Uber and Lyft Accident Injuries

Passengers and drivers

Rideshare accidents can involve several insurance policies, including the driver's personal policy and the coverage the rideshare company carries while a trip is active. Keep your trip receipt and the driver's information, report the crash in the app, and get your injuries checked.

Injuries we see after rideshare crashes

• Whiplash from rear end collisions
• Back pain from side impacts
• Headaches
• Shoulder and seat belt injuries

How does Uber and Lyft insurance work in Texas during each part of a trip?

Texas ties rideshare insurance to what the driver was doing. With the app on and waiting for a request, coverage must include at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident for injuries and $25,000 for property damage. Once the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride, the minimum rises to a $1 million total limit per incident.

Engaged in a prearranged ride generally covers the time from accepting a request through the trip itself, so a driver heading to pick up a rider is usually in the higher coverage period. When the app is off, Texas Chapter 1954 requirements do not apply, and the driver's personal auto policy terms control.

Figures like these are required minimums. The policies rideshare companies actually carry can differ and may change over time. Claims are typically handled through the company's insurer, so keep your claim number and any messages you receive.

Both app on periods also call for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and Personal Injury Protection where Texas law requires them. These are minimums set by Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954, and how they apply to a specific crash is a question for an attorney.

• App off: the driver's personal auto policy
• App on, waiting for a request: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, $25,000 property damage
• Request accepted, en route or on the trip: $1 million total per incident

What should a rideshare passenger do after a crash?

Get medical help first if you need it. Then screenshot your trip receipt and the driver's profile, photograph both vehicles and your injuries, get the other driver's information, and report the crash through the app. Those screenshots show that a trip was active, which can matter for which coverage applies.

Trip details can be harder to find later, so capture them before you close the app. Note the pickup and drop off addresses, the time of the crash, whether the driver was using a phone, and where you were sitting.

Passengers are usually not at fault in a rideshare crash, but that does not make claims simple. Several insurers may be involved, and many passengers choose to speak with an attorney. Meanwhile, get examined and keep your care consistent.

If you were riding home from the airport, a restaurant or an event, you may have felt fine and gone straight home or to your hotel. Symptoms that show up the next day still deserve an exam, and it helps to note the trip details while they are fresh.

What if you were the Uber or Lyft driver when the crash happened?

Drivers get hurt too, and the coverage that applies depends on whether your app was off, on and waiting, or engaged in a ride. Personal auto policies may treat rideshare driving differently from personal driving, so review your policy and any rideshare endorsement, and talk with your agent or an attorney.

Workers' compensation may or may not apply. Rideshare drivers are often classified as independent contractors, which can affect coverage, so ask an attorney rather than assuming either way.

Driving for hours also means your neck and back were likely already working hard before the crash. Tell us about your driving schedule and any pain you had before the accident. That history helps us separate old aches from new injuries in your records.

Missing driving time can affect your income too. Keep records of your trips and earnings before the crash and the days you could not drive afterward. An attorney may ask for those records when reviewing your claim.

What if another driver hit the Uber or Lyft you were riding in?

When another driver causes the crash, that driver's liability insurance is generally the first place a claim looks, and the rideshare coverage may also come into play, including uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver lacks enough insurance. Several policies may be involved, so an attorney can help sort the order.

For your health, the source of the crash does not change the plan. Get examined, follow your care plan and keep every record. Tell us the names of all insurers you have heard from so our records requests go to the right place with your authorization.

Keep copies of messages from the rideshare company and any claim numbers. If you were commuting to work or traveling for your job, mention it, because that can affect which coverage applies.

What injuries do rideshare passengers commonly have?

Rideshare passengers often sit in the back seat, sometimes turned to talk or looking at a phone, which can increase neck strain in a sudden stop. Common injuries include neck and upper back strains, low back pain, headaches, shoulder injuries from the belt and knee injuries from striking the seat ahead.

Rear seat passengers sometimes skip the seat belt on short trips, which can mean hitting the front seat, door or window. Tell us honestly whether you were belted. It helps us understand how you were injured and where to look.

Seek emergency care right away for severe headache, confusion, repeated vomiting, trouble breathing, abdominal pain or weakness in an arm or leg. For everything else, an exam in the first few days gives you a clear starting point.

Visitors hurt in a rideshare on the way to or from DFW Airport or an event can also be seen at our clinics. Tell us where you live, so we can plan care that fits the time you will be in North Texas.

Frequently asked questions

This page is general information, not legal advice. For questions about a claim, talk to an attorney or the agency that handles your claim.