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Many people use ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft to travel around the city of Chicago. These services are convenient, inexpensive, and fast, but traveling by Uber or Lyft carries the same risks as traveling by any other vehicle. The drivers are not specially trained or qualified—they are just regular people who are hoping to earn some extra cash.
These services have become increasingly popular over the last several years. Sadly, the number of accidents involving Uber or Lyft drivers has also been on the rise. If you have been injured in a rideshare accident, seek legal representation from our Chicago rideshare accident lawyer at Phillips Law Offices right away.Â
If you use ridesharing services—or share the road with Uber or Lyft drivers—there are a few things you should know. Rideshare companies and taxi companies perform basically the same service, however they are not legally classified in the same manner. Uber and Lyft are classified as tech companies rather than taxi companies, which allows them to avoid many of the regulations imposed on the taxi industry. Many of these regulations were established to protect consumers, so riding in a rideshare vehicle could be riskier than riding in a regulated taxi.
Furthermore, the vehicles used by these rideshare services are not legally considered commercial vehicles. This is because the vehicles actually belong to the Uber or Lyft drivers, not the ridesharing company. Because they are not commercial vehicles, the drivers are not required to obtain commercial vehicle insurance coverage. Instead, these drivers are only required to comply with the state’s minimum insurance coverage laws.
You may think that Uber or Lyft would be liable if they allow a negligent driver to transport passengers, but that’s not necessarily true. Companies are often held liable for the negligence of their employees. But, the drivers who work for Uber and Lyft are classified as independent contractors, not employees. This classification makes it more difficult for victims to hold Uber or Lyft liable for the actions of their drivers. But, with the help of a skilled Uber and Lyft accident lawyer Chicago, you can secure the compensation you deserve.
Ridesharing accidents are similar to other traffic accidents in many different ways. However, that does not mean that a rideshare accident claim is similar to a car accident claim. Rideshare claims are far more complicated for a number of reasons.
First, there are several parties involved in every rideshare accident claim, which can make things complicated. Victims—with the help of an attorney—must determine which of these parties is to blame for the accident before they can pursue compensation.
Uber and Lyft also have complex insurance policies that complicate matters even further. These insurance policies will only cover accidents that occur at certain times. For example, the driver’s status at the time of the accident could determine whether or not the ridesharing company’s insurance policy will cover the crash and what type of coverage should apply. This means if you were hit by a negligent rideshare driver, you must conduct an investigation to find out if the driver was actively working for the ridesharing company or transporting passengers at the time of the crash. It’s impossible for victims to know which insurance company to file a claim with after an accident without this information.
Ridesharing companies often hire a team of attorneys to help them avoid liability in these claims. If they are not held liable, you may have to file a claim with the driver’s personal insurance policy. Drivers will not have as much coverage as ridesharing companies, so this could affect how much compensation you are able to recover.
There’s no doubt that ridesharing claims are far more complex than standard car accident claims. Fortunately, victims do not need to try to resolve these claims on their own.
Stephen Phillips, an experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer, has successfully helped countless victims obtain the compensation they deserve following rideshare crashes. Let him stand by your side and fight for compensation on your behalf.
There are a handful of different scenarios in which an Uber or Lyft accident can occur. Here’s an overview of the types of rideshare accident claims.
Ridesharing companies have insurance policies that cover accidents that occur when there are paying customers in the car. Therefore, victims in this situation would file a claim with the ridesharing company’s insurance policy in order to recover compensation. These insurance policies cover up to $1 million for bodily injury, property damage, and death caused by the negligence of an Uber or Lyft driver.
A rideshare driver may cause an accident after he has accepted a ride request, but before he has picked up the passenger who made the request. If this happens, the ridesharing company’s insurance policy would cover the accident. Even though the passenger is not in the car yet, the driver was technically working for the company at the time of the accident, which is why their insurance policy covers it.
If an Uber driver hits your car, it’s important to determine whether or not the driver was actively working for the ridesharing company at the time of the collision. Uber and Lyft insurance policies do not cover accidents that occur when the driver is off the clock and using his vehicle for personal reasons. If the driver was not working at the time of the crash, the claim may have to be filed against his personal insurance policy as opposed to the ridesharing company’s policy.
Many accidents occur when rideshare drivers are active on the app, meaning they are willing to pick up passengers, but they have not received a ride request yet. If a driver is active and waiting for a ride request at the time he causes an accident, the ridesharing company’s insurance policy would cover up to $50,000 for injuries per person and up to $100,000 total.
In this scenario, the at-fault Uber or Lyft driver would have sought compensation from his own insurance policy to cover his medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage caused by the crash.
A driver who is not actively working for Uber or Lyft or looking for new passengers at the time of the accident is driving his vehicle for his own personal use. As a result, the ridesharing company’s insurance policy would not cover the accident. In this scenario, the driver’s personal insurance policy would provide coverage. If you are injured in an accident caused by an inactive rideshare driver, you would need to file a claim with the driver’s insurance company.
Uber and Lyft both require their drivers to provide proof of insurance. This means you should not have to worry about how to recover compensation from an uninsured Uber or Lyft driver who crashed into you.
