Uber completed over 1.8 billion trips in 2021 to 2022 in the United States, averaging over 2.5 million daily trips or 30 rides every second. With all of these rides, car accidents are bound to happen. When you have been injured in a rideshare accident, you need a Chicago Uber accident lawyer to protect your rights and pursue the financial compensation you need to put your life back on track.
Since 2014, Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers have helped injury victims recover compensation after they were injured due to the negligence of others in Illinois. In about a decade, we have recovered more than $250 million for our clients, including 75 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more. Learn about your legal options to seek compensation from the at-fault party when you contact our law firm for a free consultation with a Chicago Uber accident lawyer at (312) 635-5400.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help After a Chicago Uber Accident?
Rideshare accidents are complex legal matters. Rideshare companies like Uber have used distinct legal classifications to limit their liability when their drivers are involved in accidents. When an accident occurs, it’s critical that you establish where the driver was in the transaction to determine which of several overlapping insurance policies may apply.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have ample experience dealing with large corporations in Illinois, including Uber, insurance companies, and other rideshare companies.
When you hire Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, you can trust us to:
- Investigate the rideshare accident and identify who is responsible
- Gather evidence to prove liability
- Assess the full value of your personal injury claim
- Handle communication with the relevant insurance companies
- Manage claim paperwork and legal filings in your case
- Negotiate for maximum compensation
Get started on your path to financial recovery by contacting us today for a free case review.
Common Causes of Chicago Uber Accidents
While many people consider Uber a safe form of transportation, Uber driver requirements are rather minimal. To drive for Uber, a person must pass a background check, have a valid driver’s license, and provide proof of insurance. Drivers do not require any special licensing, complete a skills test, or undergo a safety inspection.
Therefore, Uber drivers are just like other drivers on the road. Additionally, they may be more prone to accidents due to:
- Fatigue: Uber drivers may work long hours, work as a rideshare driver as a second job, or work for multiple platforms, making them more likely to drive while tired.
- Distractions: Rideshare drivers get constant updates from the app as new customers request rides. They also hear notifications along their route and might talk to passengers, all activities that can make it more difficult for them to focus on the task of driving.
- Speeding: Rideshare drivers are paid by the trip, so the faster they can complete rides, the more trips they can provide, and the more money they stand to earn.
- Unsafe dropoffs or pickups – Drivers may pick up and drop off passengers in unsafe areas.
- Aggressive driving: No one likes to be stuck in busy Chicago traffic. Uber drivers may drive aggressively by following too closely, making unsafe lane changes, running red lights, or violating traffic laws.
- Unfamiliarity with the area: Many rideshare drivers are new to the area and do this work while they look for a full-time gig. They may be unfamiliar with Chicago traffic patterns.
- Deferred maintenance: Drivers may not properly maintain their vehicles since doing so can take them out of work while repairs are being made.
Not all motor vehicle accidents involving Uber are the Uber driver’s fault, so it’s necessary to first determine liability.
Who Is Responsible for an Uber Accident?
Illinois is an at-fault state for car accidents. The party responsible for causing the accident is liable for the damages they cause. While many rideshare accidents are caused by a careless rideshare driver, others are due to the actions or omissions of other parties, such as:
- Other motorists
- Bus drivers or truck drivers
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Manufacturers of a defective vehicle or auto part
- Employers of negligent employees working at the time of the collision
An experienced Chicago Uber accident lawyer from our law firm can investigate your case to determine who is responsible for your accident. We can help prepare multiple claims if multiple parties contributed to the accident.
Illinois Law and Uber
Uber and other rideshare companies are relatively new to the transportation industry, and laws have lagged behind their proliferation. These companies have traditionally been able to take advantage of this by not being required to follow the same rules as taxi companies and other common carriers. However, beginning Jan. 1, 2024, a change in Illinois law now recognizes transportation network companies, i.e., rideshare companies, as common carriers.
Common carriers have a heightened duty to act with care while transporting passengers. According to Illinois law, a “common carrier owes its passengers the duty to use the highest degree of care consistent with the type of vehicle used in the practical operation of its business.” Under this standard, rideshare drivers must drive even more carefully than typical motorists.
How Much Is My Chicago Uber Accident Claim Worth?
Your Chicago Uber accident claim depends on various case-specific factors, such as:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The amount of time you missed from work
- Whether you are able to return to work
- The medical bills and other financial losses you’ve experienced because of the accident
- The pain and suffering you endured because of the accident
- Who is responsible for the accident
- The insurance coverage that applies
- Your own degree of fault in the accident
You must understand the value of your case before you try to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company. An experienced lawyer can help with this.
Uber Insurance at Different Times During the Transaction
One of the most complex issues involved in Uber accidents is knowing which insurance policy is in effect. Illinois law requires all transportation network companies to prove liability coverage to drivers who are actively on their app and awaiting or completing a ride request. This insurance applies when a driver’s personal liability coverage does not cover an accident.
Different policies apply during the rideshare transaction, as follows:
Driver Is Offline
Because the driver is not actively engaged with the app, their status as a rideshare driver is irrelevant. Their personal liability insurance coverage applies if they are found at fault for an accident. Minimum liability insurance requirements in Illinois are:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $20,000 of property damage liability coverage
Contact an attorney to help you figure out which coverage might apply.
The app Is On, and the Driver Is Awaiting a Ride Request
If the driver is logged into the Uber app and waiting for a ride request, Uber’s insurance applies, which provides coverage of up to:
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $100,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
A Chicago Uber accident lawyer can help you determine what coverage might apply.
The Driver Is Picking Up or Transporting a Passenger
From the moment an Uber driver accepts a ride request until they complete the trip, Uber’s $1 million liability insurance policy applies.
An experienced car accident lawyer can review your case to determine which insurance policy applies.
Financial Compensation for Uber Accidents
Personal injury victims can recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages they suffered as a result of the accident, including for:
- Medical bills for emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, follow-up treatment, and rehabilitation
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
An experienced attorney from our firm can review your case and determine the damages you may be able to fight for.
What If I Am Partially to Blame for the Accident?
Illinois modified comparative fault law allows you to seek compensation for an accident if you contributed to it as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for it. You can recover compensation even when you were partially negligent, but your award is reduced by your degree of fault. Therefore, if you are found to be 15% at fault for an accident and suffered $100,000 in damages, your award would be reduced by $15,000.
What Is the Deadline to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Illinois?
Car accident lawsuits, including those involving rideshare companies, are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. If you don’t file a personal injury lawsuit within this timeline, you can lose your right to recover compensation through the courts. An experienced lawyer can help preserve your rights. Contact us today to get started with a free case review.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Chicago Uber Accident Lawyers
Were you injured in a Chicago Uber accident? If so, a Chicago Uber accident lawyer from Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers can help. We are prepared to thoroughly investigate your case, manage your personal injury claim, and negotiate for top dollar. Contact our firm today for a free case assessment.
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Chicago, IL Uber Accident Blog Posts
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- Winning a $1 Million Settlement for a “Minor” Collision
- What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?
Additional Chicago Uber Accident Resources
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Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
875 N Dearborn St 4th Floor,
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 635-5400
