Chicago Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer
Quick Links
- What should I do if I’m involved in a rideshare accident in Chicago?
- How common are Uber accidents?
- What causes most Uber accidents in Chicago?
- Can I sue Uber or Lyft after an accident?
- What damages can I get in an Uber or Lyft accident claim?
- How is liability determined in a rideshare accident?
- How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a rideshare accident in Chicago, Illinois?
- Why should I hire a lawyer from Levin & Perconti after my accident?
Did you recently suffer injuries in a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft rideshare vehicle in Chicago, Illinois? You may have the right to seek compensation from an insurance carrier or negligent party, and the Chicago Uber accident lawyers at Levin & Perconti can help you achieve the best results.
We understand how devastating any type of auto accident can be. That’s why we’ve dedicated our legal careers to advocating on behalf of crash victims like you. Since 1992, our attorneys have gone toe-to-toe with powerful insurance companies and corporations, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.
We have over 200 years of combined experience and are committed to maximizing your financial award. Call our Chicago personal injury law office to get a free case evaluation today.
What should I do if I’m involved in a rideshare accident in Chicago?
There are a few steps you can take to support your personal injury claim if you are involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Chicago.
- Call the police to report the accident. You’ll want a formal record of the crash, and a police officer will be dispatched to conduct a preliminary investigation.
- Seek medical attention. Get to the closest hospital in Chicago to ensure that your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated. Your medical record can help to establish an important causal link between the rideshare accident and your injuries.
- Document the scene. Take photographs of damage to property, the scene of the crash, your clothing, and resulting injuries. Record video footage of the scene to capture additional details.
- Report your accident to Uber or Lyft. You can report the accident directly in your app.
- Contact an experienced Chicago rideshare accident lawyer. Uber or Lyft will reach out to speak with you after your accident. Insurance companies will want to get your statement on the record. Don’t talk to anyone before you’ve had the opportunity to speak with an Uber or Lyft accident attorney near you in Chicago.
At Levin & Perconti, we are always available to take your call. Whether you’re in an Uber accident in the middle of the night or get into a Lyft crash over a long holiday weekend, a member of our legal team is always here to provide the support you need.
How common are Uber accidents?
It’s hard to say. There aren’t any hard and fast statistics regarding Uber and Lyft accidents in Chicago or other parts of the country. Uber reports that 99.9 percent of its trips end without a safety incident. However, research from the University of Chicago suggests that car accidents have happened more frequently since rideshare services like Uber and Lyft began to operate.
Specifically, car accident fatalities increased by about three percent shortly after Uber and Lyft hit the scene.
Many of these deadly accidents occurred in larger urban cities like Chicago, where ridesharing services are in high demand.
While rideshare vehicles might not be involved in all of these new accidents, they may indeed contribute to these tragedies by increasing congestion and changing traffic patterns.
What causes most Uber accidents in Chicago?
While Uber and Lyft drivers are not solely responsible for all rideshare accidents in Chicago, they do play a part in many of these collisions.
It’s easy to understand why:
- Rideshare drivers do not have to obtain a special driver’s license or receive special training to transport passengers.
- Rideshare drivers are susceptible to many distractions behind the wheel. Drivers are dependent on their phones and the Uber app, which draws their attention away from the task of driving. Searching for passengers on the side of the road and conversing with passengers in the vehicle can also distract them from changes in traffic.
- For many, driving for Uber and Lyft is a second source of income. So there’s a chance that some rideshare drivers have already put in a full day’s work before they get behind the wheel. They might be fatigued and more susceptible to falling asleep, especially if they’re driving at night.
- While rideshare drivers are encouraged to pick up passengers in safe locations, some might pick up or drop off passengers in spots that block bike lanes or traffic.
- Uber drivers may turn to drugs or alcohol to help them with their job performance or to cope with the stresses of their jobs.
- Uber drivers might be inclined to speed, run red lights, tailgate, and engage in other dangerous practices behind the wheel. The more trips they can complete in a day, the more money they’ll make. So, safety might take a backseat when their paycheck is on the line.
Other factors, such as vehicle defects, dangerous roadways, and bad weather conditions, can also contribute to accidents involving Uber and Lyft vehicles in Chicago.
Can I sue Uber or Lyft after an accident?
Uber drivers and Lyft drivers are independent contractors. The rideshare companies have worked hard to make it this way. Why? Uber and Lyft sidestep liability for accidents involving their rideshare drivers since they’re not employees.
So, generally speaking, you cannot directly sue Uber or Lyft after an accident.
However, rideshare companies are required to carry insurance in the event that a driver is involved in an auto accident.
When an Uber or Lyft driver is waiting for a ride request in the app, the rideshare company’s limited insurance coverage applies. This includes bodily injury protection ($50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident) and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Uber and Lyft both have million-dollar insurance policies that become effective when a rideshare driver accepts a ride request. Coverage extends until a passenger is dropped off.
