Rideshare entities like Uber and Lyft have exploded nationwide in recent years. According to the Chicago Tribune, the number of registered vehicles for companies like Uber quadrupled from 2014 to 2017, increasing the need for crash victims to work with a Chicago Uber accident lawyer.
Rideshares involve drivers who are paid for transporting passengers in the driver’s car at a reduced rate, working as independent contractors.
Speak With One Of Our Chicago Uber Accident Lawyers
Our injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are committed to holding rideshare corporations accountable when their drivers’ negligence results in a Chicago Uber accident with injuries to passengers or other drivers. Schedule a free legal case evaluation with an experienced Chicago Uber accident lawyer.
Were you or a family member injured in an accident with a rideshare motor vehicle accident?
If so, we encourage you to contact our Chicago car accident lawyers at (888) 424-5757 for a free case evaluation to discuss your legal options for recovery.
Were you injured in an accident with an Uber vehicle? If so, knowing that your case differs from other car accidents involving private individuals is essential.
When an Uber or Lyft driver injures their passengers or other parties, you will have an injury claim against the driver and the ridesharing company after the car accident.
Responsibility for Collisions Involving Uber Cars
As the employer of people driving vehicles controlled by technologies operated by Uber, the ridesharing company is liable to pay for accidents resulting in life-threatening injuries.
This can be a positive factor in recovering the full value of a bodily injury case. There are liability policies in place that are typically more substantial (at least $1 million in coverage per person) than those with private driver’s insurance coverage.
Our lawyers can provide legal advice on your compensation case involving an Uber driver.
Our Uber collision lawyers are committed to providing legal representation for passengers and other drivers injured in collisions with rideshare service vehicles.
Examples of potential injury cases against these companies would involve:
- Uber passengers injured or killed in a traffic accident caused by the negligence of rideshare contractors and others
- Distracted driver involving rideshare cars
- Drunk drivers involved in a rideshare accident
- Aggressive driving
- Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists were injured in collisions with a Lyft driver
- Sexual assault of a passenger by a Lyft or Uber driver
- Chicago rideshare drivers injured in collisions caused by other drivers
Compensation Available to People Injured in Uber Collisions
The specific types of damages you might recover in an Uber accident are the same as any accident in Chicago, IL.
After proving causation, you can seek monetary damages for economic and non-economic damages related to your injuries.
Examples of Economic Damages:
- Medical bills for physical injury
- Medical bills for past and future treatment
- Physical therapy
- Lost income
- Disability accommodations
- Medical devices
- Car rental fees
- Property damage
Examples of Non-economic damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of full life
- Disfigurement
Under civil tort law, victims and surviving family members can obtain numerous forms of compensation when involved in a ridesharing accident. These damages include:
Compensatory Damages
The most common damages awarded in accident injury cases. Compensatory damages are meant to compensate the victim for their losses, including healthcare expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, a plaintiff may obtain punitive damages from the defendant. Punitive damages punish the defendant for their actions and discourage others from engaging in similar behavior.
Death Damages
Surviving family members who have lost a loved one in an accident can file a lawsuit to recover damages that include the decedent’s lost wages, future lost earnings, pain and suffering before passing, hospital bills, and medical bills, grief, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress over losing a loved one.
Our accident lawyers have a successful track record representing clients injured in rideshare accidents throughout Illinois and the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Uber Drivers in Chicago: Steps to Avoid an Uber Crash
The responsibility of these drivers is monumental, transporting paying clients from point A to point B safely and responsibly. These drivers in Chicago and across the country must take extra steps to avoid causing an Uber accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), [1] you can do a few things to help avoid an accident when using Uber or any other rideshare service.
Are You a Chicago Uber Driver?
Take these precautions to avoid a Chicago Uber accident:
- Always wear your seatbelt whether alone or driving passengers.
- Use your smartphone GPS while operating a vehicle for rideshare entities.
- Never send or read texts while behind the wheel.
- Ensure your phone is locked and put it in your pocket while driving.
- Pull over and stop driving to avoid a car accident if you need to make a call.
- Keep an eye out for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
- Keep your vehicle well-maintained, and do not drive if tired.
- Plan your route, follow directions on the Uber app, and be aware of your surroundings.
- Maintain a personal Uber policy that covers you and your passengers (rideshare entities might not cover all damages). Many drivers opt out of additional coverage, which could be costly in Uber car accidents.
Our Chicago legal team will work on your accident case to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Uber Passengers: Steps to Stay Protected
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, you can do a few things to help protect yourself when using Uber or any other rideshare service.
Are you a passenger in an Uber?
Take these precautions:
- Make sure you are in a safe place before you enter or exit the vehicle.
- Do not leave your drink unattended in an Uber or any vehicle.
- Avoid sitting in the front seat.
- Avoid hiring rideshare services when alone. Take a friend or co-worker with you.
- If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, ask the driver to change the route or stop the car.
Were you involved in a ridesharing accident? Contact the Chicago Uber accident lawyers team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, for a free case evaluation.
