Lyft accidents are more complex than regular motor vehicle accidents due to the involvement of the company’s own insurance policy. Read on to find out how a Naperville Lyft injury lawyer from our law firm can help you recover compensation.
Most Common Causes of Lyft Accidents
Rideshare companies have actually improved road safety across the country, reducing alcohol-related fatalities by 11.4%. [1] However, car accidents still happen and Lyft drivers and passengers suffer injuries and sometimes lose their lives. Here are the most common causes of Lyft accidents:
- Driver fatigue – When drivers don’t get adequate rest, their attention and reaction times suffer.
- Distracted driving – Drivers may be distracted by using their phones, adjusting controls, or engaging in other activities while driving, leading to accidents.Â
- Reckless driving – Aggressive maneuvers, sudden lane changes, or failure to obey traffic laws can result in collisions.
- Road conditions – This includes accidents caused by potholes, construction zones, or poorly maintained or marked roads.
- Defective products  – An accident caused by vehicle malfunctions or poor maintenance typically requires product liability claims.
- Weather conditions – Rain, snow, ice, or fog can reduce visibility and road traction, resulting in a car accident.
- Speeding – Some drivers may exceed speed limits to reach destinations faster, increasing the risk of a car accident.
Understanding Lyft Accident Insurance Coverage
Claims for Lyft accidents depend significantly on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. Here’s a breakdown of insurance categories specific to Lyft drivers and passengers:
Lyft Driver Insurance Coverage
Since Lyft drivers are considered independent contractors, they have fewer protections than employees. If the app is off, the Lyft driver’s personal insurance covers the damages. If another driver is at fault, their insurance should cover the damages. Here’s how Lyft’s third-party liability insurance works when the app is on, depending on the driver’s status:
- The Lyft driver is able to receive requests – Contingent liability coverage applies when the driver is logged into the Lyft app but hasn’t accepted a ride request. It covers $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, as well as $25,000 per accident for property damage.
- The Lyft driver is en route or has an active ride – Lyft’s primary automobile liability coverage is active, covering at least $1 million per accident. Lyft also provides coverage if the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured to protect Lyft drivers in such situations.
Lyft Passenger Insurance Coverage
For Lyft passengers, primary automobile liability coverage is provided by Lyft from the moment they enter a Lyft vehicle until the ride ends, covering injury and property damage per accident up to certain limits. Injured passengers are also protected in the case of underinsured or uninsured motorists.
Other Types of Insurance
In cases where liability extends beyond Lyft’s coverage, such as when another driver is at fault or in situations involving product liability, our Naperville rideshare accident lawyers can assist in considering additional insurance options.
What to Do Following a Lyft Accident in Naperville, IL
Your actions immediately after a Lyft accident can significantly impact the success of your claim. Taking the right steps and avoiding common pitfalls is essential to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation:
- Call emergency services – Call 911 to report the accident and ask for assistance.
- Seek medical care – Your health and safety are top priorities. Get medical help for any injuries, even if they seem minor at first. Â
- Exchange contact information – Exchange contact and insurance details with all involved parties and witnesses.
- Report the accident – Inform Lyft in the app as soon as you’re safe and contact your insurer within 24 to 48 hours.
- Collect evidence – This includes photos of any injuries and damage to property, road conditions, and screenshots of time and location.
- Preserve documentation – Keep records of medical expenses related to the accident, and communications with Lyft and insurers.
- Seek legal help – Contact a Naperville Lyft crash lawyer as soon as you can as it may take up to 40 days for Lyft to investigate the accident.
- Don’t sign anything without consulting with an attorney – Review any documents with your attorney before signing, especially those from insurance companies or Lyft.
- Don’t discuss the accident on social media – Posting on social media could be used against you.Â
Eligibility to File a Lyft Accident Claim
The ability to file a Lyft accident claim requires proving negligence, which consists of the following elements:
- Duty of care – All drivers have a duty to drive safely and follow traffic rules to protect themselves and others.Â
- Breach of duty of care – A breach occurs when a Lyft driver or other drivers fail to uphold their duty of care, by speeding, driving under the influence, or other traffic violations.
- Cause – The breach of duty must directly cause the accident and subsequent injuries or damages.
- Damages – Damages include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
If you’ve been in an accident involving a Lyft vehicle, and you’re not the at-fault party, you have the right to file a lawsuit. This is true whether you’re a Lyft passenger, a Lyft driver, the other driver, a cyclist, a pedestrian, or the surviving family of a person deceased in a Lyft accident.
