An Uber accident lawyer in Houston helps determine which insurance policy applies, who caused the crash, and how the evidence supports your injury claim.
Texas requires rideshare coverage that changes based on whether the Uber driver is offline, available for a ride, or engaged in a trip.
If you were injured in an Uber crash, call 713-955-5000 to speak with Suits & Boots Injury Lawyers about your claim.
How Can Suits & Boots Help After an Uber Accident in Houston?
Suits & Boots Injury Lawyers investigates the crash, identifies available insurance coverage, and builds the evidence needed to pursue an injury claim. Our attorneys handle the insurance issues that arise when an Uber driver, another motorist, or multiple parties contribute to a collision.
We begin with a no-cost, no-obligation 30-Day Investigation. Our team reviews the circumstances of the crash and identifies the records needed to evaluate liability and insurance coverage.
Our approach includes:
- Investigating the driver's status on the Uber app when the collision occurred.
- Identifying Uber's applicable commercial insurance coverage.
- Reviewing the driver's personal automobile insurance policy.
- Collecting crash reports, photographs, video, medical records, and witness information.
- Evaluating claims against other drivers or responsible parties.
Our Houston attorneys also bring trial experience to rideshare injury claims. The firm has handled serious personal injury cases, including a $10,902,500 Montgomery County jury verdict and a $6,521,921 Houston jury verdict. Those results came from specific cases and do not predict the outcome of another claim.
Call 713-955-5000 to start your free investigation.
Who Pays for an Uber Accident in Houston?
The insurance policy that applies to an Uber accident depends on the driver's status in the Uber app and the circumstances of the collision. Texas law establishes different insurance requirements for rideshare drivers based on whether they are available for a ride or engaged in a prearranged ride.
The driver's personal insurance generally applies while the driver is offline. When the driver is logged into the Uber platform and available for requests, Texas law requires coverage with minimum liability limits of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Once the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride, Texas law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage for death, bodily injury, and property damage.
Uber insurance coverage by driver status
| Uber Driver Status | Texas Insurance Requirement | What It Means for an Injury Claim |
| App is off | Personal automobile insurance | The driver's personal policy generally provides the applicable coverage. |
| Logged in and available for requests | $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 property damage | A lower rideshare coverage tier applies while the driver waits for a request. |
| Engaged in a prearranged ride | At least $1 million in liability coverage | The higher rideshare coverage requirement applies during the ride. |
Uber also states that its commercial insurance provides at least $1 million in third-party liability coverage when a driver is en route to pick up a rider or is on a trip.
What Does a Houston Uber Accident Lawyer Investigate?
A Houston Uber accident lawyer investigates the crash, the driver's activity on the rideshare platform, and the insurance policies connected to the collision. The investigation also examines evidence showing how the crash happened and how the injuries developed.
Uber accidents create evidence that does not exist in a standard two-car collision. App records, trip information, driver activity, vehicle information, and communications with the rideshare company may all matter to the claim.
Evidence in an Uber crash claim
Our investigation focuses on records that help establish liability and coverage, including:
- Police reports and crash investigation records.
- Photographs, dashcam footage, and nearby surveillance video.
- Uber trip and driver information connected to the collision.
- Witness statements and contact information.
- Medical records documenting injuries and treatment.
The available evidence depends on the circumstances of the crash. Our team works to identify the records that support your specific claim.
What Types of Uber Accidents Does Our Houston Firm Handle?
Suits & Boots handles injury claims involving Uber passengers, drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists. The responsible parties and available insurance depend on how the collision happened.
Uber passenger accidents
An Uber passenger injured in a collision may have a claim against the responsible driver or other parties. When the Uber driver is engaged in a prearranged ride, Texas law requires at least $1 million in liability coverage.
Crashes caused by Uber drivers
A claim involving an Uber driver requires an examination of the driver's conduct and app status. Running a red light, distracted driving, speeding, unsafe lane changes, and other negligent conduct may establish liability when supported by evidence.
Crashes caused by another driver
An Uber passenger does not lose the right to pursue a claim simply because another motorist caused the collision. The other driver's insurance and the Uber driver's applicable coverage both require review.
Pedestrian and bicycle collisions
Uber vehicles operate throughout Houston neighborhoods, business districts, and major roads. Pedestrians and cyclists injured by Uber drivers require an investigation into traffic conditions, right-of-way, visibility, vehicle movement, and driver conduct.
Fatal Uber crashes
Fatal rideshare crashes create wrongful death claims under Texas law. The available claims and damages depend on the relationship between the deceased person and the surviving family members and the facts of the collision.
Houston Uber accident claims may arise on roads including I-10, I-45, US 59, the Southwest Freeway, Westheimer Road, and streets surrounding George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.
Does Uber Automatically Pay $1 Million After a Houston Crash?
No. A $1 million insurance requirement does not mean every Uber accident produces a $1 million payment. The applicable coverage, liability, injuries, damages, and evidence determine the value and available sources of an individual claim.
Texas requires at least $1 million in liability coverage during a prearranged ride. That coverage addresses liability for death, bodily injury, and property damage under the statutory requirements.
Uber also describes its coverage as dependent on the driver's activity and the circumstances of the accident. Its published insurance information states that the $1 million third-party liability coverage applies when the driver is en route to pick up a rider or is on a trip.
The available coverage does not decide liability by itself. Our attorneys review the crash evidence and applicable policies together.
What Compensation Is Available After an Uber Crash?
Compensation in an Uber accident claim depends on the injuries, liability, insurance coverage, and documented losses. Texas law recognizes several categories of damages in personal injury cases.
Potential damages include:
- Medical expenses related to the accident and necessary treatment.
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity.
- Physical pain and mental anguish.
