Uber or Lyft accident in McAllen: which insurance pays and when to call a lawyer

Last checked November 8, 2026

In an Uber or Lyft crash in McAllen, Texas requires $1 million in coverage during a prearranged ride.1 If the driver was only logged in and waiting, it drops to $50,000 per person.2 Get the McAllen Police report for $6 through TxDOT.34 Most injury suits have a 2-year deadline.5

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Road map of McAllen showing Interstate 2, 10th Street and Bicentennial Boulevard around McAllen International Airport
During a Texas Uber or Lyft ride, coverage must be $1 million. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What insurance covers an Uber accident in McAllen?

The app status at the moment of the crash decides almost everything. Texas splits rideshare coverage into stages.

What the driver was doingCoverage Texas requires
Logged in, waiting for a requestAt least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for property2
On a prearranged ride, including going to pick you upAt least $1 million per incident1
Logged off, driving on personal timeOnly the driver's personal policy. Texas minimum is $30,000 per person.6

A personal auto policy can leave out crashes that happen while the driver is logged on or giving a ride.7 If the driver's own policy lapsed or falls short, the rideshare company must provide the required coverage from the first dollar.8

How do I prove the driver was on the app in McAllen?

Ask. After a crash, a rideshare driver must tell you, if you are directly involved and you ask, whether the driver was logged on or giving a ride.9 Then back it up with your own proof:

  • Screenshot the trip receipt, map, driver name and plate before the app changes.
  • Use the app's help menu to report the crash, and keep the case number it gives you.
  • If you were in another car or on foot, photograph any Uber or Lyft sticker on the windshield.
  • Write down the exact time. It can help line up with the app's records.

What about an Uber crash at McAllen International Airport?

The city says the airport offers easy access to taxis, rideshare and public transportation.10 It sits just off Interstate 2, between 10th Street and Bicentennial Boulevard.11 We could not find a city page that names a rideshare pickup spot, so follow the directions in your app, and save a screenshot of where it sent you.

If you were hurt in the pickup lane or the parking lot, tell airport staff before you leave. You can reach the airport office at (956) 681-1500 at 2500 S. Bicentennial.12 A fall or crash on airport grounds may involve the city, and a claim against a city runs on a shorter clock. State law allows up to six months for notice, and a city rule can shorten it.13 We could not confirm a shorter McAllen rule, so ask the city.

When do rideshare crashes tend to happen in McAllen?

No city report we found counts Uber and Lyft crashes on their own. So we looked at when the worst crashes happen, because many people use rideshare at those hours. In McAllen's Vision Zero plan, 18% of fatal and serious crashes came from midnight to 3 a.m.14 More of them happened on Saturdays than on any other day.15 Drinking-related causes showed up more often in those crashes than in crashes overall.16

That means your Uber may have been hit by someone else who had been drinking. TxDOT lists 137 alcohol-related crashes in McAllen for 2025.17 In that case, the other driver's insurer may be first in line, but you can still look to the rideshare coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers if the policy includes it. Ask a lawyer to read the actual policy language.

How do I get an Uber accident report in McAllen?

  1. Call 911 from the scene if anyone is hurt. Ask for a police report even if the driver says the app will handle it.
  2. McAllen Police investigates most crashes in the city, 2,630 of them in 2025.18 Ask the officer for the case number.
  3. Call Crime Records at (956) 681-2080 to see if your report is ready.19
  4. Buy it through TxDOT, where it costs $6, or $8 certified.320 Passengers count as people directly concerned in the crash.21
  5. See a doctor and keep all your records. South Texas Health System McAllen is a Level I Trauma Center.22

Can an Uber driver in McAllen make a claim too?

Yes. If another driver caused the wreck, you can claim against that driver's insurance like anyone else. If you were logged on, your personal policy may refuse the claim, so read your rideshare insurance terms and report the crash in the app the same day. As a driver you are usually treated as an independent contractor, so workers' compensation may not apply. Ask about your own uninsured motorist coverage.

