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Rideshare accidents in Bridgeport, Texas are not the same as ordinary car accidents. When an Uber is involved, you may be dealing with multiple insurance policies, a large corporation’s legal team, and coverage rules that shift depending on what the driver was doing at the moment of the crash. If you or someone you love was hurt in an Uber accident near Bridgeport or anywhere in Wise County, the personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys in Denton, Texas are ready to help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.

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How Texas Law Governs Uber and Rideshare Accidents in Bridgeport

Uber operates in Texas as a Transportation Network Company, commonly called a TNC. A Transportation Network Company is a company that allows a passenger to arrange a ride through a digital network. Texas regulates TNCs at the state level, not the local level. In May 2017, Texas lawmakers passed HB 100, a statewide TNC bill that, among other things, nullified all local TNC regulations. That law is now codified in Chapter 2402 of the Texas Occupations Code, which sets the rules that apply to Uber drivers everywhere in the state, including Bridgeport.

One of the most important rules under Chapter 2402 involves how Uber drivers are classified. Under Texas Occupations Code Section 2402.114, a TNC driver is considered an independent contractor if the company does not prescribe the hours the driver is required to be logged into the digital network, impose restrictions on the driver’s ability to use other TNCs’ digital networks, limit the territory the driver may provide rides, or restrict the driver from engaging in another occupation or business. This classification matters a great deal in an accident claim, because Uber will argue it is not directly responsible for its drivers’ actions the way an employer would be for an employee.

Even so, Texas law still requires Uber to maintain insurance coverage for its drivers while they are active on the platform. A transportation network company driver or transportation network company on the driver’s behalf shall maintain primary automobile insurance as required by this subchapter. This requirement, updated by the Texas Legislature through S.B. 2807 effective September 1, 2025, ensures that injured victims have a path to compensation even when a driver’s personal insurance tries to deny the claim.

If the crash happened near U.S. Highway 380 or Farm-to-Market Road 1655 in Bridgeport, the same statewide rules apply. Location within Wise County does not change the legal framework, but it does affect where your case may ultimately be filed and heard.

Uber’s Three-Phase Insurance System and What It Means for Your Claim

The biggest source of confusion in any Uber accident claim is figuring out which insurance policy applies. Texas law and Uber’s own policies divide rideshare driving into three distinct phases, and the available coverage changes dramatically from one phase to the next.

Phase one begins the moment a driver turns on the Uber app but has not yet accepted a ride request. During this phase, a new state law requires TNC drivers to have 50/100/25 coverage when the app is on and they are not giving a ride. That means $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage. This is higher than the standard Texas minimum, but it is still far less than what Uber provides during an active trip.

Phase two starts when the driver accepts a ride and is on the way to pick up the passenger. Phase three covers the period when a passenger is actually in the vehicle. During these periods, the required liability limits increase substantially, requiring a total of $1 million for bodily injury and property damage per crash. Uber and Lyft also provide $1 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage per crash.

Why does this matter to you? Say you are driving south on U.S. 81 near Bridgeport and an Uber driver runs a red light and hits your vehicle. If the driver had just accepted a ride request, you are in phase two, and up to $1 million in coverage may be available. If the driver was waiting for a request, only the lower phase one limits apply. Knowing which phase was active at the time of your crash is one of the first things an experienced attorney will determine.

If you are not a rideshare driver but are involved in an accident with one, you must first file a claim with the driver’s personal insurance carrier. The insurance coverage provided by the driver’s TNC will only kick in if the driver’s personal policy denies your claim. This layered system is exactly why Uber accident claims require careful handling from the start.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Bridgeport Uber Accident

Liability in an Uber accident is rarely simple. Multiple parties can share responsibility, and identifying each one is critical to recovering full compensation for your injuries.

The Uber driver is the most obvious potential defendant. If the driver was speeding, distracted by the app, fatigued, or otherwise negligent, they can be held personally liable. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Under this rule, you can recover damages as long as you are less than 51 percent responsible for the crash. Your compensation is then reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you.

Uber itself can also be a target, even though it classifies drivers as independent contractors. Courts have found that companies can still face liability in certain circumstances, particularly when they knew or should have known about a driver’s dangerous history. TNCs are required to keep all individual ride records for five years and driver records for at least five years after the date the driver ceases to be authorized as a driver for the TNC. This record-keeping requirement means there is a paper trail that can be subpoenaed to examine a driver’s background and performance history.

A third driver or another negligent party could also share liability. For example, if another vehicle ran a stop sign and caused the Uber driver to swerve and crash, that third driver may be responsible. In accidents involving serious injuries, catastrophic harm, or wrongful death, identifying every liable party is essential to maximizing your recovery.

Bridgeport sits along busy corridors like U.S. 380 and State Highway 114, where commercial traffic, farm vehicles, and passenger cars all share the road. Uber drivers picking up passengers near the Bridgeport City Park, the Wise County Courthouse in Decatur, or local businesses along Bridgeport’s Main Street face the same road hazards as any other driver, and they owe every passenger and motorist the same duty of care.

Damages You Can Recover After an Uber Accident in Bridgeport, Texas

Texas law allows injured victims to pursue several categories of compensation after a rideshare accident. Understanding what you can recover helps you evaluate whether a settlement offer is truly fair before you accept it.

