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Illinois Uber Accident Lawyer

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Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyers

The stories you hear are incredibly sad: a young person coming home from a night of partying decides to be responsible but then is killed or injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft. Ridesharing has become extremely popular, especially among young people and in big cities. Over 1 billion rides have been taken on Lyft, and over 10 billion on Uber. Unfortunately, along with that explosive growth comes an increase in rideshare accidents. Sometimes these accidents are the fault of another driver, but other times the Uber or Lyft driver is responsible. In either case, the experienced rideshare accident attorneys at The Collins Law Firm can help you get the compensation you deserve if you have been injured in a rideshare accident.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Why Are Uber and Lyft Accidents on the Rise?

What Steps Can I Take to Protect Myself in an Uber or Lyft?

How Much Insurance Do Uber and Lyft Drivers Carry?

What Should I do After an Uber or Lyft Accident?

What Happens if my Rideshare Driver Caused the Accident?

What Happens If Another Driver Was Responsible?

What Happens if I am Injured By a Rideshare Driver Without a Passenger?

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for Sexual Assault?

Do I Have a Rideshare Lawsuit?

How Can The Collins Law Firm Help?

Why Are Uber and Lyft Accidents on the Rise?

Unfortunately, neither Uber nor Lyft require any special training. Anyone over 21 with a valid driver’s license, a 4 door car, and 1 year of driving experience (3 years for drivers under 23) can become an Uber driver. Likewise, Lyft requires drivers to be 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and 1 year of driving experience. A DMV check is done to see if the driver has a bad driving history, and a digital background check looks for criminal activity. Due to safety concerns, both companies now run continuous background checks on drivers. However, these background checks are run by a third party company, do not involve fingerprinting, and can miss things. All of these factors can result in poorly trained, poorly vetted, and poorly supervised drivers being responsible for your well-being!

What Steps Can I Take to Protect Myself in an Uber or Lyft?

  • Check a driver’s rating before accepting them as a match.
  • Check to see if their name and photo match your driver.
  • Check to see if the license plate number, make, model and color of the car match the information on your Uber or Lyft app.
  • Look for an Uber or Lyft sticker on the car.
  • Track your driver’s location on the APP.
  • Ask the driver “What’s my name?” to check if they really are your driver and not just some stranger.
  • Try not to ride alone and intoxicated. There is safety in numbers.
  • Ride in the back seat and always wear your seatbelt.
  • Pay attention and check to see if the driver is staying on the route to your destination. Use the GPS on your phone if you are not sure.
  • Let your friends know you are taking an Uber or Lyft and your ETA.
  • If your driver appears to be intoxicated, aggressive or driving erratically, tell them to stop and exit the car if it is safe to do so.
  • Call 911 if your instinct tells you there is something really wrong.

How Much Insurance Do Uber and Lyft Drivers Carry?

Both Uber and Lyft have liability insurance for their drivers, however, the amount changes depending on the timing involved. From the time a driver turns on his app to the time he or she accepts a ride, there is insurance coverage up to $50,000 for bodily injury, $25,000 for damaged property, and $100,000 per accident. Between the time of accepting a ride match and dropping off the passenger, there is primary liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident and $1,000,000 for uninsured and underinsured motorists.

What Should I do After an Uber or Lyft Accident?

  1. Call 911. You will need the police at the scene and possibly an ambulance, depending on the severity of the crash.
  2. Make sure everyone is safe.
  3. Take as many photos of the accident as you can.
  4. Exchange insurance information, name, address, phone number, and license plate numbers.
  5. Talk to witnesses and get their contact information.
  6. Get the medical attention you need.
  7. Write down what you remember of the accident before you forget details.
  8. Contact your insurance company.
  9. Call an experienced rideshare accident attorney.

What Happens if my Rideshare Driver Caused the Accident?

The company’s insurance policy should cover any damages and costs for your injuries if their driver was responsible for the accident. The total insurance carried by Uber and Lyft drivers is $1,000,000. This covers rideshare passengers, and any other motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and bystanders who were injured in the accident.

What Happens If Another Driver Was Responsible?

If another driver was responsible for hitting your Uber or Lyft and injuring you, their insurance should pay for any damages. However, if the responsible party has no insurance or inadequate insurance, Uber and Lyft’s uninsured and underinsured protection will go into effect.

What Happens if I am Injured By a Rideshare Driver Without a Passenger?

If a rideshare driver hits you while he or she is driving around waiting for a fare, you can only recover up to $50,000 for your injuries and $100,000 per accident from Uber or Lyft. Any additional compensation must come from the driver’s personal insurance. The result is that you may have trouble getting fair compensation if you are seriously hurt by a rideshare driver during this period of time.

Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for Sexual Assault?

Unfortunately, sexual assault by rideshare drivers is not unheard of. Over 200 women have reported sexual harassment, assault, rape and kidnapping by Uber or Lyft drivers. In fact, Uber has allegedly paid multiple confidential settlements to women who were raped or assaulted by their drivers. Additionally, Uber was found to have hired dozens of drivers with criminal records for murder, assault and child abuse. Uber and Lyft have a duty to provide customers with a safe experience. If you have been assaulted or attacked by a rideshare driver, the company should be held accountable.

Do I Have a Rideshare Lawsuit?

You may well have a rideshare lawsuit if:

  • You were injured while riding as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft.
  • Your vehicle was involved in an accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver who failed to follow traffic laws, was distracted, made a mistake, or was driving recklessly.
  • You were struck by an Uber or Lyft driver while walking or riding a bike in a safe manner.
  • You were attacked or assaulted by your Uber or Lyft driver.

How Can The Collins Law Firm Help?

Our experienced Uber and Lyft accident attorneys can collect the evidence necessary to prove who was responsible for your injuries. In addition, we can navigate these sometimes confusing cases and determine which insurance coverage comes into play. Finally, we can negotiate for you to get the best possible settlement for your:

  • Medical costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Other damages, including disfigurement and disability
  • Loss of a loved one (if a family member died in the accident)

Call The Collins Law Firm for Aggressive Representation Today

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an Uber or Lyft accident--or if you have been assaulted by a rideshare driver--you may be entitled to compensation. Do not wait, as any delay can be costly to your case. Call us at (630) 527-1595 for a FREE EVALUATION of your case, or use our intake form to contact one of our rideshare accident lawyers as soon as possible. We can help you get the justice you deserve.

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