Sample Chicago Lawsuits Involving Uber Car Accidents
Below are some examples of lawsuits people in the Chicagoland area have filed against Uber to obtain compensation for an injury or death.
An experienced attorney will likely hire an accident reconstruction expert or investigator to accurately calculate how the accident happened and who was at fault.
If you have questions about a particular situation, contact our law offices to consult with an Uber rideshare lawyer.
Accident Lawyer Sues Uber After an 8-car Crash Outside of Chicago. (Cook County Circuit Court)
The personal injury lawsuit was filed in November 2018 by plaintiffs who sued in Illinois, targeting Uber and a delivery company.
The incident occurred on an exit off I-90. A mother and her daughter hailed a car via Uber. As they went to their destination, a trucker rear-ended them. They sustained multiple personal injuries.
Their experienced Uber accident lawyer sued the ridesharing driver, Uber, and the delivery company. The family claims that both acted negligently and are responsible for the injuries of the mother and child.
Specifically, the plaintiffs cited the defendant driver for failing to control their speed, keep a proper lookout (distracted driver), and avoid the incident. In addition, they claim compensation for their medical costs, future medical attention, and legal and other losses for damages.
Established Lawyer Brings Suit Against the Ridesharing Company After the Death of Their Son. (Cook County Circuit Court)
In June 2018, an Uber driver shot Hyum Kim. The passenger died from his injuries. His family argued that this was the last thing he could have expected as he hopped into the vehicle.
He merely wanted to reach his destination using the rideshare mobile app. The company has policies against the carrying and using firearms by its Uber drivers.
They claim the company was grossly negligent, and Uber’s insurance policy was in place to cover harmful actions. If the plaintiffs are successful in this argument, they will be able to sue for the intentional acts of the Uber driver and be compensated through Uber’s policy.
A successful resolution means the plaintiffs will be able to get wrongful death damages through Uber and the drivers’ personal policies to cover all losses, including lost support and companionship, suffering, and expenses, among other things.
Logan Square Woman Sues After Sexual Assault
The sexual assault case was recently filed in Illinois. It kicked off after a woman requested an Uber from the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. She wanted to go home to her apartment in Logan Square.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as she had planned. The Uber driver groped her, demanded her phone number, and then would not let her leave until she consented to other demands. The woman complained of anguish, pain, and other physical and mental injuries.
Parents’ Lawyer Sues Uber After Fatal Springfield, Il Motorcycle Crash
The recent Uber accident lawsuit was filed in Sangamon County, Illinois. It began after a rideshare driver crashed into a motorcycle. Unfortunately, both the driver and passenger of the bike died.
The passenger’s parents sued the rideshare driver, Uber, and the motorcyclist. The complaint suggested the motorcyclist was speeding. Also, it complained that the driver was distracted by the Uber app on his phone.
By doing this, they could target Uber insurance coverage by claiming a preventable death. That means the plaintiffs believe the defendants wrongfully caused the death of their loved one.
Further, they think the defendants should pay for the death’s costs, expenses, suffering, and pain. They asked for more than $50,000 for these damages to be paid by Uber’s insurance policy.
Our firm is committed to getting maximum compensation for people injured in a bad accident by holding rideshare companies accountable. Talk to a Chicago attorney 24/7 to discuss your legal rights with a licensed attorney.
How Do I Win My Accident Case to Pay My Medical Bills?
According to data, more than 95% of all accident injury cases are resolved through negotiated settlements. Typically, the plaintiff (injured party) and their attorney will set a negotiation meeting to determine if both sides are willing to settle the case for maximum compensation.
Under Illinois law, the plaintiff (victim) or Uber/Lyft accident attorney must prove the four elements that include:
- The Lyft or Uber driver has a legal responsibility to ensure the passengers’ safety
- The ridesharing driver breached that responsibility
- That breach led to a rideshare accident with the victims
- The victims’ injuries and damages are real and provable in court
While determining who is at fault might be easy for you because you were sitting in the car’s back seat at the time of the accident, it might be more challenging to prove in court. In these cases, an experienced attorney will likely hire an accident reconstruction expert or investigator to accurately calculate how the Lyft or Uber accident happened and who was at fault.
Call today and talk with an accident attorney. Tell us what happened during the moments before, during, and after the accident occurred to collect evidence for your case.
Our injury firm understands that many families have unanswered questions concerning compensation after being hurt in a ridesharing accident. A crash attorney has answered some of the most common questions below. Call (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) if you have further questions or to schedule a free case review.
Contact Our Chicago Uber Accident Lawyers
The experienced injury lawyer Chicago team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, has handled thousands of complex auto accident cases. A lawyer can help you determine your best action to hold the ridesharing industry accountable.
Contact our injury firm at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form to schedule a free case evaluation. If our injury lawyer Chicago team can’t help you with your auto accident case, you don’t owe us anything. We only take a fee once we recover full compensation on your behalf.
All discussions with a reputable Chicago lawyer in our office will remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship.
Resources: [1] NHTSA
