compensation recognizes the physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by your injuries. Loss of enjoyment damages compensate for your inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed. Mental anguish recognition addresses anxiety, depression, and trauma resulting from the accident.

Punitive damages apply in extreme cases. When accidents result from gross negligence or intentional misconduct, Texas courts may award additional damages designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior. These are relatively rare but can be substantial when they apply.

The challenge lies in proving and quantifying these damages. Insurance companies will question every medical bill, dispute the necessity of treatments, and argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as claimed. Comprehensive documentation from the beginning strengthens your position throughout the process.

Common Mistakes That Damage Cases

Even well-intentioned actions can hurt your case if you don’t understand how insurance companies will interpret them later.

Admitting fault or apologizing at the scene gives insurance companies ammunition to deny your claim. Statements like “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see you” can be taken out of context and used against you, even if you were just being polite or expressing general regret about the situation.

Declining medical attention when you feel fine can backfire if injuries develop later. Insurance companies will argue that you weren’t really hurt if you refused treatment at the scene, even though many serious injuries don’t present immediate symptoms.

Posting on social media during your recovery can undermine injury claims. Photos of you at family gatherings or participating in activities might be used to argue that your injuries aren’t as limiting as you claim, even if those photos don’t show the full picture of your condition.

Accepting quick settlement offers before understanding the full extent of your injuries often results in inadequate compensation. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you typically can’t seek additional compensation later, even if your injuries prove more serious than initially thought.

Taking Action in Texas

If you’ve been involved in a rideshare accident in Texas, time is working against you. Evidence is disappearing, your injuries may be developing, and insurance companies are already strategizing to minimize their payouts.

Document everything immediately. Keep records of all medical treatment, correspondence with insurance companies, and how your injuries affect your daily life. Take photos of visible injuries as they develop and heal. Save all receipts related to your accident and recovery.

Be cautious with insurance communications. You’re required to report the accident, but you’re not required to provide detailed recorded statements or sign broad medical record releases without understanding your rights. Consider consulting with an attorney before providing extensive information to insurance companies.

Focus on your recovery while protecting your rights. Follow all medical advice, attend scheduled appointments, and don’t try to “tough out” your injuries. At the same time, be mindful that your actions during recovery will be scrutinized if your case goes to litigation.

FAQs

What should I do immediately after a rideshare accident? Call 911, get medical attention even if you feel fine, document everything with photos, screenshot your rideshare app, and get witness contact information. Don’t admit fault or make detailed statements to insurance companies without legal advice.

How do I know which insurance coverage applies? It depends on what the rideshare driver was doing when the accident occurred. Personal insurance applies when the app is off, limited rideshare coverage applies when waiting for rides, and full commercial coverage applies during active trips.

Can I sue the rideshare company directly? Direct lawsuits against Uber or Lyft are possible but challenging since drivers are independent contractors. Most claims are handled through insurance coverage, though gross negligence cases might allow direct company liability.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance? Rideshare companies provide uninsured motorist coverage during active trips. Your own auto insurance might also have uninsured motorist protection that applies even when you’re a passenger.

How long do I have to file a claim or lawsuit? Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, but insurance claims have much shorter deadlines. It’s important to start the process quickly to preserve your rights and evidence.

Don’t Navigate This Alone

Rideshare accidents involve complex insurance systems, multiple potential defendants, and evolving legal standards that most people aren’t equipped to handle while recovering from injuries. What seems like a straightforward claim can quickly become a battle involving multiple insurance companies, each trying to minimize their liability.

The difference between handling this yourself and having experienced legal representation often measures in tens of thousands of dollars of compensation. Insurance companies know that most accident victims don’t understand their rights or the true value of their claims—they count on that knowledge gap to reduce payouts.

If you’re dealing with significant injuries, disputed fault, or resistance from insurance companies, professional legal help isn’t just valuable—it’s essential for protecting your financial future. Don’t let a rideshare accident derail your life because you didn’t understand your options.