What should you ask an Uber accident lawyer in McAllen?

  • Which stage of coverage do you think applies to my crash, and how will you prove it?
  • Will you ask the company to save the trip data and any in-app messages?
  • If I was partly at fault, how does the 50 percent rule work?23
  • Have you dealt with the rideshare insurer before, and how do you handle their first offer?

Questions

Can I sue Uber after an accident in McAllen?

You can make a claim against the coverage Texas requires. Whether you can sue the company itself depends on the facts, so ask a lawyer.

How much coverage does Uber have in Texas during a ride?

At least $1 million per incident.1

Where do Uber drivers pick up at the McAllen airport?

We could not find a city page with the spot. Follow your app and call the airport at (956) 681-1500 with questions.12

How long do I have to file after an Uber crash in McAllen?

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years.5

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Texas

Sources

  1. Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.053(1), checked 2026-11-08. “coverage with a total aggregate limit of liability of $1 million for death, bodily injury, and property damage for each incident;”
  2. Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.052, checked 2026-11-08. “(A) $50,000 for bodily injury to or death for each person in an incident; (B) $100,000 for bodily injury to or death of a person per incident; and (C) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in an incident;”
  3. McAllen Police Department, Police Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Our crash reports are uploaded to this system.”
  4. McAllen Police Department, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “All accident reports are $6.00 dollars and certified copies of accident reports are $8.00 dollars.”
  5. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  6. Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1), checked 2026-11-08. “(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision; (2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the amount provided by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; and (3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision.”
  7. Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.151(a), checked 2026-11-08. “An insurer may exclude from coverage under a personal automobile insurance policy issued to an owner or operator of a personal vehicle any loss or injury that occurs while a transportation network company driver using the personal vehicle: (1) is logged on to a transportation network company's digital network; or (2) is engaged in a prearranged ride.”
  8. Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.054, checked 2026-11-08. “the transportation network company shall provide the coverage required by this subchapter beginning with the first dollar of a claim against the driver.”
  9. Tex. Ins. Code § 1954.056(b), checked 2026-11-08. “On request, a driver shall also disclose to a directly interested person, automobile insurer, and investigating peace officer whether, at the time of the collision, the driver was: (1) logged on to the company's digital network; or (2) engaged in a prearranged ride.”
  10. City of McAllen, McAllen International Airport, checked 2026-11-08. “easy access to taxis, rideshare, and public transportation”
  11. City of McAllen, McAllen International Airport, checked 2026-11-08. “just off Interstate 2 between 10th Street and Bicentennial Boulevard”
  12. City of McAllen, McAllen International Airport, checked 2026-11-08. “2500 S. Bicentennial McAllen, TX 78501 Phone : [956] 681-1500”
  13. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  14. City of McAllen, Vision Zero Action Plan (August 2024), checked 2026-11-08. “36% of FSI crashes happened between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Another 18% of FSI crashes happened between 12 a.m and 3 a.m.”
  15. City of McAllen, Vision Zero Action Plan (August 2024), checked 2026-11-08. “The highest number of FSI crashes occurred on Saturdays”
  16. City of McAllen, Vision Zero Action Plan (August 2024), checked 2026-11-08. “are reported more frequently in FSI crashes compared to all crashes”
  17. TxDOT, 2025 DUI (Alcohol) Crashes and Injuries Cities and Towns, checked 2026-11-08. “MCALLEN 4 4 9 20 25 37 34 67 64 170 1 8 137”
  18. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “MCALLEN PD 10 12 40 55 620 905 866 1,614 1,032 4,916 62 241 2,630”
  19. McAllen Police Department, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “inquiry on the status of your report at (956) 681-2080”
  20. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “$6 for a regular copy. $8 for a certified copy”
  21. TxDOT, Crash reports and records, checked 2026-11-08. “to any person directly concerned in the accident or having proper interest therein”
  22. South Texas Health System McAllen, Trauma Care, checked 2026-11-08. “South Texas Health System McAllen is an ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center”
  23. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”

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