When a crash involves a rideshare vehicle, whether you were a passenger, another driver, or even a pedestrian, things can suddenly feel confusing and stressful. You might need to deal with injuries, car damage, and worries about medical bills or missed work.
Amid all this chaos, a critical question often pops up: Is there a time limit to take action?
If a rideshare accident injures you in Fort Worth, you might wonder how long you have to make things right. You face a strict deadline, and missing this window could mean losing your chance to recover compensation.
A Fort Worth rideshare accident lawyer can help you take action before it's too late.
Understanding the Texas Statute of Limitations
When lawyers and courts talk about deadlines for legal action, they often use the term statute of limitations. Think of it simply as a law that sets a maximum time limit for starting legal proceedings. If you wait too long, the law says you’ve lost your chance to bring your case to court.
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years. This two-year clock applies to most types of accidents where someone gets hurt because of another person's carelessness, including car crashes.
When Does the Two-Year Countdown Start?
Usually, the clock begins ticking on the date the accident happened. So, if your rideshare crash occurred on February 1, 2025, you would generally have until February 1, 2027, to file a lawsuit related to that incident.
If you miss this crucial two-year mark and try to file a lawsuit, the person or company you are suing (the defendant) can ask the court to dismiss your case based on the missed deadline.
In most situations, the court will agree, and you will lose your legal right to seek monetary damages for your injuries, lost income, vehicle repairs, and other related costs through the court system.
Are There Exceptions to the Two-Year Rule?
While the two-year statute of limitations is the general rule for personal injury cases in Texas, including rideshare accidents, in a few specific situations the timing might work differently.
- Injuries to minors: If the person injured in the rideshare accident is under 18, the statute of limitations often tolls. This pauses the two-year clock until the minor turns 18. Once they reach adulthood, the statute typically gives them two years from their 18th birthday to file their lawsuit.
- The discovery rule: This is a more complex exception that applies in rare situations where the injury caused by the accident was not immediately known and could not reasonably have been discovered immediately.
- Government entities involved: If your accident involved a vehicle owned or operated by a government entity (like a City of Fort Worth bus, a Tarrant County vehicle, or a state-owned car), you often face much shorter deadlines just to notify the government agency of your intent to file a claim.
- Wrongful death claims: If someone dies in a rideshare accident, their eligible family members (like a spouse, children, or parents) may file a wrongful death lawsuit. The statute of limitations for wrongful death in Texas is also generally two years, but the clock starts from the date of the person's death, which might come later than the actual accident date if they succumbed to their injuries later.
These exceptions highlight why you need a rideshare accident lawyer who understands the specifics of your situation. A Fort Worth rideshare accident attorney can review the facts and your options with you.
What Should You Do After a Rideshare Accident in Fort Worth?
Even if you feel okay initially, get checked out by a doctor soon after a rideshare crash. Some serious injuries, like whiplash or concussions, might not show obvious symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor creates important medical records linking any injuries to the crash.
Document Everything
Keep a file with all accident-related documents. This includes the police report number, medical bills, receipts for related expenses (like prescriptions or car rentals), repair estimates for your vehicle, and records of any time you missed work due to your injuries.
Keep notes about your injuries, pain levels, and how the accident has affected your daily life.
Be Careful When Talking to Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters—possibly from the rideshare driver's personal insurance, the rideshare company's insurance, or your own—will likely contact you. Be polite but cautious. Avoid giving recorded statements or signing any documents without your lawyer’s approval.
Initial settlement offers are often low. Remember, the adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you.
Get Legal Advice
Navigating a rideshare accident claim in Fort Worth, understanding the insurance rules, and dealing with adjusters while respecting the two-year deadline can overwhelm anyone, especially when you're recovering from injuries.
A Fort Worth rideshare accident lawyer can explain your rights, investigate the accident, determine the correct insurance coverage, handle communications with insurance companies, and ensure all legal deadlines are met.
Why Are Rideshare Accidents So Complicated?
When one of the vehicles involved in a car crash is an Uber or Lyft, things can get difficult, especially when it comes to insurance. This complexity is another reason why you need a lawyer who understands the two-year filing deadline—sorting these things out takes time and legal experience.
Insurance coverage often changes depending on what the rideshare driver was doing when the accident occurred.
- Offline: If the driver wasn’t logged into the rideshare app and was just using their car for personal reasons, their personal car insurance would typically provide primary coverage, just like in any regular automobile wreck.
- The app is on, waiting for a ride request: If the driver was logged into the app and available to accept rides but hadn't accepted one yet, Texas law requires certain levels of insurance coverage. Often, rideshare companies (like Uber or Lyft) provide an additional layer of insurance that applies during this period.
- En route to pick up or transporting a passenger: Once the driver has accepted a ride request and is on the way to pick someone up, or if they already have a passenger in the vehicle, much larger insurance policies maintained by the rideshare company usually come into play. These policies typically offer significant liability coverage (often $1 million or more) if their driver causes an accident.
Figuring out which insurance policy applies determines who you need to file a claim with and how much coverage might be available for your damages.
Investigating the driver's status and the applicable insurance takes time and effort. Gathering proof, communicating with potentially multiple insurance companies, and understanding the specific Texas regulations for rideshare insurance adds layers of complexity.
