What to Do If You’re Injured in an Uber or Lyft in Texas

Rideshare services have become a daily part of life in San Antonio. Whether you’re heading to the airport, catching a ride downtown, or avoiding the drive home after a night out, Uber and Lyft are convenient. But when a crash happens, injured passengers often feel blindsided by one question: Who is actually responsible?

The answer is more complicated than a standard car accident, and knowing your next steps can protect your ability to recover compensation.

Get Safe and Seek Medical Care First

Your health is the immediate priority. Move to safety if you can, call 911, and get a medical evaluation even if you feel fine.

Call 911 right away. A police report officially documents the accident, and that report can become a critical piece of evidence later. Even if you feel fine at the scene, adrenaline often masks pain. Injuries like whiplash, soft tissue damage, and internal bleeding may not show up for hours or days.

Go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic as soon as possible. A documented medical visit creates a direct link between the accident and your injuries. Gaps in medical care are one of the most common reasons insurance companies deny or reduce claims.

Document the Scene

Take photos, collect witness contact information, and take a screenshot of your rideshare app before closing it. This evidence disappears fast.

If you’re physically able to do so, document everything at the scene:

• Photograph all vehicles involved, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
• Take a screenshot of your Uber or Lyft app immediately, capturing your trip details, driver information, and the route.

Do not delete the app or close the trip until you have saved that information. The rideshare platform records trip data, but having your own copy strengthens your case.

Report the Accident Through the App

Both Uber and Lyft have in-app accident reporting tools. Use them, but be careful what you say.

Uber and Lyft both have processes for reporting accidents through their apps. Report the incident promptly, but limit what you say. Do not make statements about fault, your injuries, or how you feel. Anything you say can be used to minimize your claim.

File a report, note that you were involved in an accident, and stop there. Let the legal process handle the rest.

Understand Who May Be Liable

Texas rideshare liability depends on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. The coverage differs significantly by phase.

This is where rideshare injury cases get complex. Texas law and the companies’ own insurance policies establish different levels of coverage depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash.

Uber and Lyft both use a three-phase model:

• Phase 1: The app is on, but no ride has been accepted. Limited contingent liability coverage applies.
• Phase 2: The driver has accepted a ride and is en route to pick up the passenger. Higher coverage applies, typically up to $1 million in liability.
• Phase 3: A passenger is in the vehicle. The full $1 million liability policy is active.

If you were a passenger in the vehicle during a crash, you were in Phase 3. That means the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy was in effect. But that doesn’t mean the claim is simple. Both companies vigorously defend claims, and their insurers are experienced at reducing payouts.

Texas also follows a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. This means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault, and you cannot recover anything if you are found greater than 50% responsible—meaning 51% or more bars recovery, but at 50% or less, you can still recover a reduced amount. In rideshare cases, passengers are rarely assigned fault, but it’s worth understanding how the rule works.

Watch Out for Early Settlement Offers

Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly after the crash. Early offers are almost always lower than what your claim is worth.

After a rideshare accident, you may hear from an insurance adjuster within days, sometimes hours. They may seem helpful, but their job is to resolve your claim for as little money as possible. Early settlement offers rarely account for future medical costs, lost wages, or long-term pain and suffering.

Do not sign anything or accept any payment before speaking with an attorney. Once you settle, you typically waive your right to pursue additional compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than initially thought.

Texas Has a Deadline for Filing a Claim

Texas gives most personal injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003.

Two years may feel like a long time, but building a strong rideshare injury case takes time. Gathering medical records, working with accident reconstruction experts, and negotiating with insurers all require preparation. Waiting too long can mean losing your right to file entirely.

How Crash Angels Can Help

Rideshare accident claims involve layers of insurance coverage, corporate legal teams, and complex liability questions. At Crash Angels, we handle rideshare injury cases throughout San Antonio and the surrounding area. We offer free consultations, and you don’t pay unless we win.

If you or someone you care about was injured in an Uber or Lyft ride, you deserve to understand your options before making any decisions. Call us at 210-801-9314 or contact us to schedule your free consultation today.

Last updated: September 2026