It’s important to contact our Lyft accident lawyers so they can build a strong case before the statute of limitation expires.
Comparative Fault in Lyft Accident Cases
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence standard, meaning injured parties can only recover damages if they are less than 50% responsible for the accident. Also, if they are assigned a percentage of blame, their financial compensation will be reduced by that same percentage.
If you’ve been in a car accident as a passenger, you are likely not affected by comparative fault. However, if you are a driver, it is possible that some of the blame may be assigned to you.
Lyft accidents pose unique challenges compared to typical car accidents due to the involvement of a rideshare service. Our Lyft accident lawyers can help you maximize your compensation and make the claims process smoother. This is what our process looks like:
- Free consultation – Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to schedule a case review. We will help you understand your rights and tell you if you have a case.Â
- Gathering evidence – Obtaining medical records, vehicle repair estimates, photos or videos of the accident scene, and any relevant documentation.
- Case investigation – We have extensive experience investigating car accidents and dealing with rideshare services. We will go through the evidence to determine liability and damages.
- Expert consultations – We have a wide network of experts we can consult to strengthen your case, including accident reconstructionists, and medical and financial experts.Â
- Negotiation – Your lawyers will engage in negotiations with Lyft’s insurance company or other involved insurers. They’ll advocate for fair compensation covering your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
- Potential trial preparations – Most claims are successfully settled outside court. However, your Naperville Lyft rideshare accident lawyer will take your case to trial if necessary.
Insurance companies tend to minimize damages to protect their bottom line. Our Naperville car accident attorneys have more than two decades years of experience in dealing with insurance companies so you won’t have to worry about anything but your recovery.
The Value of Your Lyft Accident Case
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to driver negligence, you have every right to fair financial compensation. However, you cannot know what your compensation will look like in advance, as it’s affected by factors such as insurance coverage, damages, and fault.
However, the general rule is that the higher the economic damages are, the higher the compensation. If the accident caused you to miss work for a long time or experience severe injuries, you will likely receive higher compensation. Extreme outcomes, such as permanent disability or fatalities, usually result in the highest compensation.
Damages Our Naperville Lyft Accident Attorneys Can Help Recover
Our Lyft accident lawyers will help you gather evidence to ensure you receive adequate compensation for your suffering, including tangible damages that are easily measured, and non-economic damages, such as emotional distress.
- Economic damages – This includes medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
- Non-economic damages – This includes pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, loss of consortium, and emotional trauma.
In wrongful death claims, families can pursue additional damages. These damages include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and grief and sorrow.
Most Common Injuries Sustained After a Lyft Car Accident
As car accident attorneys, we have helped our clients receive compensation for various injuries. The most common injuries we have seen include:
- Whiplash
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuriesÂ
If you have been injured or lost a family member in a crash, you need to focus on your family and your health, not deal with insurance companies. Let a Naperville Lyft car accident lawyer handle the legalities for you.
The Cost of Hiring Our Naperville Lyft Accident Lawyers
Recovering compensation should not depend on your personal finances, which is why we do not charge anything unless we win your case.
For the same reason, the initial consultation with a Naperville Lyft crash attorney is free of charge. Once our Naperville personal injury attorneys obtain a settlement, they will be paid a pre-agreed percentage of the compensation.
You Have a Limited Time to Take Legal Action
The statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death in Illinois is two years. Product liability claims have a five-year statute of limitations for property damage, and two years for personal injury.
From our experience, clients have many obligations after Lyft auto accidents, from filing reports to dealing with medical issues and financial uncertainty. Filing a claim is another energy-consuming task.
However, you don’t want to miss the legal deadline for filing a claim, so it’s best to contact our Naperville Lyft accident injury lawyer as soon as possible for a free case review.
Contact a Naperville Lyft Accident Attorney Today!
We have seen the financial, physical, and emotional toll car accidents take on our clients, which is why our Naperville rideshare accident lawyers base our services on compassion, reliability, and responsiveness. At the same time, we believe everyone has the right to experienced legal assistance, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. We are also proud of the work we do — we have recovered millions for our clients and helped families move on with their lives after stressful accidents.
Call us 24/7 at (888) 424-5757 or contact us online to schedule a free case review and get a step closer to receiving the compensation you deserve.Â
Resources: [1] Lyft