Naperville, IL is the third largest city in the state in terms of population. Navigating the city can be quite complicated with so many drivers on the road, which is why many residents turn to rideshare services like Uber to get from one place to another. Accidents involving Uber vehicles are more complex because of insurance considerations and the driver’s employer.
A Naperville Uber crash attorney from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the claims process after an accident, starting with a free consultation to ask questions about your case.Â
How Our Naperville Uber Accident Attorneys Can Help
Filing a claim on your own is extremely difficult, especially when you have to go up against a large company like Uber, an insurance company, and even lawyers. When you are hurt in an accident, a Naperville Uber car accident lawyer can increase your chances of winning compensation for legal damages.
Our team will investigate the nature of the rideshare accident and your injuries. We will collect evidence to support your claim and negotiate for maximum compensation. If need be, our accident lawyers will also represent you in court, though these types of cases rarely go that far.
Our team will investigate the nature of the rideshare accident and your injuries. We will collect evidence to support your claim and negotiate for maximum compensation. If need be, our accident lawyers will also represent you in court, though these types of cases rarely go that far.Â
The Value of Your Uber Car Accident Case
Estimating how much your claim is worth happens on a case-by-case basis. There are numerous factors affecting the amount you can receive. These include the severity of the injuries, the parties involved, the insurance policy of the defendant, and the impact the accident has had on your life.
Most Common Causes of Uber Accidents in Naperville
The car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have handled many types of cases in the past. After your motor vehicle accident, it is important to establish what caused the collision so we can collect evidence to back up your claim. Below are some of the most common causes of Uber accidents in Naperville, IL.
Distracted Driving
Drivers, whether they are Uber employees or not, can be easily distracted while operating their vehicles. Eating, drinking, applying makeup, texting, looking at their phones, or even interacting too much with a passenger can all lead to an accident.
Drunk Driving
If a driver has had too much alcohol, their abilities will be impaired. Their reactions may be slower or their vision could be affected, resulting in a collision.
Failure to Obey Traffic Signals or Traffic Laws
Another common cause is ignoring or missing traffic signals. For example, a driver may try to catch a light by speeding up when it turns yellow, crossing the intersection when the light has already turned red, and getting into an accident.
Speeding
Speeding causes a high percentage of all motor vehicle accidents. Speed limits exist to protect everyone on the road, and breaking them can cause drivers to lose control and hit others.
Fatigue
Sometimes, drivers have been working long hours or haven’t gotten enough sleep. This can cause droopy eyelids or a lack of attention, resulting in a collision with another vehicle.
Poor Road Conditions
Bad driving conditions on the road can also cause an accident. These conditions could result from poor road maintenance or adverse weather, such as rain, snow, or ice making the surface slippery.
Car Malfunctions
In some cases, rideshare accidents happen because a vehicle part malfunctioned. For example, if the brakes suddenly fail, the result could be an unexpected rear-end collision and the car manufacturer could be liable for installing a faulty part.
Damages Our Naperville Uber Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover
People file accident claims in the hope of recovering compensation. Our Naperville car accident attorneys will help you assess these damages to determine fair financial compensation. Damages fall into two primary categories; economic and non-economic damages. Here are some common damages you can pursue in a personal injury claim:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Property damage
- Emotional suffering
- Physical pain
- Loss of enjoyment of life
For surviving family members in wrongful death cases, they can also claim damages like:
- Funeral expenses
- Burial expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship
Injuries You Can Recover Compensation For
A car accident can result in many types of injuries, some of which are relatively minor, while others are life-changing or even fatal. To receive the maximum amount of compensation, you will need to provide evidence of these injuries during your claim. Your Naperville Uber accident lawyer will help you with this.
Common injuries sustained in rideshare accident claims include broken bones, lacerations, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, knee injuries, internal bleeding, nerve damage, crush injuries, and even death.
Liability in Uber Car Accident Cases
Liability plays an important role in personal injury claims. For your car accident claim to be successful, you must establish liability. In general, you cannot sue Uber directly for an accident caused by driver negligence from an employee. However, in rare cases, the company could be liable for failing to vet a contractor properly. Other liable parties may include the following.
Uber Driver
If the rideshare employee caused the accident, you can hold them liable whether you are their passenger, another driver, a passenger in a different vehicle, or even a pedestrian who was injured.
