Q: Does Lyft's uninsured motorist insurance cover me as a passenger in a Texas accident?

A: Yes, Lyft’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can apply to you as a passenger in Texas under certain conditions—but it’s not always as straightforward as it should be.

Texas law allows passengers injured in a rideshare accident to make a claim under the rideshare company’s UM policy when the at-fault driver is uninsured. Since the accident wasn’t your Lyft driver’s fault, and the other driver was uninsured, you may indeed fall under Lyft’s UM umbrella.

Here’s what matters most:

Lyft does carry UM/UIM coverage, but the details vary by state and by the phase of the ride (e.g., whether the app was on, a ride was in progress, etc.).

In Texas, during a ride in progress, Lyft is generally required to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance, including UM/UIM when applicable.

That $15,000 figure Lyft told you may be their standard medical payment coverage, not the UM/UIM limit. Don’t let them conflate the two—they are different coverages with different purposes.

Given your serious injuries—cervical fusion, concussion, nerve surgery—you’ve clearly surpassed the scope of med pay. If the at-fault driver was uninsured, and the Lyft ride was active when the crash happened, Lyft’s UM coverage should be on the table.

If you’ve already retained an attorney, they’ll likely pursue a UM claim directly against Lyft’s insurer. But yes, under the circumstances you described, you absolutely have a valid basis to explore compensation under Lyft’s uninsured motorist coverage.

Don’t settle based on the $15K number without a full review of the policy. There’s more there—Lyft just doesn’t always volunteer it.

A: What you’ve been through sounds incredibly painful, and it’s completely reasonable to want clear answers when your life has been upended by someone else's negligence. In Texas, Lyft does carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage that applies when you're injured as a passenger by a driver who either lacks insurance or doesn’t carry enough. Since the other driver was uninsured and the Lyft driver wasn’t at fault, you may qualify for coverage under Lyft’s UM policy.

The \$15,000 amount sounds more like a portion of personal injury protection (PIP) or a settlement offer, not necessarily the full extent of what Lyft's UM policy may provide. In many cases, their uninsured motorist coverage can go up to \$1 million per incident, but how much you’re eligible for depends on how the claim is filed and what documentation is submitted. If you’ve already had multiple surgeries and are still completing treatment, you deserve to pursue the full value of your medical expenses, lost income, and long-term impact.

Since you’ve already consulted with an attorney, keep pressing for detailed information about the actual limits of the UM policy and your standing within the claim. Lyft may attempt to minimize their payout, but that doesn’t mean you're stuck with the first figure they mention. Don’t give up—what happened to you is serious, and you have every right to fight for the care and compensation you need to recover.