Your Trusted Chicago Rideshare Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Chicago, whether as a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian, you may be unsure whose insurance even applies. You do not have to sort it out alone. Furqan Mohammed helps rideshare accident victims across Chicago cut through the insurance layers and pursue the full compensation they deserve.
Understanding Your Right to Compensation After a Rideshare Accident
Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft follow the same negligence rules as any car crash, but the insurance is more complicated. Whether you were a passenger, another motorist, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. In most cases you have two years from the date of the crash to file a claim in Illinois (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
Common Causes of Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare drivers face unique pressures that can lead to crashes. Common causes include:
App distraction
Driver fatigue
Speeding and rushing
Unfamiliar roads
Other negligent drivers
Rideshare Insurance: Whose Coverage Applies?
The insurance that covers your rideshare accident depends on what the driver was doing at the time. When the app is off, only the driver’s personal insurance applies. When the driver is logged in and waiting for a ride, Uber and Lyft provide limited liability coverage. Once the driver has accepted a ride or has a passenger on board, Uber and Lyft carry up to $1 million in liability coverage. Figuring out which policy applies, and getting the company’s insurer to pay, is where many victims need a lawyer.
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule: your compensation is reduced by your share of fault, and you can still recover as long as you are not more than 50% at fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116).
Types of Compensation
Depending on the nature and severity of the crash, you may be entitled to compensation for a range of losses, including:
Medical expenses
Covers emergency care, hospitalization, therapy, and future medical needs
Lost income
Reimburses wages lost due to injury and diminished earning capacity
Property damage
Repairs or replaces your vehicle and other damaged property
Pain and suffering
Accounts for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of normal life
Loss of consortium
Compensation for harm to spousal relationships
How Furqan Mohammed Can Help
A rideshare accident lawyer like Furqan Mohammed can handle the insurance maze for you, including:
- Determining the driver’s app status and which policy applies
- Dealing with Uber’s or Lyft’s insurers and the at-fault driver
- Documenting your injuries and calculating your full losses
- Negotiating a fair settlement or taking your case to court
Rideshare companies and their insurers are skilled at shifting blame and minimizing payouts. Furqan Mohammed cuts through the confusion over which policy applies and, if needed, files suit in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The firm serves rideshare accident victims across Chicago, with assistance available in Arabic and other languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As an injured passenger you are almost never at fault, and you may be able to recover from the at-fault driver's insurance or, when the rideshare driver is responsible, from Uber's or Lyft's coverage of up to $1 million.
In most cases, two years from the date of the crash in Illinois (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
Not always. Coverage depends on whether the app was off, the driver was waiting for a ride, or the driver was on a trip. The company's higher coverage generally applies only once a ride is accepted or a passenger is on board.
You may still recover. Depending on the driver's app status at the time, either their personal insurance or the rideshare company's coverage may apply.
You may still recover under Illinois's modified comparative negligence rule, as long as you were not more than 50% at fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116).
