TL;DR
Rideshare accident coverage depends on the driver’s app status at the time of the crash — from a personal auto policy when the app is off, up to $1 million in liability coverage once a ride is accepted or underway. Texas gives you two years to file a claim, while Tennessee allows only one. Acting fast to preserve app data and trip records protects your case in either state.
After a rideshare accident, the driver’s rideshare insurance policy — not just their personal auto policy — often covers your injuries, but which coverage applies depends entirely on the driver’s status in the app at the moment of the crash. In Texas, transportation network companies must carry up to $1 million in liability coverage under the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2402. Tennessee imposes a nearly identical requirement under its own Transportation Network Companies Act. This post breaks down how that coverage actually works and what to do right after a crash. For a broader look at fault and liability across all crash types, see our motor vehicle accidents guide.
In Your State: Rideshare Accident Insurance Coverage in Texas and Tennessee
If you’re injured in a rideshare accident in Texas or Tennessee, the insurance available to you depends on the driver’s app status at the time of the crash. Coverage ranges from the driver’s personal auto policy, when the app is off, up to $1 million in combined liability coverage once a ride request has been accepted or a passenger is in the vehicle.
App on, no ride accepted. During this period, the driver’s personal insurance is primary. Both Texas and Tennessee require the rideshare company to provide contingent coverage of $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage if the personal policy denies the claim, a threshold confirmed in Tennessee’s insurance requirement for transportation network companies.
Ride accepted or trip underway. Once a driver accepts a ride or has a passenger in the car, both states require up to $1 million in liability coverage through the rideshare company’s commercial policy, regardless of who is at fault. This is the coverage most passengers and other drivers involved in the crash will ultimately rely on.
How Rideshare Insurance Periods Affect Your Claim
Because coverage shifts between the driver’s personal policy and the rideshare company’s commercial policy depending on app status, insurers frequently dispute which period applies — especially in the moments right before a ride request is accepted. This gap is one of the most common reasons rideshare claims get delayed or underpaid.
Texas law also requires TNC policies to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which matters if the at-fault driver in a crash involving your rideshare vehicle carries little or no insurance of their own. Tennessee’s TNC Act contains similar underinsured motorist requirements. In both states, app data — including trip logs, GPS timestamps, and driver status records — becomes key evidence in establishing which policy period applies to your crash, and rideshare companies don’t always turn that data over voluntarily.
Fault also affects what you can recover. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, which bars recovery if you’re found more than 50 percent responsible for the crash. Tennessee applies the same 50 percent bar under its own modified comparative fault standard. Because a rideshare crash can involve the driver, another motorist, or even the rideshare company’s own policies and practices, identifying every liable party matters just as much as identifying which insurance period applies.
What to Do After a Rideshare Accident
- Report the crash through the app immediately, and request a copy of the incident report if the company generates one.
- Call the police and get an official report, which documents the crash independent of the rideshare company’s internal records.
- Seek medical care right away, even if injuries seem minor, and keep all records tied to the visit.
- Take photos of the vehicle, the scene, and the driver’s app screen showing trip status if it’s safe to do so.
- Save your trip receipt and driver information before the app account or trip history changes.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the rideshare company’s insurer until you’ve spoken with an attorney, since those statements are often used to shift blame or dispute which coverage period applies.
Acting quickly matters even more in Tennessee, where the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is only one year under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104. Texas gives you more time — two years under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 — but evidence like app data and trip logs is easiest to preserve immediately after the crash in either state.
What This Means: Moving Forward With a Rideshare Accident Claim
A rideshare accident claim isn’t just about who caused the crash — it’s about proving which insurance policy applies and preserving the app data that shows it. Texas and Tennessee both require substantial coverage once a trip is underway, but getting that coverage to pay out means acting fast and documenting the right details from the start. If you’re still working through fault and liability questions more broadly, our motor vehicle accidents guide covers how Texas and Tennessee approach car accident claims overall.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Culpepper Law Group for guidance specific to your situation.
Take This Step: Get Help From a Houston or Memphis Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Sorting out which insurance policy applies after a rideshare crash shouldn’t fall on you while you’re recovering. As a personal injury lawyer team, Culpepper Law Group offers a free consultation to identify which coverage applies to your claim, whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian. Our Stafford, Texas office serves the greater Houston area, and our Memphis, Tennessee office handles claims across that region. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Reach out today so we can start protecting your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does the rideshare company pay if their driver caused the accident?
In most cases, yes — once a ride is accepted or underway, the rideshare company’s commercial policy covers damages caused by its driver, up to policy limits.
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How much does it cost to hire a rideshare accident lawyer in Texas or Tennessee?
Culpepper Law Group works on contingency, so there’s no upfront cost, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. -
If the rideshare app’s insurance already covers the crash, do I still need a lawyer?
Insurers often dispute which coverage period applies, so having a lawyer review your claim helps ensure you’re not underpaid or denied based on app status.
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How long do I have to file a rideshare accident claim in Tennessee versus Texas?
Tennessee gives you one year to file suit, while Texas allows two years, though evidence should be preserved immediately in both states.
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Can I file a claim if a rideshare driver hit me as a pedestrian or cyclist?
Yes — pedestrians and cyclists injured by a rideshare driver can pursue a claim against the driver’s applicable insurance policy, just as another motorist could, as seen in a recent Houston pedestrian crash involving a rideshare vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- Texas TNC drivers must carry up to $1 million in liability coverage once a ride is accepted or underway, under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2402.
- Tennessee’s Transportation Network Companies Act requires similar $1 million coverage, but Tennessee allows only one year to file suit under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104.
- Which insurance policy applies depends entirely on the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash.
- Saving your trip receipt and driver information immediately after the crash preserves critical evidence for your claim.