What if you are in an accident with an Uber driver who is not on the clock? In this situation, you would file a claim against the negligent Uber driver’s insurance company or seek damages directly from the driver in a civil personal injury lawsuit.
You also reserve the right to seek insurance benefits and damages from other liable parties.
What damages can I get in an Uber or Lyft accident claim?
By filing an Uber or Lyft accident claim, you can seek compensation for your financial losses and trauma related to your accident.
These compensatory damages are known as economic awards and non-economic awards, respectively.
Our Lyft accident lawyers in Chicago will help you recover compensation for things like:
- Present and future medical bills
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- The cost of replacing or repairing damaged property
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost wages and income
- Wrongful death of a family member after a fatal Uber or Lyft accident in Chicago
It can be difficult to calculate damages in an Uber accident claim accurately, and you can be certain that defendants will work hard to minimize your payout.
Our Uber car accident attorneys will take a detailed approach to your case and work closely with specialists throughout the process. We will work hard to appreciate the full scope and impact of your Uber or Lyft accident so that we can position ourselves to not only win your case but maximize your financial award.
How is liability determined in a rideshare accident?
Under Illinois law, liability is shared by anyone who directly or indirectly causes an accident.
Most Uber accidents are caused by negligence. Negligence essentially means that someone had a responsibility to act with care, failed to do so, and caused another person to get hurt.
A party will be deemed negligent and, therefore, liable if you can prove these four things:
- They owed you a duty of care.
- They breached the duty of care by failing to act reasonably under the circumstances.
- Their actions or inactions caused you to get hurt.
- You can identify damages related to the accident and your injuries.
Negligence isn’t the sole grounds for pursuing compensation after an Uber accident in Chicago. For instance, if a defective vehicle contributed to your accident, you may have a strict liability claim involving the manufacturer.
In these cases, you must simply prove that a product was defective, it was used as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable way, and it contributed to your injuries.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a rideshare accident in Chicago, Illinois?
As with other car accident claims, you will generally have two years to pursue compensation after a collision involving a rideshare vehicle.
It is important to notify the rideshare company and your insurance carrier as soon as you can after you get hurt. This can preserve your right to initiate legal action.
Don’t wait until the second anniversary of your Lyft or Uber accident to file a claim. If you miss the deadline, you give up the ability to assert your rights and secure the financial award you deserve. Talk to a Chicago personal injury lawyer about the Illinois statute of limitations for your case.
Why should I hire a lawyer from Levin & Perconti after my accident?
Whether you were a passenger in the back of the Uber or Lyft, an occupant of another vehicle, or a bystander on the road, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options after a rideshare accident in Chicago. Make Levin & Perconti your first call for help.
Our Chicago Uber accident lawyers are here to support and guide you through this trying time. We have decades of experience handling car accident claims and understand the strategies insurance companies will deploy to get out of paying you the money you deserve.
Our relentless pursuit of financial justice has helped us win millions of dollars on behalf of deserving clients like you.
We offer a client-centered approach that truly gives you the opportunity to focus on your health and maximize your financial award.
Our award-winning Chicago car accident attorneys will handle every detail of your Uber accident claim:
- Investigate the crash to determine how it happened and who’s at fault
- Gather critical pieces of evidence to support your claim for damages
- Enlist the help of specialists
- Defend against strategies designed to shift blame to you and minimize your payout
- Enter negotiations with a strong and aggressive strategy to maximize your settlement offer
- Represent you at trial and argue your Uber accident lawsuit in front of a jury, if necessary
$10 million
Settlement
for a 5-year-old boy run over by a fire truck as he played on a fire hydrant, resulting in the loss of his leg and half of his pelvis
Settlement
for a 77-year-old woman who lost a part of her right leg after being struck by a bus.
$2.07 million
Verdict
for a 23-year-old woman who suffered multiple leg fractures in an automobile accident
With Levin & Perconti, you don’t have to worry about the cost of hiring a Chicago personal injury lawyer after your Uber accident. Our law firm works on a contingency basis. We do not get paid unless we win your Uber accident case. There’s no risk for you, so contact the Levin & Perconti team at our Chicago law office to learn more.
Testimonials
Legally Reviewed by
John J. Perconti
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Notable Results
SETTLEMENT
for a 5-year-old boy run over by a fire truck as he played on a fire hydrant, resulting in the loss of his leg and half of his pelvis
SETTLEMENT
for the family of a 32-year-old woman who was killed when their pick-up truck was rear-ended by a semi-truck
VERDICT
for a 23-year-old woman who suffered multiple leg fractures in an automobile collision
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325 N LaSalle Dr Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60654
312-332-2872