Economic damages cover your actual financial losses. These include past and future medical bills, emergency room treatment, surgery, physical therapy, prescription costs, lost wages while you recover, and any reduction in your future earning capacity if your injuries are permanent. If your injuries require long-term care, those projected costs should be part of your claim.

Non-economic damages cover losses that do not come with a receipt. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for a spouse are all compensable under Texas law. These damages are often the largest component of a serious injury claim, and insurance companies routinely try to minimize them.

In cases involving egregious conduct, such as an Uber driver who was intoxicated or texting while driving, Texas law also permits exemplary damages, which are sometimes called punitive damages. These are designed to punish particularly reckless behavior and deter others from acting the same way. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41, exemplary damages require clear and convincing evidence of malice, fraud, or gross negligence.

If a loved one died in an Uber crash, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. That statute holds liable any person whose wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, or unskillfulness caused the fatal injury. Surviving spouses, children, and parents are among those who may bring this type of claim.

Do not accept a settlement from Uber’s insurance company without first talking to an attorney. Once you sign a release, you give up the right to seek any additional compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than initially diagnosed.

The Filing Deadline for Uber Accident Claims in Texas

Time is one of the most unforgiving factors in any personal injury case. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003(a), a person must bring suit for personal injury not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues. For most Uber accident victims in Bridgeport, that clock starts on the day of the crash.

If you do not file your lawsuit during the statute of limitations period, you will likely not be able to pursue your claim in court because the statute of limitations has expired. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to compensation entirely, regardless of how strong your case might otherwise be.

There are limited exceptions. If the injured person is a minor, meaning they are younger than 18 when the injury occurs, the two-year statute of limitations clock does not begin until their 18th birthday, effectively giving them until their 20th birthday to file. Texas law also provides an extension for individuals who are considered to have a legal disability, such as those who are mentally incapacitated at the time of the injury, with the statute of limitations period not beginning until the disability is removed.

Even within the two-year window, waiting too long creates serious problems. Evidence disappears. Dashcam footage gets overwritten. Witnesses move away or forget details. TNCs are required to keep all individual ride records for five years and driver records for at least five years after the date the driver ceases to be authorized as a driver for the TNC, but you still need an attorney to send a proper preservation demand before that data is lost or altered.

The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handle Uber accident cases for clients throughout Bridgeport, Wise County, and the surrounding North Texas area. Call us today at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Why Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Handles Bridgeport Uber Accident Cases

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is a personal injury law firm based in Denton, Texas, serving clients throughout North Texas, including Bridgeport and Wise County. The firm handles car accident claims, truck accident cases, motorcycle crashes, and rideshare accident claims for injured victims who need real legal representation, not just a case number.

Uber accident claims involve large corporations with experienced insurance adjusters and defense lawyers working against you from day one. The moment you report an accident, Uber’s team begins building a case to limit what they pay. Having an attorney on your side from the beginning changes that dynamic.

The firm investigates every aspect of your claim. That includes pulling the Uber app data to confirm which phase of the ride was active, obtaining the driver’s background and trip history records, securing accident scene evidence, working with medical professionals to document your injuries, and building a demand that reflects the true value of your losses.

Past results in other cases cannot guarantee the same outcome in your case, because every accident involves different facts, different injuries, and different insurance coverage. What we can tell you is that we take every case seriously and fight for every dollar our clients are entitled to under Texas law.

Whether your accident happened near Lake Bridgeport, along U.S. Highway 380, or on one of Wise County’s rural farm roads, Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is ready to take your call. Reach us at (940) 800-2500, and let us review your case at no charge. You deserve to know your options before making any decisions about your claim.

FAQs About Bridgeport Uber Accident Claims

What should I do immediately after an Uber accident in Bridgeport, Texas?

Call 911 and get medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Ask law enforcement to file a crash report, take photos of the scene, and get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Do not give a recorded statement to Uber’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible so your legal team can begin preserving evidence.

Can I sue Uber directly if their driver caused my accident?

You can pursue a claim against Uber’s insurance policy, and in some circumstances you may have grounds to pursue Uber directly as a company. Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors under Texas Occupations Code Section 2402.114, which limits direct employer liability in many cases. However, Uber is still required under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1954 to maintain coverage for its drivers while they are active on the platform. An attorney can evaluate the specific facts of your case to identify every available source of compensation.

How long do I have to file an Uber accident lawsuit in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003(a), you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a loved one died in the crash, the two-year period for a wrongful death claim begins on the date of death, not the date of the accident. Missing this deadline will almost certainly bar your claim entirely. Contact an attorney well before the deadline so there is time to investigate and build your case properly.

What if the Uber driver who hit me had no passengers at the time?

The coverage available depends on whether the driver had the Uber app turned on at the time of the crash. If the app was active but no ride had been accepted, Texas law requires coverage of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage. If the app was completely off, only the driver’s personal auto insurance applies. If the driver had accepted a ride request or was en route to pick someone up, Uber’s $1 million policy is in play. Determining which phase was active is one of the first steps your attorney will take.

Does Texas comparative fault law affect my Uber accident claim?

Yes. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident. If you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in damages but found 20 percent at fault, your recovery is reduced to $80,000. Insurance companies routinely try to assign fault to injured victims to reduce payouts. Having an attorney who can counter those arguments with solid evidence makes a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.

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