Compensation could come from the driver’s personal insurance if they were not working for Uber at the time, but if they were en route to a trip or transporting a passenger, Uber’s third-party liability insurance may supplement the driver’s coverage.
Uber Passenger
In some cases, the passenger of a rideshare driver could be behaving negligently and distracting the driver. If these actions lead to an accident in which you get hurt, then you may need evidence such as eyewitness testimony, footage of the incident, or the police report.
Government Agency
If the local agency tasked with maintaining roads failed to do so, you could hold them liable for personal injury. For example, the Illinois Department of Transportation may be at fault for not maintaining the roads. You would need proof of the road conditions such as images of potholes and witness statements about how long those potholes have been present.
Other Drivers
Accidents involving rideshare vehicles could be the fault of other drivers as well. Perhaps the at-fault driver was driving recklessly, speeding, or not obeying traffic signals. Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert could serve as evidence in this situation.
Pedestrians
People who are not in vehicles can also cause accidents that result in injured victims. For example, a pedestrian could attempt to cross the street quickly where there is no crosswalk, causing a driver to swerve and strike another car.
Manufacturers
As mentioned before, some accidents result from faulty parts in the car. If that part is the cause of the collision, the manufacturer or the auto mechanic who performed repairs and failed to fix the problem may be at fault.
Comparative Negligence for Uber Accidents in Naperville, Illinois
Illinois uses a comparative fault model for personal injury cases. This means victims with serious injuries can only pursue compensation if they are less than 50% responsible for the accident. This rating will also impact the amount of compensation.
For example, if you are 30% responsible for the accident and the at-fault driver is 70% responsible, you could still legally pursue compensation for damages. However, your maximum settlement amount may be reduced by about 30%. You can ask questions about this statute during your free case review with a Naperville Uber car accident attorney.
What to Do After an Uber Accident
The actions you take immediately after the accident can have a massive impact on recovering compensation. If you do something wrong, it could jeopardize your entire claim. You need to follow these steps as closely as possible to increase the chances of winning your auto accident claim:
- Remain at the scene – It is illegal to leave the accident scene, so your claim would be nearly impossible to win and you would have committed a crime
- Call 911 – Call the authorities as quickly as possible, even if the other driver asks you not to. This ensures an official report of the accident will be created, which can serve as evidence for your case
- Seek medical attention – If you have a serious injury because of the accident, you need to be treated quickly by emergency medical personnel
- Exchange information – Collect information such as insurance cards and the valid driver’s license of everyone involved in the accident, including rideshare drivers and other drivers
- Collect evidence – Collecting evidence now will strengthen your case later, so consider taking a picture of the scene, speaking to witnesses, and asking for a copy of the police report. Accident lawyers will know what kind of evidence is needed to win your case
- Consult an attorney – Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer to ask about your claim status if you have been hurt in the accident and it has resulted in legal damages. The sooner you call our law firm, the easier it will be to build a strong claim
Statute of Limitations for Uber Car Accidents in Naperville
The statute of limitations in Illinois is a time limit on when victims can file claims. If you wait too long, your case could be dismissed. It is always better to contact Naperville personal injury lawyers quickly to ensure you stay within the statute of limitations for Uber accidents.
In personal injury cases, the time limit is two years from the date of the incident or discovery of the bodily injury. For product liability, the time limit is two years for injuries and five years for property damage. Wrongful death claims must be filed by surviving family members within two years of the date of the individual’s death.
However, if the person dies because of violent, intentional conduct, the time limit is extended to five years.
Do You Have an Uber Accident Case?
Crash victims may wonder if they have a case against the at-fault party. Eligible claimants include Uber drivers, Uber passengers, other drivers, other passengers, pedestrians, and even surviving families of deceased individuals. Claimants who are underage can have a legal representative file the claim on their behalf.
Compensation will depend on the auto insurance coverage of the at-fault driver or the insurance coverage of Uber if they work for the rideshare service and are on duty.
Contact a Naperville Uber Accident Attorney Today!
To protect your rights under Illinois state law, your best chance is to work with Naperville ridesharing accident lawyers from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. Our Law firm has vast experience dealing with accidents involving rideshare companies, whether they were caused by the rideshare driver or another party. When facing high medical expenses, lost wages, or a lost loved one, the right legal team can make all the difference in your compensation claim.
Call us today at 888-424-5757 for your free consultation. You can also fill out our online form and our personal injury lawyers will get back to you for a free case review.Â