- Physical impairment and disfigurement when supported by the evidence.
- Property damage and other recoverable losses.
Texas law also provides rules governing exemplary damages in certain cases involving fraud, malice, or gross negligence. The facts must support those damages before they become part of a claim.
A Houston Uber accident attorney reviews the evidence supporting each category rather than placing a value on the claim based only on the severity of the collision.
What If I Was the Uber Driver Injured in the Crash?
An injured Uber driver may pursue a claim against a third party that caused the collision, while other insurance coverage depends on the driver's status and applicable policies. Uber also maintains insurance for qualifying rideshare activity.
Texas law separates rideshare insurance requirements based on the driver's activity on the transportation network. The driver's own automobile policy also matters, particularly when the driver is not engaged in rideshare activity.
Our attorneys review the available policies and identify the parties responsible for the crash.
What If the Uber Driver Was Uninsured?
An uninsured or underinsured driver does not automatically eliminate an injured person's potential claim. The applicable Uber coverage, the driver's policy, and any other available insurance must be reviewed based on the driver's status and the accident facts.
Texas law addresses uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for transportation network company activity through its insurance statutes. The coverage requirements depend on the stage of the rideshare trip.
Uber also publishes information about uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that applies in qualifying circumstances.
How Does Fault Affect a Houston Uber Accident Claim?
Texas follows a modified comparative responsibility rule. A claimant whose percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent is barred from recovering damages under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001.
If the claimant's responsibility is 50 percent or less, the claimant's damages are reduced proportionally to that percentage of responsibility. For example, a claimant assigned 20 percent responsibility on $100,000 in damages has $80,000 in damages after the reduction.
Fault disputes require evidence rather than an insurance adjuster's unsupported percentage.
Evidence that helps establish fault
The evidence in a rideshare crash may include:
- Traffic camera and surveillance footage.
- Vehicle damage and physical evidence.
- Police observations and crash diagrams.
- Witness testimony.
- Driver app and trip records.
Our attorneys examine the available evidence before accepting an insurer's position about responsibility.
What Should You Do After an Uber Accident in Houston?
After an Uber crash, seek appropriate medical care, document the collision, and preserve information about the rideshare trip. Avoid giving an insurer a recorded statement about fault before you understand the facts of the accident.
Useful actions after a rideshare collision include:
- Get medical attention for injuries and follow the treatment instructions you receive.
- Photograph vehicles, road conditions, visible injuries, and the crash location.
- Save the Uber trip information and any messages connected to the ride.
- Obtain the police report and preserve witness information.
- Contact an attorney before accepting a settlement offer.
Do not delete messages, photographs, videos, or other records connected to the accident. Those materials may help establish what happened and which insurance coverage applies.
How Long Do You Have to File an Uber Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Texas generally gives an injured person two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 establishes the two-year limitations period for many personal injury claims.
The deadline does not change simply because the collision involved Uber. Different claims may have different limitation rules, so the specific facts of the case matter.
Waiting until the deadline approaches also leaves less time to investigate the crash, identify coverage, preserve evidence, and prepare a lawsuit when litigation becomes necessary.
FAQ for Houston Uber Accident Lawyer
Can I sue Uber after an accident?
A claim after an Uber accident does not automatically become a direct lawsuit against Uber. Texas law governs transportation network companies and their insurance obligations, while the driver's status and the facts of the crash determine which parties and policies require review.
Does Uber have $1 million in insurance coverage in Texas?
Yes, Texas requires at least $1 million in liability coverage during a prearranged rideshare trip. Uber also states that its commercial insurance provides at least $1 million in third-party liability coverage when a driver is en route to pick up a rider or is on a trip.
What if another driver caused my Uber accident?
You may pursue the at-fault driver's insurance when another motorist caused the collision. The applicable Uber coverage also requires review based on the driver's status and the circumstances of the crash.
What if the Uber driver had no personal insurance?
The absence of applicable personal coverage does not automatically end an injury claim. Texas rideshare insurance requirements and Uber's commercial coverage provide additional coverage during qualifying rideshare activity.
What does a Houston Uber accident attorney charge?
Suits & Boots Injury Lawyers handles qualifying personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. The firm does not charge attorney fees unless it recovers compensation for the client under its fee agreement.
Can an Uber passenger file a personal injury claim?
Yes. An injured Uber passenger may pursue a personal injury claim against the party responsible for the collision and seek applicable insurance coverage.
Does Uber insurance apply when the driver is waiting for a ride?
Yes, but the applicable coverage is lower than the coverage required during a prearranged ride. Texas requires $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage while a TNC driver is logged in and available for requests.
Does Uber insurance cover property damage?
Yes. Texas requires rideshare liability coverage for property damage, with the applicable amount depending on the driver's status. During a prearranged ride, the required $1 million aggregate liability coverage includes property damage.
Can I recover damages if I was partly at fault?
Yes, if your percentage of responsibility does not exceed 50 percent. Texas reduces recoverable damages according to the claimant's percentage of responsibility under the state's modified comparative responsibility rule.
Call a Houston Uber Accident Lawyer About Your Claim
A rideshare crash requires more than identifying the driver. The driver's app status, Texas rideshare insurance requirements, available commercial coverage, personal insurance, liability evidence, and your documented injuries all affect the claim.
Suits & Boots Injury Lawyers investigates those issues through its 30-Day Investigation and builds the case around the available evidence.
Our Houston team handles Uber passenger injuries, crashes caused by rideshare drivers, collisions caused by other motorists, pedestrian injuries, bicycle crashes, and wrongful death claims.
Call 713-955-5000 to discuss your Uber accident with Suits & Boots Injury Lawyers and start a no-cost, no-obligation investigation.