Quick answer: If an Uber, Lyft, or Waymo driver injured you in North Texas, the insurance coverage available depends on the driver's app status at the moment of the crash. Coverage ranges from the driver's personal auto policy (often excluded for rideshare use) up to a $1 million commercial policy once a ride is accepted, under Texas Insurance Code Section 1954.053. You generally have two years from the date of injury to file suit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Snellings Injury Law offers a free consultation and works on contingency, meaning there is no fee unless the firm wins your case.
If you were hurt in an Uber, Lyft, or Waymo crash in Frisco, Sherman, or anywhere in North Texas, a rideshare accident lawyer at Snellings Injury Law can identify which insurance policy applies and pursue every dollar available to you. Snellings Injury Law handles the insurance calls, the paperwork, and the pressure so you can focus on getting better. There is no fee unless the firm wins, and the consultation is free.
What Counts as a Rideshare Accident in Texas
A rideshare accident is any crash involving a driver working for a transportation network company (TNC), which in practical terms means Uber, Lyft, Waymo, or a similar app-based service. You can have a claim whether you were a passenger, another driver hit by a rideshare vehicle, a pedestrian, or a cyclist.
Rideshare companies are not traditional transportation companies. Drivers use their own personal vehicles, and the insurance that applies shifts depending on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash. That layered structure is what makes rideshare cases more complex than a standard car crash claim.
Who Pays After an Uber, Lyft, or Waymo Crash in Texas
Up to three separate insurance policies can apply after a rideshare crash: the driver's personal auto policy, the rideshare company's commercial policy, and potentially your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Identifying which policy applies, and in what order, is the central challenge in a rideshare accident claim.
Uber and Lyft often argue their driver was an independent contractor rather than an employee, to limit the company's own exposure. That argument does not eliminate your right to compensation, but it does mean you need someone who understands how the coverage layers actually work.
Waymo crashes work differently because there is no human driver. The policies you could potentially recover against are Waymo's own commercial policy, the policy of another driver who caused the crash while you were inside a Waymo, or both.
How Rideshare Insurance Coverage Changes by the Minute in Texas
Under Texas law, the insurance coverage available to you depends on which phase of a trip the Uber, Lyft, or Waymo driver was in at the moment of the crash. There are three phases:
- App off. When the driver is not logged into the rideshare app at all, only the driver's personal auto policy applies. Most personal auto policies exclude driving for hire, which can leave little or no coverage from the rideshare side.
- App on, no ride accepted yet. Once the driver is logged in and available but has not accepted a trip, Texas Insurance Code Section 1954.052 requires minimum coverage of $50,000 for bodily injury or death per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage per incident. Either the driver's personal policy or the rideshare company's contingent coverage must meet those minimums.
- Ride accepted through drop-off. From the moment a driver accepts a ride until the passenger is dropped off, Texas Insurance Code Section 1954.053 requires a policy with a total aggregate limit of $1 million for death, bodily injury, and property damage per incident. This is when the rideshare company's full commercial policy is in force.
Knowing which phase was active at the moment of impact can decide whether you are dealing with a $50,000 limit or a $1 million limit. That is why the exact timestamp of the crash and the driver's app status matter so much in these cases.
The Texas Department of Insurance publishes consumer guidance on rideshare coverage if you want to read the framework yourself.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident in Frisco or Sherman
Four steps in the hours after a rideshare crash protect both your health and your claim:
- Call 911. A police report creates an official record of the crash, which matters when insurance companies later dispute what happened.
- Get medical attention even if you feel fine. Many injuries do not show symptoms right away.
- Document the scene. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and any visible injuries, and collect witness contact information. If you were a passenger, screenshot your ride receipt from the app before closing it, since that record ties the driver to an active trip and establishes which coverage period applies.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with a rideshare accident lawyer. Adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you, and a recorded statement can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Injuries and Losses You Can Recover After a Rideshare Crash
Rideshare crashes cause the same range of injuries as any serious vehicle accident, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, soft tissue injuries, and lacerations. Many rideshare trips run at highway speed, so impacts can be severe.
A rideshare accident claim in Texas can include compensation for medical bills already paid, future medical care, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage.
If a family member was killed in a rideshare crash, a wrongful death claim may also be available under Texas law.
Snellings Injury Law does not promise a specific outcome or dollar amount, since every case is different. The firm's commitment is to identify every available source of compensation and pursue it fully.
How Long You Have to File a Rideshare Accident Claim in Texas
You generally have two years from the date of injury to sue. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you lose your right to pursue the claim in court, regardless of how strong your case is.
Two years can feel like a long time, but evidence fades, witnesses move, and app data can become harder to obtain. Starting the process early gives your attorney the best chance to build a complete record.
Why Choose a Rideshare Accident Lawyer at Snellings Injury Law in Frisco
Snellings Injury Law is a personal injury law firm built around North Texas clients, with offices in Frisco, Sherman, and Celina. Clients can meet their attorney locally rather than driving an hour each way to a big-city office, and digital meetings are available for clients who prefer not to visit an office.
Rideshare cases involve a problem most general practices are not set up to handle: untangling overlapping insurance policies while a national claims team works to minimize what it pays. Snellings Injury Law deals with those adjusters directly, so clients do not have to negotiate a corporate insurance claim while recovering from a serious injury.
Snellings Injury Law's work on auto accident and commercial vehicle accident claims gives the firm direct experience with insurer tactics in vehicle crash cases, and rideshare claims draw on the same playbook. Every case is built on the evidence: the police report, the medical records, the app data, and the coverage that was active at the moment of impact.
Every client gets a free consultation, and Snellings Injury Law charges no fee unless it wins the case.
Contact Snellings Injury Law in Frisco After a Rideshare Crash
If you or someone you love was hurt in an Uber, Lyft, or Waymo accident in North Texas, call Snellings Injury Law at 214-387-0387 or request a free consultation. You can also reach the Sherman office at 903-269-9177 or the Celina office at 945-205-0002. Snellings Injury Law will review your situation, explain your options, and handle the insurance maze so you can focus on what matters most: getting well.
