Peoria, IL, is a community of 109,192 people, many of whom rely on rideshare services like Uber to get around [1]. Unfortunately, car accidents are common, and when they involve ridesharing companies like Uber, personal injury lawsuits become more complicated.
These claims are challenging because there will be several insurance adjusters involved, all seeking to minimize responsibility based on the nuances of insurance coverage for Uber contractors. Our Peoria car accident attorneys are here to assist with each facet of your personal injury claim on a contingency fee basis.Â
Damages Our Peoria Uber Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover
A Peoria Uber crash attorney from our firm can assist you in recovering several types of damages from a personal injury claim. These include economic, non-economic, and wrongful death damages.
Economic damages cover the financial losses from a rideshare accident, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Property damage
Non-economic damages compensate you for how the Uber car collision has changed your life, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Inconvenience
Our Peoria wrongful death attorneys are here to assist those who have lost a loved one due to a negligent driver. Wrongful death damages include:
- Grief
- Loss of financial support
- Burial expenses
- Loss of companionship
What to Do After an Uber Accident in Peoria, Illinois
After an Uber accident, it is important to stay calm and follow these steps, as this will protect both you and your legal rights.
Stay at the Accident Scene
Even if the rideshare driver attempts to drive off, insist on staying there until the police arrive. It is crucial for the police to file a crash report to document the accident.
Call 911
If there have been serious injuries, always call 911 for prompt medical attention. When police arrive, provide your statement and get information on how to get your copy of the crash report for your Peoria Uber crash lawyer.
Gather Evidence
Take photos of the accident scene, including damage to all vehicles involved and any injuries you may have. You should continue to take photos throughout the recovery process, as this will assist in demonstrating the severity of your injuries.
Get the insurance information and contact details of all the drivers so your Peoria Uber car accident attorney can follow up with them.
Go to the Hospital
Even if you do not think you are hurt, always get a full examination to ensure you do not have any severe injuries. Your medical records will play a key role in a personal injury lawsuit, as they can show your injury may have been directly related to the accident.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
The sooner that you contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, the better chance you have at receiving justice for your car collision, as we will be able to get started on your personal injury claim right away.
How Our Peoria Uber Accident Lawyers Can Help
Our Peoria car accident attorneys can assist in all aspects of filing personal injury lawsuits, which can be particularly complicated with a rideshare accident.
This is because Uber drivers are independent contractors, and their personal insurance company may not cover accidents involving commercial activities [2]. At the same time, Uber only covers accidents that happen while actively driving to a pickup or transporting a passenger [3].
A skilled attorney from our team will investigate all aspects of the accident, including how it happened and who may be held liable. This will help us secure compensation from the responsible parties, such as the rideshare driver or an automotive manufacturer. If you were a passenger at the time, we can show Uber is liable for the accident based on evidence such as activity in the Uber app.
The basis for a personal injury suit is negligence, which consists of four factors: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
Duty of care means the responsible party was obligated to act in a safe manner to prevent harm to others. Breach of care is an action that goes against their duty of care, such as texting and driving.
Causation means showing the accident would not have happened if there were no breach of duty, and it was the liable party’s actions that primarily caused the accident. Finally, damages are that you suffered some form of loss because of the accident.
We will gather evidence establishing these four factors of negligence, including resources that are difficult for the average person to access, such as expert testimony. With our experience, we will be able to contextualize all the information surrounding the personal injury and develop a strong, evidence-based narrative demonstrating who is at fault.
When we have determined who is responsible, our attorneys will assess your injuries to determine fair compensation, and then negotiate with the relevant insurance companies to secure a settlement. If we are not able to come to an agreement with the relevant insurance company, a Peoria Uber accident attorney from our firm will provide legal representation in court for a personal injury lawsuit.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Uber Car Accident?
In accidents involving rideshare vehicles, a Peoria Uber injury lawyer can sue Uber directly, but this depends on the exact circumstances of the accident.
Uber will only cover accidents that happen when the driver is logged into their app and engaged in a fare. It may provide primary liability coverage of up to $1 million [4]. However, Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees, so they can only be held liable while an Uber driver is actively engaged in work.
If an Uber driver gets into an accident while not driving a passenger, the accident is covered by their personal auto coverage, which may not cover livery services like ridesharing. Not every rideshare driver carries supplemental ridesharing coverage, as it is not required by the law.
Uncovering the exact nature of liability based on the driver’s status at the time of the accident can be difficult, which is why it’s important to work with a Peoria Uber car accident lawyer.
Beyond ridesharing companies themselves, there are several other parties who may be held accountable, including the following:
Uber Drivers
In a personal injury claim, the negligent driver is typically the first party our accident lawyers will investigate. Common reasons they can be held accountable include distracted driving, reckless driving, and failure to obey traffic laws.
Other Drivers
If another driver hits an Uber, they may share part of the blame. Reasons they may be considered negligent include drunk driving, speeding, tailgating, or disregarding traffic laws.
Other Companies
In some cases, an Uber may be hit by a driver who is driving a company vehicle during the course of their own duties. This would implicate the other company due to vicarious liability, which means they are responsible for the actions of their employees.
Vehicle Manufacturers
Car and parts manufacturers are required to conduct quality assurance testing to ensure the safety of their products. Our Peoria accident lawyers can investigate the cause of the Uber crash to identify defective vehicle parts, such as brake failures or acceleration issues.
Municipalities
In some cases, poor signage or inadequate road maintenance contributes to an accident. An experienced car accident attorney can review how the accident happened and assess whether the city of Peoria could share part of the blame due to a failure to fix potholes or replace broken street lights.
You Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action
Due to the Illinois statute of limitations, our Peoria personal injury attorneys have only 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury suit.
As we begin the process by negotiating with the relevant insurance companies, it is crucial for you to contact us for a free consultation as soon as possible after the accident. This gives us adequate time to investigate the accident, determine who may be held accountable, and pursue compensation through a settlement before filing a lawsuit. Â Â Â
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys for an Uber Accident Lawsuit Today!
Our Peoria ridesharing accident lawyers seek compensation from ridesharing companies and irresponsible drivers on behalf of our clients. We always work on a contingency fee basis. You owe us nothing unless we win you a settlement.
Contact an experienced car accident lawyer today at (888) 424-5757 or through our contact form to schedule your free consultation and learn whether you are eligible for a personal injury lawsuit related to your Uber crash.Â
References: [1] World Population Review, [2] Illinois Department of Insurance, [3] Uber, [4] Uber