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Houston Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer

Uber and Lyft are part of everyday travel in Houston—to work, the airport, and nights out. When a rideshare vehicle is involved in a crash, the insurance question is more complicated than in a typical car wreck, because coverage depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the time. Basu Law Firm, PLLC helps passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and rideshare drivers understand their options. Attorney Annie Basu is responsible for this page.

Passenger ordering a rideshare on a smartphone beside a car – Houston Uber and Lyft accident lawyer

How Rideshare Insurance Works in Texas

Texas regulates insurance for transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft in Chapter 1954 of the Texas Insurance Code.

  • When the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride request, the law requires primary liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.052).
  • From the time a ride is accepted until the passenger exits, at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage is required for death, bodily injury, and property damage (Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.053).
  • When the app is off, the driver’s personal auto policy generally applies.

Who May Have a Claim

  • Passengers injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft
  • Other drivers and passengers hit by a rideshare vehicle
  • Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a rideshare driver
  • Rideshare drivers injured by another negligent driver (claims may involve the other driver’s insurance and the driver’s own coverages)

Evidence in Rideshare Cases

Trip records from the app (screenshots of the ride, the driver’s name, and the timeline), the crash report, photos, witness information, and medical records. Rideshare companies may hold data about the driver’s app status, which can determine which insurance applies.

Fault, Damages, and Deadlines

Texas proportionate-responsibility rules apply (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 33). Damages may include medical expenses, lost earnings, pain, mental anguish, and impairment. Most claims must be filed within two years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).

Rideshare in Houston

Uber and Lyft drivers serve George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby airports, NRG Park and Toyota Center events, the Texas Medical Center, downtown, Midtown, Montrose, and the Galleria. Airport pickups use designated rideshare zones, and event traffic can create congested drop-off areas where crashes happen.

Insurance by Phase of the Trip

Texas law sets insurance minimums for transportation network company (TNC) drivers based on what the driver was doing (Tex. Ins. Code ch. 1954):

  • App off: only the driver’s personal auto policy applies, and many personal policies exclude rideshare use.
  • App on, waiting for a request: at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (§ 1954.052).
  • Request accepted through end of the ride: at least $1 million in liability coverage (§ 1954.052).

Whether the driver was logged in, en route, or carrying a passenger often decides which policy pays.

Step by Step After a Rideshare Crash

Rideshare sticker on a car window – Houston rideshare accident claim
  1. Get medical care and keep records.
  2. Screenshot the trip in your app: driver name, vehicle, route, and time. Report the crash in the app.
  3. Photograph the vehicles, plates, and scene, and get the other driver’s information if another car was involved.
  4. Get the crash report from HPD, the sheriff, or the constable.
  5. Identify the coverage phase and notify the TNC’s insurer and any other driver’s insurer.
  6. Check your own coverage. Your PIP and UM/UIM may also apply as a passenger, pedestrian, or driver hit by a rideshare vehicle.
  7. Pursue the claim within the two-year deadline (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).

Are Rideshare Drivers Employees?

Texas law generally treats TNC drivers as independent contractors if certain conditions are met (Tex. Occ. Code § 2402.114), which can limit claims against the company itself. Claims usually proceed against the driver and the insurance the TNC provides, along with any other at-fault driver.

If You Drive for Uber or Lyft

If you were hurt while driving for a rideshare company, coverage may depend on your app status, your personal policy, and the TNC’s UM/UIM coverage, if any. Keep your trip records.

How Basu Law Firm Can Help

We identify which phase the driver was in, put each insurer on notice, collect the trip records, and document your injuries and losses.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was an Uber passenger. Whose insurance pays?

If the driver had accepted your ride, Texas law requires at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage for that period (Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.053). If another driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurance may also be responsible.

Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?

Rideshare companies generally treat drivers as independent contractors, and liability depends on the facts and the law that applies. The insurance required by Chapter 1954 is often the main source of recovery.

What should I save after a rideshare crash?

Screenshots of the trip in the app, the driver’s name and license plate, photos, and the names of witnesses.

How long do I have to file?

Generally two years from the crash (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).

What if my rideshare driver was hit by another car?

The other driver’s liability insurer may be primarily responsible, and the TNC’s coverage may also apply depending on the trip phase.

Phone showing a rideshare trip receipt – Houston Uber Lyft insurance claim
Does Uber or Lyft insurance cover passengers?

When a ride is in progress, the TNC’s required coverage of at least $1 million in liability coverage applies to claims against the rideshare driver (Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.053).

Can I get the rideshare company’s trip data?

Some information is available in your app; other data may require a formal request or a subpoena in a lawsuit.

How much does a consultation cost?

Our initial consultation for rideshare accident cases is free.

Basu Law Firm at a Glance

  • 3,200+ personal injury matters (firm records through October 31, 2026)
  • Rated 4.8 stars from 960+ Google reviews (as of October 2026)
  • Serving Houston clients since 2006, per firm records
  • Office at 8612 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055 · Se habla español

Case figures are counts of matters logged in Basu Law Firm’s internal records as of October 2026 and include matters with all kinds of outcomes. Google reviews reflect the individual opinions of the reviewers. Past results and reviews do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any other matter; every case depends on its own facts.

Talk With Basu Law Firm

Call (713) 460-2673 or email info@basulaw.com to schedule a free consultation. Se habla español.

Attorney Advertising & Disclaimer

Attorney advertising. Responsible attorney: Annie Basu, Basu Law Firm, PLLC, 8612 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055. This page provides general information about Texas law and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and no particular outcome is promised. Unless a page states otherwise, the attorneys of Basu Law Firm are not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Laws change; information is current as of the date of review and should be confirmed for your situation.

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