A Fort Worth rideshare accident lawyer can take all of this off of your plate and allow you to focus on healing.
What Compensation Can You Claim After a Fort Worth Rideshare Wreck?
When someone else's negligence injures you, Texas law allows you to seek compensation, often called damages.
If you're within the two-year statute of limitations for filing a claim after a Fort Worth rideshare accident, here are some common types of damages you might recover:
- Medical expenses: This includes costs for emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor appointments, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, medical equipment, and any future medical care you might need because of the accident injuries.
- Lost wages: If your injuries prevented you from working, you could claim the income you lost during your recovery. If the injuries decrease your ability to earn money in the future, you might also claim compensation for loss of earning capacity.
- Property damage: This typically covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if the crash damaged or totaled it. It can also include damage to other property, like items inside your car.
- Pain and suffering: This compensates for the physical pain, emotional distress, discomfort, inconvenience, and general loss of enjoyment of life caused by the accident and your injuries.
- Other costs: Depending on the specifics, you might also claim other out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the accident, like transportation costs to medical appointments.
Remember, the two-year statute of limitations in Texas applies to filing a lawsuit to recover any of these damages resulting from the rideshare accident. Whether it’s for a broken arm, weeks of missed work, or the trauma of the crash itself, the clock is ticking from the date of the incident.
Don't Wait Until the Last Minute: Why Quick Action Is Wise
While two years might sound like a long time, never wait until close to the end of that period. Prompt action offers significant advantages.
Right after an accident, evidence is fresh.
Skid marks might be visible on the road, the positions of the cars are clear, and witnesses usually have the clearest memory of what they saw. As time passes, physical evidence can disappear (roads get repaved, cars get repaired or junked), and people's memories naturally fade or become less reliable.
Securing police reports, tracking down witnesses, and obtaining traffic camera footage all take time and are easier when done sooner.
Insurance companies are also part of the picture. While their job is to handle claims, they also aim to minimize payouts.
If you wait a very long time before reporting your injury or filing a claim, the insurance adjuster might become suspicious. They might question why you waited so long if your injuries were serious, or they might argue that something else could have caused your injury in the intervening time.
Contacting a Fort Worth Rideshare Accident Attorney
Furthermore, building a strong case doesn't happen overnight. If you decide to work with a Fort Worth rideshare accident lawyer, they need time to properly investigate the accident. This includes gathering all relevant documents, potentially interviewing witnesses, and analyzing the complex rideshare insurance situation.
Your attorney may also need to consult medical practitioners to understand the full extent of your injuries and how they affect your life. Rushing the process right before the two-year deadline expires increases the risk of mistakes or overlooking crucial details.
Starting early also allows time for negotiation. Many personal injury claims settle out of court, and having ample time before the lawsuit deadline strengthens your negotiating position.
If negotiations aren't successful, your lawyer still has enough time to prepare and file the lawsuit properly without scrambling at the last minute.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth Rideshare Accident Claims
Is the Two-Year Time Limit Different if I Was a Passenger in the Rideshare Car Versus Another Driver Hit by the Rideshare Vehicle?
No, the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas generally applies the same regardless of your role in the accident. Whether you were inside the Uber or Lyft during the crash, the driver of another car or motorcycle, a bicyclist, or even a pedestrian struck by the rideshare car, you typically have the same two-year window from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit.
I Reported My Accident to Uber/Lyft Through Their App Right Away. Does That Mean I’ve Met the Deadline?
No, reporting the accident to the rideshare company through their app or customer service is an important step, but it’s not the same as filing a formal legal claim or lawsuit. Reporting to the company initiates their internal review process and alerts their insurance. However, it does not stop the clock on the two-year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit in court.
What if I Felt Okay Right After the Crash, but My Injuries Got Much Worse Weeks or Months Later? Does That Give Me More Time?
This is a tricky situation. While Texas law does have something called the "discovery rule," which can sometimes delay the start of the two-year clock until an injury is discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered), it does not commonly apply to typical accident injuries.
Relying on the discovery rule to extend the deadline rarely works. Review your case with a Fort Worth rideshare accident attorney as soon as you receive medical treatment, and update both your medical and legal teams as your condition changes.
Don't Let Time Run Out: Contact a Fort Worth Rideshare Attorney Today
After a crash with an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you have only two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Protect your rights by promptly seeking medical attention, reporting the accident, gathering information, and considering your legal options.
Don't let the Texas statute of limitations expire on your chance to seek justice and recovery. Call Fort Worth personal injury attorneys from DFW Injury Lawyers today at (817) 646-2527 for a free consultation, or contact us online.
Pedro “Peter” de la Cerda
Founder
Attorney Pedro “Peter” de la Cerda is a co-founder of DFW Injury Lawyers. As a young attorney looking for courtroom experience, Mr. de la Cerda began his career defending physicians, nurses, hospitals, trucking, and manufacturing companies in disputes involving personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, and toxic tort. After seeing many people who were truly injured and deserving of fair compensation, however, Mr. de la Cerda was moved to cross the courtroom aisle and prosecute cases on behalf of plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
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