A woman was fatally struck by an Uber driver on Bandera Road on the Northwest Side of San Antonio on March 14, 2026. If your family lost someone in this incident or a similar rideshare accident in Texas — you may have significant legal rights including a wrongful death claim against Uber's $1 million liability policy.
According to the San Antonio Police Department, on the afternoon of March 14, 2026, an Uber driver was traveling southbound on East Quill Drive when they attempted to make a turn westbound onto Bandera Road in the 1500 block area on the Northwest Side of San Antonio.
While making the turn, the driver lost control of their vehicle and went over the sidewalk. SAPD indicated the driver accidentally accelerated while turning. A woman standing on the corner — identified in a preliminary SAPD report as Darlene Ibarra, 35 — was struck by the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Ibarra was standing on the corner advertising with a sign at the time of the crash.
SAPD reported that the Uber driver was cooperating with authorities and was not expected to face criminal charges based on initial findings. However, no criminal charges does not mean no civil liability. The standard for civil liability — negligence — is significantly lower than the criminal standard. Families of accident victims can pursue wrongful death claims even when no criminal charges are filed.
A decision not to file criminal charges against a driver means prosecutors did not find evidence of criminal conduct beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil wrongful death claims require only a preponderance of evidence — more likely than not. Many successful wrongful death cases proceed without any criminal charges being filed.
When an Uber driver causes an accident in Texas, the applicable insurance coverage depends on the driver's status in the app at the time of the crash. Here is how it works:
| Driver Status | Coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| App off — personal driving | Personal insurance only ($30K-$100K typical) | Driver's personal policy |
| App on — waiting for request | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident | Uber contingent liability |
| En route to pickup or active trip | $1,000,000 liability | Uber commercial policy |
The specific coverage available in the Bandera Road crash depends on whether the driver had an active trip request at the time of the accident — a fact that an independent attorney can quickly determine through Uber's records.
Uber maintains detailed electronic records of every trip — including driver status, GPS location, speed, acceleration, and trip history at the exact time of any accident. An independent attorney can obtain these records through the legal discovery process. These records are among the most powerful evidence in rideshare accident cases.
Under the Texas Wrongful Death Act, the following family members of the deceased have the right to file a wrongful death claim:
Has the primary right to bring a wrongful death claim for loss of companionship, consortium, financial support, and mental anguish resulting from the death.
Both biological and legally adopted children — including adult children — can file wrongful death claims in Texas.
Parents of the deceased — including parents of adult children — have the right to file a wrongful death claim in Texas.
If no eligible family member files a wrongful death claim within 3 months of the death, the estate's personal representative may file on their behalf. Texas also has a 2-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims. Contact an independent attorney immediately to protect all available legal rights.
Texas wrongful death claims can recover compensation for:
Loss of financial support the deceased would have provided. Lost future earnings and earning capacity. Funeral and burial expenses. Medical expenses incurred before death.
Loss of companionship, love, and society. Mental anguish and grief. Loss of consortium for the surviving spouse. Loss of parental guidance for minor children.
In addition to a wrongful death claim, Texas allows a survival action — recovering damages the deceased suffered between the accident and death including pain, suffering, and any conscious awareness of their injuries.
Uber's legal and insurance teams begin working immediately after any fatal accident involving one of their drivers. Their goal is to minimize the company's financial exposure. An independent attorney representing the family levels the playing field and ensures the family's rights are fully protected.
Critical evidence in rideshare accident cases — including Uber's internal trip data, GPS records, driver history, and communications — must be secured quickly through formal legal hold requests. Waiting weeks or months to retain representation can result in loss of evidence that is essential to proving liability and maximizing recovery.