Orland Park Rideshare Accidents Lawyer

Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Orland Park, IL

Taking a taxi used to be a normal mode of transportation, but rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have made taxi cabs almost obsolete. In Chicago alone, there are over 100,000 registered rideshare vehicles. Passengers appreciate the ability to request a ride and pay through convenient apps. The immense popularity of ridesharing does have a downside, though. Accident claims involving rideshare vehicles are often complicated. If you have been in an accident with a rideshare driver, you may be compensated for your damages, but actually recovering the compensation you deserve in these cases is more problematic than in typical car accident claims. Fortunately, you can turn to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney from the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. for assistance. We know the issues you may face and how to overcome them. Let us explain how we can help during a free consultation.

Liability Is Not Always Clear in Rideshare Collisions

Although you may request your ride through Uber or Lyft, your driver is an independent contractor using their own vehicle. This is an important distinction in terms of liability if you are injured in a rideshare accident. Although rideshare companies provide liability insurance to cover injured passengers, those policies may not apply to your accident.

Rideshare drivers have different statuses, and their status at the time of your accident determines what kind of liability coverage applies:

• Not logged in: If the driver is not actively logged in to the appropriate app, their own auto insurance policy may pay your damages.
• Standby: If the driver is logged in but has an accident while waiting for the next ride request, the rideshare company's liability coverage should cover $50,000 bodily injury liability per person and $100,000 per accident.
• On the way: The rideshare company's liability coverage goes up to $1 million for accidents when the driver has accepted a ride request and is en route to pick up the passenger(s).
• In transit: If an accident occurs with a rider in the car, the $1 million bodily injury liability coverage applies.

As mentioned, the driver's personal insurance may pay your damages in some scenarios. Many auto insurance companies require policyholders to disclose the fact they are using their vehicles for rideshare purposes, potentially also requiring additional coverage. If the driver has not told their insurer about their rideshare role or has declined to purchase add-on coverage, the company may refuse to pay your claim.

Without legal representation, you will have to investigate your accident and then try to get the appropriate insurance company to accept liability on your own. When you work with the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we will handle these matters for you.

Your Role Makes a Difference in Rideshare Accidents

In addition to liability concerns, your role in an accident can also present complications. There are different roles you might play in a rideshare incident. You might be:

• A passenger in the rideshare vehicle
• A driver or passenger in a different vehicle involved in a collision with a rideshare vehicle
• Injured by the rideshare driver, such as in an assault
• A pedestrian

If you bear any responsibility for causing a rideshare accident, your degree of fault will determine your eligibility for obtaining compensation and how much you might receive. In Illinois, you can take action to collect damages from other at-fault parties in a personal injury claim if you are less than 51 percent to blame. However, your settlement amount will be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault.

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we will fight aggressively to achieve a favorable resolution to your case. Attorney Barker will personally handle your case to be sure your best interests are protected.

Contact Our Orland Park, IL Rideshare Accident Attorney

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we provide effective legal representation that makes a difference, because we pay attention to every detail and work diligently to achieve the best results for our clients. Contact us at 708-321-1223 for your free consultation with our skilled Uber and Lyft accident attorney. There are no upfront fees, and you will not pay fees unless we recover compensation for you.