Many residents of Evanston, IL choose to rely on rideshare services like Uber to get around the city. As one of the most popular ridesharing companies, Uber employs many drivers in the area to help workers commute without driving their own vehicles. However, vehicle accidents involving Uber drivers can occur, resulting in injuries.
Uber accident cases are more complex than most car accidents because they involve drivers, rideshare companies, and multiple insurance policies. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we help injured victims navigate these complex claims.
How Our Evanston Uber Accident Lawyers Can Help
The rideshare accident lawyers from our firm have lots of experience helping clients pursue compensation after being involved in accidents. If you need help with your claim, we can provide it in numerous ways:
- Free consultation – You can contact us and ask questions about your case to determine what your legal options are with the help of an Evanston Uber crash attorney
- Case investigation – We will dive into the details of your case, including who the responsible parties are, what caused the accident, and what type of claim makes the most sense
- Collect evidence – Evidence is needed to prove your claim, and your attorney will know what is needed to build a strong case
- Negotiate with insurance – Insurance companies will use several tactics to avoid paying you what your case is worth, so we will negotiate for fair compensation
- Representation in court – Cases rarely go to court, but if yours does, our accident lawyers can represent you throughout the proceeding to protect your legal rights
Most Common Causes of Uber Accidents
Accidents involving rideshare vehicles, particularly those driven by Uber contractors, can happen for a number of reasons. The cause will play a role in proving your claim and providing evidence that will result in a successful settlement.
Common causes of accidents in Cook County include driver fatigue (responsible for 230 injured parties in 2022), distracted driving, driver negligence, road conditions, drunk driving (538 injured parties in 2022), failure to obey traffic signals, tailgating, speeding, aggressive driving, passenger behavior, and driver inexperience [1].
Most Common Injuries Sustained by Uber Crash Victims
The extent of your injuries will also impact the compensation package you can receive with the help of your Evanston Uber car accident attorney. Injuries in these collisions can vary from relatively minor to life-threatening. The most common injuries sustained in Uber accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Head injuries
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage
- Road rash
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Death
Determining Liability for an Uber Accident in Evanston, IL
The success of your claim depends on your ability to establish liability. Liability is the existence of a party who is at fault for the accident. The liable party depends on the circumstances of your accident. For typical car accidents, there are fewer factors involved, so your Evanston car accident attorney can help you determine who is liable.
Uber accidents, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated, so determining liability might take a little more work with the help of an Evanston ridesharing accident lawyer. Potentially liable parties may include:
- Uber, the company – Although it is rare, Uber could be held liable for your accident if they failed to follow sufficient vetting procedures when hiring a driver who caused your accident
- Uber driver – In most cases, the fault may be with the driver of the rideshare vehicle, in which case your compensation could come from their insurance company and Uber’s insurance policy if the driver’s coverage is not sufficient
- Other drivers – If other drivers were involved in the accident, then they could be at fault for your injuries as well, so their insurance policies will come into play. If they are driving a company vehicle, that company may be responsible as well
- Manufacturers – Malfunctioning vehicles can lead to an accident. If this happens, the maker of the faulty part or vehicle could be found negligent and have to cover the legal damages you have suffered
- Government entities – Some agencies are responsible for the maintenance of public roads, and if poor conditions caused your accident, the affiliated government entity may be a liable party in your case
What If You’re At Fault?
Sometimes, injured victims in Evanston, IL can be partially at fault for the accident as well. Under the Illinois comparative fault system, a claimant must be less than 50% responsible for an incident to claim compensation for damages. This means if you are found to be more than 50% responsible, you cannot pursue a claim.
The compensation you can receive will also be reduced based on your percentage of the blame. For example, if you are found 30% at fault for the collision, your maximum settlement amount could be reduced by 30%, though you will still be legally allowed to claim damages.
Damages Our Evanston Uber Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
Your Uber accident lawyers will negotiate for compensation based on the damages you have suffered. These damages are divided into three categories; economic, non-economic, and punitive. Punitive damages are only awarded in rare cases where the defendant behaved with particular malice or recklessness. Economic and non-economic damages can include the following:
Economic Damages
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Funeral and burial costs (in wrongful death cases)
- Property damage
Non-economic Damages
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- PTSD
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of companionship (in wrongful death cases)
You Have a Limited Time to File an Uber Car Accident Claim in Evanston, IL
The statute of limitations in Illinois affects how long you have to file a claim with the help of your Evanston, IL Uber accident lawyers. The sooner you hire a lawyer after the accident, the easier it will be for our team to build a strong case against the defendant.
For general personal injury cases, the time limit is two years from the date of the accident or discovery of the injury. For product liability, you also have two years for personal injuries but five years for property damage claims. Wrongful death claims must be filed by surviving family members within two years of the date of their loved one’s death.
If you wait to file until after these deadlines, you will have your case dismissed whether you hire an Evanston Uber crash lawyer or not.
Your accident claim can be completely undermined if you do not go through the correct process after the incident. That is why it is important to follow these steps immediately after an Uber accident to pursue compensation and win.
Call 911
It is important to get an official report of the accident to local authorities, so calling 911 is priority number one. Additionally, this will alert medical services in case you need treatment for injuries.
Seek Medical Attention
The next priority is your health. Even if you do not notice serious injuries, it is important to be evaluated to ensure there are no long-term effects of the accident. Plus, medical treatment records can be used by your accident lawyers as evidence in your claim.
Collect Information at the Scene
The more information you have, the better. Collecting insurance coverage data, driver’s license information, images of the scene, eyewitness statements, and police reports will make it easier for an Evanston Uber car accident lawyer to prove your side of the case.
Contact Your Insurance Carrier
Before you leave, give a call to your insurance company. They may ask questions that can only be answered before you have left the scene of the accident. Many carriers require notification of an accident within 24 hours, though you should check your policy to make sure. Failing to notify them could compromise your claim.
Call an Evanston Uber Injury Lawyer
Uber accident lawyers can represent your interests throughout the claims process and help you win your case. Our Evanston personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means no upfront legal costs for you and we only get paid if we win.
Contact an Evanston Uber Accident Attorney Today!
Having the Evanston Uber accident lawyers from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers on your side can be the difference between winning and losing your claim. We have helped hundreds of clients receive compensation to cover damages like medical bills and lost income, and we can help you too. Don’t let an Uber accident in Evanston, IL disrupt your entire life.
Call us today at 888-424-5757 for your free case evaluation or fill out our contact form and one of our accident lawyers will get back to you promptly to discuss your case.
Resources: [1] IDOTÂ