Car, motorcycle and pedestrian
Dallas Uber and Lyft accident lawyer.
In an Uber or Lyft crash, the first question is not who was at fault. It is what the driver's app was doing at that moment, because Texas law ties the insurance to it, from the driver's personal policy up to $1,000,000. Screenshots and trip records decide that question, and they are easiest to get right away. We pin down the app status, put every insurer on notice, and handle the claim whether you were the passenger, the other driver or the rideshare driver.
Right now
If the crash just happened.
- 01
Get medical care today
Passengers in the back seat often hit the seat or door with no warning. Get checked even if you feel fine, and keep every record.
- 02
Screenshot the trip now
The driver's name, photo, car and plate, the trip receipt, the route map and the times. If you were hit by a rideshare car, photograph the Uber or Lyft sign in its windshield.
- 03
Report it in the app and to police
Call police and get the report number. Use the app's safety or accident report too, and keep the confirmation. Do not delete the app or your account.
- 04
Get the other driver's insurance too
If another car was involved, get that driver's name, plate and insurance. That driver may be the one at fault, and the rideshare coverage may only come in second.
- 05
Do not give recorded statements
You may hear from the company's insurer, the driver's personal insurer and the other driver's insurer. You do not have to give any of them a recorded statement.
- 06
Call us before you sign anything
The first consultation is free, in English or Spanish. We sort out which policy applies before anyone takes advantage of the confusion.
Key deadlines and numbers
- App on, waiting for a ride
- At least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash, $25,000 propertySource: Tex. Ins. Code 1954.052
- Ride accepted until drop-off
- At least $1,000,000 in coverageSource: Tex. Ins. Code 1954.053
- App off
- Only the driver's personal policy, often the $30,000 per person minimumSource: Tex. Transp. Code 601.072
- Deadline to sue
- 2 years from the crashSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003
- Driver's legal status
- Usually treated as an independent contractor, not an employeeSource: Tex. Occ. Code 2402.114
Texas law
How Texas law treats a rideshare crash.
Texas has a special insurance law for rideshare companies, called transportation network companies. The coverage depends on the driver's status in the app, and either the driver or the company can provide it. Fault still follows normal Texas rules: whoever caused the crash, and that person's insurance, pays.
| App status at the crash | Minimum coverage | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| App off | Driver's personal policy: $30,000 / $60,000 / $25,000 | Treated like any car crash. |
| App on, no ride accepted | $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 | Personal insurers often exclude this period, so the company's policy usually responds. |
| Ride accepted, driving to pick up | $1,000,000 | Applies even with no passenger in the car yet. |
| Passenger in the car | $1,000,000 | Runs until the passenger gets out. |
The app record decides the policy
Insurers sometimes dispute whether the app was on or a ride was accepted. Your screenshots and the company's trip data answer that. We send a preservation request so the data is not lost.
Source: Tex. Ins. Code ch. 1954The driver's personal insurer may deny
Texas lets personal auto policies exclude time spent logged into a rideshare app. A denial from the personal insurer is not the end of the claim. It usually means the company's policy applies.
Source: Tex. Ins. Code ch. 1954Passengers are rarely at fault
As a passenger you can claim against the driver who caused the crash, whether that is your rideshare driver or someone else. When both share blame, you may claim against both.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 33.003The app's terms can matter
Rideshare terms of service include arbitration and other clauses that may affect a claim against the company itself. We review the terms you accepted before deciding where and how to bring each claim.
How we work
How we build a rideshare claim.
Mr. Estrada reads your file and sets the strategy. Our team works the details with him, and you get updates in English or Spanish.
01
Lock down the app status
We gather your screenshots and receipts and request the company's trip and GPS data for the minutes around the crash.
02
Notify every insurer
The company's policy, the driver's personal policy, any other driver's policy, and your own PIP and uninsured or underinsured coverage. Late notice gives insurers an excuse.
03
Collect the crash evidence
The crash report, 911 audio, business and traffic cameras, and dashcam video. Many rideshare drivers run dashcams, and we ask that the footage be kept.
04
Document your injuries and losses
Treatment records, bills, missed work and the effect on your daily life. For serious injuries, the firm works with medical professionals, life care planners and economists.
05
Negotiate, and sue when needed
We send a demand backed by the evidence. When the insurers will not pay fairly, we file and prepare the case for trial.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“He made sure he addressed all of our questions and put us at ease. He never made it seem like we were an inconvenience.”Questions people ask us about money and paperwork.
- Who pays my medical bills right now?
- Your own PIP can pay even if you were a passenger, along with your health insurance, or a doctor who agrees to wait for the case. We help you line this up.
- I drive for Uber or Lyft and someone hit me
- Your claim is against the driver who caused the crash. Your own personal policy may exclude app time, and the company's policy may or may not cover your own injuries, depending on its terms. We read the policies and find what applies, including lost income from driving.
- Do I need papers or a license to make a claim?
- If someone else caused the crash, you can make a claim. Talk to us privately about your situation. What you tell us stays between you and the firm.
Dallas and Odessa
Rideshare crashes in Dallas and West Texas.
In Dallas we see rideshare crashes around Love Field and DFW Airport pickup lanes, downtown, Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts and on I-35E and I-30 after events and late nights. Our Odessa office handles rideshare claims in Odessa and Midland, where many trips run along I-20 and Loop 338.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
Who pays if I was hurt as an Uber or Lyft passenger?
If your driver caused the crash, the rideshare coverage required during a trip, at least $1,000,000, usually applies. If another driver caused it, that driver's insurance is first in line, and the rideshare policy or your own coverage may help when it is not enough.
What if the rideshare driver's app was off?
Then it is a regular car crash, and the driver's personal policy applies. That is why proof of the app status matters so much, and why we request the trip data early.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Sometimes, but it is not the usual path. Texas generally treats drivers as independent contractors, and the app terms include arbitration clauses. Most rideshare claims are paid through the insurance the law requires, which is why identifying the right policy comes first.
A rideshare car hit my car. Is my claim different?
The fault rules are the same, but the coverage depends on what the driver's app was doing. Photograph the app sticker and tell police the driver was working. We take it from there.
What about food delivery drivers?
The Texas rideshare insurance law is written for passenger rides. Delivery apps carry their own policies, and the driver's personal policy may or may not apply. We review each one.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The first consultation is free. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket. We explain the exact terms, including case costs, before you sign.
Related situations
- Car accidents
- Delivery and work vehicle accidents
- Hit and run and uninsured drivers
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Multi vehicle crashes
- All: Personal Injury
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Two offices
Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.