Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) Crash in Arlington, TX
Short answer: Which insurance applies depends on what the rideshare driver's app was doing. During a trip, Texas requires $1 million in liability coverage. When the driver is logged on but waiting, it's $50,000/$100,000/$25,000. When the app is off, it's the driver's personal policy.
The three app periods
| Driver status | Required coverage (Texas) |
|---|---|
| App off | Driver's personal auto policy only |
| Logged on, waiting for a request | At least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per crash, $25,000 property damage (Ins. Code §1954.052) |
| Accepted a ride through drop-off | At least $1,000,000 liability, plus UM/UIM and PIP unless rejected (§1954.053) |
If the driver's own coverage lapses or doesn't provide the required coverage, the rideshare company's coverage must provide it from the first dollar (§1954.054).
If you were the passenger
You're almost always covered by the $1 million trip-period policy for claims against your driver, and you can also claim against another at-fault driver. Screenshot your trip receipt, driver name, plate and route in the app right away. The app record proves the period.
If you were in another car or walking
Ask the police officer to note that the driver was working for a rideshare app. The coverage tier depends on the app status at the moment of the crash, and only the company's records can confirm it. Texas comparative fault still applies to every party (CPRC §§33.001, 33.012).
If you were the rideshare driver
Your personal policy may exclude rideshare use unless you bought an endorsement. The company's policy covers the logged-on and trip periods at the limits above. Report the crash to both the app and your insurer.
Arlington notes
Police reported 30,598 crashes inside Arlington in 2021–2025, with the most on FM 157 (Cooper St) (Original analysis of TxDOT CRIS crash reports, 2021–2025, crashes where the CRIS city field is Arlington). TxDOT's public CRIS extract we use records crash location, time, severity and collision type, but not vehicle type, so we don't publish Arlington-only counts for this crash type. Get the CR-3 report once it's available, and keep the two-year filing deadline in mind (CPRC §16.003).
Local help in and around Arlington
- Emergency: call 911. Inside city limits the Arlington Police Department responds; on some highways it may be the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office or Texas DPS.
- Crash report: the CR-3 is available from TxDOT about 10 business days after the crash (how to get it).
- Emergency care nearby: Medical City Arlington (Hospital emergency room); Texas Health Arlington Memorial (Hospital emergency room); JPS Health Network (John Peter Smith Hospital) (Hospital emergency room).
- Not sure where to start? Our first-steps checklist covers the first 72 hours.
Common questions
How much insurance does Uber or Lyft have in Texas?
During a trip, at least $1 million in liability coverage under Ins. Code §1954.053. When the driver is logged on but waiting, at least 50/100/25.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?
Texas treats rideshare drivers mostly as independent contractors, so claims usually run through the required insurance. A lawyer can check the facts.
What if the driver's app was off?
Then the driver's personal auto policy applies, like any other crash.
Do I have PIP as a passenger?
The trip-period coverage must include PIP unless rejected, and your own policy's PIP may also apply.
Hurt in an Arlington crash?
Send a short request and a trusted local attorney will contact you promptly and evaluate your case for free. Crashes anywhere in Texas are welcome.