Rideshare Driver Injury Lawyer
Our Chicago law firm can handle your accident claim and demand justice for you
Drivers for Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing companies face numerous challenges on the road. From traffic congestion to uncooperative passengers, the gig often is not easy. Ridesharing drivers also face the risk of getting injured in a car accident while driving. Lots of trips means lots of time on the road. The more they drive, the higher the risk of getting injured in a rideshare accident.
3 Things Every Rideshare Driver Should Know Before Every Trip
If you have been injured in a car accident while driving for a rideshare company, you should know that you have legal options. Depending on what type of car insurance you have, you should be fairly compensated for your crash.
An experienced Chicago rideshare accident lawyer at Keating Law Offices, P.C. can help you every step of the way. Our attorneys understand how the legal system works. We know what your rights are as a rideshare driver. We can help you demand the compensation you deserve after your rideshare accident.
Understanding your rights as a rideshare driver
Despite the ease that ridesharing brings to our everyday lives, most rideshare drivers may not fully consider the risks involved when they drive for companies like Uber or Lyft. Specifically, many rideshare drivers might not realize that companies such as Uber and Lyft have safeguards in place to protect drivers in the event of a rideshare accident.
On top of the insurance coverage that all drivers are required to have, rideshare companies provide additional coverage to their users through what is referred to as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage acts as another potential avenue of recovery should rideshare drivers find themselves in an accident requiring financial compensation for their accident. Specifically, drivers may be able to reimbursed for:
- Medical bills
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for loss of a normal life
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies to accidents where the at-fault vehicle is not covered under any insurance policy or in the event of a hit-and-run accident. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage kicks in when the at-fault party does not have enough insurance to compensate the injured party for their harms or losses. Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims are reported directly to the rideshare company rather than in a typical accident where you contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company to compensate you for your losses.
How does UM/UIM insurance work with rideshare accidents?
While every case is different, the main requirement for rideshare companies UM/UIM insurance coverage to apply requires the accident to occur while transporting a passenger or while en route to picking up a passenger. In the event an accident occurs in either of these scenarios, rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft detail on their own publicly available websites that they provide up to $1,000,000 in insurance coverage to the injured driver or passenger. There are other relevant factors in UM/UIM rideshare claims which are specifically contingent on whether the injured party is the rideshare driver or passenger.
It’s also important to remember that rideshare companies are for-profit corporations that exist to provide a service that generates revenue. As a result, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are not focused on making sure you receive fair and adequate compensation for your injuries and damages. That’s why it’s critical that you have an experienced rideshare accident lawyer who will stand up for your rights if you’re a rideshare driver and you were injured in an accident.
Rideshare accidents caused by another driver
If you are a rideshare driver and find yourself injured while transporting a passenger or when traveling to pick a passenger, who caused the collision is important. If you were not at-fault for causing the collision, you can assert an uninsured (UM) or underinsured (UIM) claim with the rideshare company you were driving for, such as Uber or Lyft, only after you have exhausted all other applicable insurance options.
This means you must first pursue recovery for your injuries and damages with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, if there is any, and then your own personal car insurance company. If after pursuing these avenues of recovery you have still have not been fairly compensated, you can assert a UM/UIM claim with the rideshare company you were driving for at the time of the accident.
Dealing with insurance companies after a rideshare accident
Dealing with an insurance company to recover compensation for unpaid medical expenses and other damages can be complicated under any circumstances. Claims can become especially complicated when you are dealing with a corporate insurance company. Don’t let them dictate what happens to you. Demand the compensation you rightfully deserve.
If you or a friend were involved in a rideshare accident or were specifically injured while driving for Uber or Lyft, contact the rideshare accident attorneys at Keating Law Offices, P.C. to schedule a free consultation. We are available over the phone, video conference or can even come directly to you. We can review the details of your case, answer your questions and go over your legal options. Contact us today. Our attorneys know how to navigate these cases and can fight for your rights.
3 Things Every Rideshare Driver Should Know Before Every Trip
In today’s economy, more and more people are out on the road driving for Uber, Lyft or another rideshare company. Here are three tips that every rideshare driver should know to stay safe on the road and avoid a rideshare accident.
- Know where you can and can’t pick someone up.
When rideshare companies incentivize drivers to maintain a five-star rating, some drivers think that the best way to obtain a good rating is to treat the customer like they are always right. However, sometimes customers insist on being picked up or dropped off in a location that is dangerous to both the customer and others nearby. In fact, the Chicago Municipal Code mandates that all rideshare drivers receive training about safe drop-off and pick-up areas. Drivers should never pick someone up or drop them off in a spot that impedes other cars, pedestrians or bicyclists. Dropping someone off and picking them up in a crosswalk, bicycle lane or in a spot that impedes other traffic is not only dangerous, it’s also against the law. Doorings can cause serious injuries when dropping of a passenger and are specifically prohibited by the Illinois Vehicle Code at Section 11-1407. Don’t force your rider to dart across lanes of bicycle or vehicle traffic in order to enter or exit your vehicle.
- Learn where you are going before you go.
Rideshare companies encourage you to use your cellphone when working. However, your cellphone can also be a dangerous distraction and can result in a serious distracted driving accident. Studies have found that driving while on a phone is as dangerous as driving drunk, and many Lyft and Uber drivers use their phone constantly throughout a trip to follow directions and a particular route determined by the rideshare app. Safe driving requires eyes on the road. Rideshare drivers should take a minute or two before each ride to learn where they are going before they start the trip. This quick review to become familiar with the route will enable drivers to fulfill their duty to drive safely.
- Aggressive driving can cost you money
Safe and defensive driving saves lives – and saves you money. Crashes are costly, and if you’re driving aggressively, the chances of getting into a car crash increase dramatically. Sometimes, insurance will cover the costs of damage to your car and pay for a lawyer if there is a legal claim against you. Insurance companies will likely not forget that you were in a crash the next time you have to renew your insurance or pay your premiums, regardless of whose fault it was. Ultimately, aggressive driving is not only bad for your own safety and the safety of those around you, it’s also bad for your wallet.
