Rideshare Accidents

Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft have become a staple for individuals in need of transportation across the United States. Rideshare company drivers are not certified for commercial driving nor do they take additional driving courses. There is no perfect rideshare driver and they are as prone to making the same mistakes as other drivers on the roadways. If you are a passenger who has been injured while traveling in a rideshare vehicle, you may be eligible for compensation.

Rideshare drivers in Texas must maintain primary automobile insurance as required by §1954.051 of the Texas Insurance Code. Specifically, this section states:

• Insurance maintained under this subchapter must allow a transportation network company driver to use a personal vehicle to transport transportation network company riders for compensation and cover the driver while:
• the driver is logged on to the transportation network company’s digital network as provided by Section 1954.052; or
• the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride as provided by Section 1954.053.
• Insurance maintained under this subchapter must comply with the law applicable to personal automobile insurance in this state, including this subtitle and Chapter 601, Transportation Code.
• The coverage requirements of this subchapter may be satisfied by:
• automobile insurance maintained by the transportation network company driver;
• automobile insurance maintained by the transportation network company; or
• a combination of Subdivisions (1) and (2).

Insurance requirements for rideshare drivers between rides which is defined by a rideshare company driver who is logged on to their network and is available to receive transporation requests, but is not actively in a pre-arranged ride include:

• $50,000 for bodily injury/death for each person involved in an incident;
• $100,000 for bodily injury/death per incident; and
• $25,000 for property damages;
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage as required by §1952.101 of the Texas Insurance Code;
• Personal injury protection required by §1952.152 of the Texas Insurance Code.

Insurance requirements for rideshare drivers during a pre-arranged ride includes:

• Coverage with a total added amount limit of liability of $1 million for bodily injury/death/property damages per incident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage as required by §1952.101 of the Texas Insurance Code
• Personal Injury Protection coverage as required by §1952.152 of the Texas Insurance Code.

Be weary, 1954.101 through 1954.152 of the Texas Insurance Code state the driver’s personal insurance is not responsible nor does it cover an incident involving a driver logged in to their rideshare network at the time of the incident.