Five Things You Need to Know After an Illinois Uber or Lyft Accident

As an Uber or Lyft passenger, you were not in control at the time of the accident. You couldn’t have prevented the crash, but you can direct what happens next by knowing five critical things.

1. What to Do Right After a Rideshare Accident

You should take many of the same steps at the scene of an Uber or Lyft crash that you would take after any accident. Specifically:

• Call the police. Someone should call the police to make sure an officer comes to investigate the crash. It doesn’t matter who makes the call as long as the police respond to the accident scene.
• Accept medical help. Whether or not you have symptoms of an injury, you should get medical attention so that you can receive an accurate diagnosis and begin a useful treatment plan.
• Gather evidence. Unless you are too hurt to do so, you should take pictures, write down witness names and contact information, and gather insurance information from all drivers involved in the wreck.

Additionally, you should contact the rideshare company to confirm insurance information and contact an Illinois car accident lawyer for a free consultation.

2. What Insurance Companies are Involved

Your financial recovery will likely come from an insurance company, but before you can receive compensation you need to know which insurer is responsible for paying you. Since you were a passenger in a rideshare accident, the most likely insurers are:

• The rideshare company’s insurance company. When a rideshare driver has a customer in the car, the rideshare company’s insurance typically applies. For example, Uber has at least a $1 million policy that applies when a driver has a passenger in the car or is on the way to pick up a passenger. Therefore, if you are hurt as an Uber passenger, it is Uber’s insurance policy and not the individual driver’s personal car insurance coverage that applies.
• Another driver’s insurance company. Rideshare drivers don’t cause all rideshare accidents. Sometimes other drivers are at fault. If a driver other than your rideshare driver caused your crash, then that driver’s insurance may be responsible for paying your damages.

In some cases, your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage may also apply.

3. What Damages You Can Recover

The compensation you may recover depends on your specific injuries. Your recovery may include past and future:

• Medical expenses such as hospitalizations, doctors’ appointments, surgeries, medications, and medical devices.
• Lost income, including wages, bonuses, benefits, and income from self-employment.
• Out-of-pocket costs such as modifications to your home or car, transportation costs, childcare, or household help.
• Physical pain and emotional suffering.

You may also recover for any disfigurement or permanent disabilities.

4. How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Rideshare accidents quickly get complicated. Drivers and the rideshare company may blame one another. Insurance companies may deny coverage. You may not know which way to turn or how to be treated fairly.

Our experienced Illinois rideshare accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your accident and aggressively pursue your fair recovery from the right parties. Insurance companies know that we mean business. Often, insurers are willing to negotiate with us and come to a fair settlement because they know we aren’t afraid to go to trial to protect our clients’ rights.

Over the past half-century, we’ve helped more than 70,000 clients recover more than $1 billion in compensation for their injuries.

5. How You Can Afford Legal Help

If someone else’s negligence has hurt you, then you deserve legal help without worrying about how to pay for it.

Our lawyers are committed to helping anyone who has been hurt in an Illinois rideshare accident. We offer all potential clients a completely free, no-obligation consultation. Then, if you decide to hire us, we offer you our Win or It is Free Guarantee. That means that we are only paid a percentage of your settlement or court recovery. If you don’t recover any damages, then you don’t pay us.

To learn more, please contact our Illinois accident lawyers any time 24/7/365 via this website or by phone. We look forward to discussing your legal options and potential recovery with you.