Illinois Lawyers for Victims Injured in Crashes Involving Uber or Lyft Vehicles

In many communities throughout the country, including here in the greater Chicago area, ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft provide a convenient alternative to taxicabs. Also called “ride-hailing” these services are often faster, more accessible, and less expensive than traditional cabs. When you use Uber and Lyft, you expect to arrive at your destination safely and without incident, but what happens when your Uber or Lyft vehicle is involved in an accident? Or, what if you are driving your own car and you are hit by an Uber, Lyft, or Maven vehicle? At Walsh, Knippen & Cetina, Chartered, our skilled personal injury attorneys can help you understand the web of insurance coverages associated with ridesharing services, and we will assist you in getting the compensation you deserve.

Kane County Attorneys for Injured Passengers

Every ridesharing passenger has the right to expect a safe Uber or Lyft ride. Part of every ridesharing fare goes toward driver and vehicle screenings, background checks, and driver education efforts. When you get into an Uber or Lyft vehicle, you are automatically covered under an insurance policy held by the rideshare company. This means that if you are injured during your ride, the company’s insurance coverage should pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Unfortunately, things are not always that easy. It is not uncommon for the insurance companies to attempt to avoid liability by shifting responsibility to the driver or vehicle owner or by downplaying the extent of your injuries. Our experienced attorneys can help you determine which insurance company should be responsible for your injuries and will work with you in filing the appropriate claims.

When You Are Hit By an Uber or Lyft Driver

If an Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing vehicle hits your car and the rideshare driver is at fault, there are several possible avenues for pursuing compensation. The available insurance coverage—and the order in which liability applies—will depend on whether a paying passenger was in the rideshare vehicle or if the vehicle was headed to pick up a rider. If the driver was available for requests with an empty vehicle, the driver’s own policy would be primary. If the driver had accepted a request and was headed toward a passenger—or had already picked up the passenger—the rideshare company’s insurance would be liable for any injuries you sustained.

Maven and Other Carsharing Services

Carsharing services are different from ridesharing services in that carsharing is essentially a car rental service. Instead of hiring a driver to get you from place to place as with Uber or Lyft, carsharing services like Maven, GetAround, and Zipcar allow you to rent a car for a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks at a time. Some ridesharing drivers even use carsharing services as an alternative to owning their own vehicles.

When you are involved in an accident with a shared car, there may be confusion and uncertainty about insurance coverage and which company should be responsible. As with ridesharing, there are often several levels of coverage, and each company may try to avoid liability by shifting responsibility to the others. Our team will review the circumstances of your accident, identify the liable parties, and work to get you the compensation you need to put your life back on track.

Call 630-462-1980 Today

If you have been injured in an accident involving a ridesharing or carsharing vehicle, contact our office. Call 630-462-1980 for a free consultation today. We represent injured victims in DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, Cook County, and throughout Northern Illinois.