Your role in the accident, as well as the status of the Uber or Lyft driver at the time of the accident, can impact how you should file your claim and how much compensation you may recover. This is a lot to comprehend—especially if you’re still recovering from the shock of being in an accident. If you’ve been involved in a ridesharing accident, it’s best to let a personal injury attorney walk you through the process of filing a claim.
Rideshare accidents, like other types of traffic accidents, can occur for a number of different reasons.
One of the leading causes of rideshare accidents is distracted driving. Rideshare drivers use their smartphones to find new passengers, so they often take their eyes off of the road to check for new ride requests. Drivers need to rely on their smartphones for directions once there are passengers in the car. They may need to glance at their phones every few minutes to see where they should go to reach their passengers’ final destination. Taking their eyes off of the road—even if it’s for just a few seconds—can put everyone in danger.
Cell phones aren’t the only distraction that rideshare drivers must deal with behind the wheel. Passengers may distract drivers, too. Uber and Lyft drivers are rated based on their friendliness, so they cannot simply ignore a passenger who is trying to start a conversation.
Distracted driving is one of the main causes of ridesharing accidents, but it’s not the only cause. Some of the other common causes include:
If you’ve been injured in a rideshare accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can investigate the accident to determine what caused it and who is at fault. Protect your rights after a traffic accident by contacting Phillips Law Office at once.
It’s never easy to recover compensation in a personal injury claim, but this is especially true when the claim involves a rideshare accident. The steps you must take to file a claim following a rideshare accident will depend on what you were doing and whether or not the rideshare driver was working at the time of the crash. An attorney can carefully review the details of your case to determine the best way to approach your claim.
Uber and Lyft may try to pass the blame onto their driver in order to avoid liability. But, a skilled attorney will not let ridesharing companies escape liability. At Phillips Law Offices, our attorneys will use the facts of the case to identify the liable parties and hold them accountable for your injuries. Then, we will aggressively negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to secure the compensation you need for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our goal is to ensure you are fully compensated for the damages caused by the negligent Uber or Lyft driver, and we will go above and beyond to achieve it.
Uber and Lyft accident claims are known for their complexities, so it’s not wise to attempt to handle your claim on your own. If you want to reach the best possible outcome, seek legal representation from the experienced Uber accident lawyer at Phillips Law Offices.
Ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have insurance coverage, but the policies are extremely complex. Here’s what you need to know about each company’s insurance policy:
Uber has secured a significant amount of insurance coverage that includes:
However, Uber’s insurance policies only cover accidents that occur when the driver is either on his way to pick up an Uber passenger or driving with an Uber passenger in the car. If an accident occurs at any other time, you may not be able to file a claim with Uber’s insurance company. Instead, the only option may be filing a claim with the driver’s auto insurance policy.
Lyft and Uber have very similar insurance policies. Lyft’s insurance policy includes:
Just like Uber, Lyft’s insurance policy only covers accidents that occur while the passenger is inside the vehicle or waiting for pick up. Also, the contingent liability coverage only applies to accidents that occur when the driver is on his way to pick up the passenger. If the accident is not covered by Lyft’s insurance policy, the victim must file a claim with the driver’s personal insurance company.
It’s important to know what to do in the event you are ever involved in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver. Focus on your health first. If you have been seriously injured, seek emergency medical attention at the scene of the accident. Otherwise, seek medical attention as soon as possible after leaving the scene.
It’s recommended that you seek medical attention even if you feel fine. Why? Symptoms may not appear for hours following a crash, so it’s best to let a doctor examine you right away instead of waiting to see how you feel later.
Call 9-1-1 after an accident even if you are not in need of emergency medical assistance. Ask the dispatcher to send a police officer to the scene so he can file a report on the accident. This police report can play an important role in your case, so make sure there is an officer there to document what happened.
If possible, collect evidence at the scene of the accident. Use your cell phone to take photographs of the vehicles involved. Take pictures from different angles and make sure you capture any damage caused by the crash.
You will need to exchange information with the other parties involved in the crash. But, these are not the only people you should speak with before leaving. Do a quick scan of the scene to look for possible witnesses. If you spot anyone who could have seen what happened, talk to them prior to leaving the scene. But, do not discuss the details of the accident with these witnesses. Instead, simply ask for their contact information and thank them for their help.
Seek legal representation from an attorney who has experience helping victims of rideshare accidents recover compensation. Fill your attorney in on the details of the accident and provide him with copies of the evidence you have gathered. Then, let your attorney handle the claim process while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Have you been injured in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver? If so, seek legal representation from the experienced car accident attorneys at Phillips Law Offices right away. Stephen Phillips is an award-winning attorney who has secured countless multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of his clients. He will work tirelessly to ensure you are compensated fairly following a rideshare accident.
There’s no time to waste—take the first step towards recovering compensation by scheduling a free consultation today. To schedule your consultation, call (312) 598-0917 or fill out the contact form on this website.
Phillips Law Offices is often asked by their opposing counsel and even their opponents to represent their family and friends in personal injury and wrongful death matters. This fact speaks volumes about the nature of our practice.
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