Over the past decade, ridesharing services, like Uber and Lyft, have grown in popularity as a convenient way to get around Joliet. Residents take them to and from nights out at North Chicago Street restaurants, or for everyday trips like doctor visits or shopping trips.
Visitors use them to get to meetings or shuttle back and forth between Joliet and nearby Chicagoland transportation hubs. And driving for a ridesharing company offers many Jolietans a flexible way to earn extra income.
Of course, the rise of ridesharing has also led to an increase in motor vehicle accidents involving rideshare drivers. To get compensation for those accidents or other types of accidents such as motorcycle accident cases, Joliet wrongful death claims, premises liability accidents, or a Joliet brain injury, the victim and their loved ones need the assistance of one of our skilled lawyers.
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we represent rideshare accident victims and the families of victims who tragically died in Uber or Lyft accidents. Contact us today to learn how we can help you after a ridesharing accident in Joliet disrupts your life.
About Us
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys is made up of a team of talented, hard-working trial attorneys whose sole mission is to succeed for our clients by getting them the compensation they need to heal from their injuries and return to living productive lives.
We are relentless in fighting for our clients’ interests, no matter how powerful our opponents or how complex the case. Our track record of results reflects that steadfast commitment and fighting spirit.
Representing clients in Uber or Lyft accident cases has become an increasingly important focus of our law practice. Recently, for example, we secured a $500,000 settlement for a client who suffered critical injuries in a rideshare crash.
Though we cannot guarantee similar results in future cases, we can promise to approach every ridesharing case with a singular focus on achieving justice and fair compensation for our clients.
The Rise of Ridesharing Accidents
According to research sponsored by the University of Chicago, cities where rideshare companies began operating saw a 3 percent increase in traffic fatalities.
Many factors may contribute to this concerning trend. Researchers believe ridesharing increases the amount of traffic on the road and may contribute to an overall decrease in the quality of drivers.
Joliet-area ridesharing drivers commonly engage in dangerous driving behaviors that make them more prone than other motorists to getting into accidents, such as:
- Speeding. Rideshare drivers have a financial incentive to drive fast, with passengers and without, to maximize the number of rides they can accept and complete. Speeding is associated with higher crash risks and higher fatality rates, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Drowsy driving. Many ridesharing drivers drive for companies like Uber or Lyft in their spare time after work or in the evenings when demand is especially high. This makes them prone to fatigue and, in turn, drowsy driving accidents.
- Distraction. Rideshare drivers use apps on their smartphones to connect with passengers, and many use multiple phones to connect to multiple services at once. Phones are a source of serious distraction behind the wheel that amplifies the risk of an accident.
- Poor weather. Many Jolietans turn to rideshare services when bad weather makes them unwilling to drive themselves or wait outdoors for public transportation. Unfortunately, accidents rise when roads are slick, inflating the number of rideshare trips that end in a crash.
Of course, Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t the only ones on the road who fall victim to these and other dangerous driving practices. But as ridesharing services continue to grow in popularity in Joliet, more accidents will involve at least one ridesharing vehicle.
What makes an Uber or Lyft accident different from other motor vehicle accidents? Insurance.
In many ways, a rideshare accident looks like any other crash on a Joliet-area road. It involves at least one motor vehicle, and it often happens because of unsafe driving behaviors like the ones listed above. Just as in any other type of crash, cars and other vehicles get damaged, and people get hurt.
But those commonalities mask a unique factor—rideshare liability insurance—that makes ridesharing accidents distinct from other accidents. Most rideshare companies use drivers who are independent contractors and purchase their own car insurance. An Illinois statute, known as the Transportation Network Providers Act (TNPA), requires rideshare drivers to carry more auto insurance to cover damages and injuries to their passengers and others whom a ridesharing crash may hurt.
What’s so special about that insurance? In a nutshell, it can provide victims of Joliet rideshare accidents with substantial financial protections that they might not have in a non-rideshare crash. The extra insurance mandated by the TNPA will frequently cover injuries and losses that would otherwise go uncompensated in a typical accident, due to the relatively low liability coverage carried by private, non-rideshare-driving motorists.
But there’s a catch. The extra liability coverage carried by Joliet rideshare drivers under the TNPA only kicks in when the driver has logged on to a rideshare app, and the amount of coverage depends on the driver’s status on the app at the moment the accident occurs.
Under the TNPA:
- A rideshare driver who logs on but has not engaged with a ride request when the accident happens carries extra liability insurance totaling at least $50,000 for death and personal injury per person, $100,000 for death and personal injury per incident, and $25,000 for property damage.
- A rideshare driver who has accepted a ride request and/or is transporting a passenger when the accident happens carries extra liability insurance of $1 million for death, personal injury, and property damage.
- An Uber or Lyft driver who is not logged on to the rideshare app carries no extra liability coverage.
The extra insurance the TNPA requires Joliet Uber and Lyft drivers to carry covers virtually anyone who suffers injuries or losses in an accident involving a rideshare driver. It can also frequently provide coverage to victims even if the rideshare driver did not cause the accident, and even if the accident victim was not a rideshare passenger.
To take full advantage of the extra insurance provided by the TNPA, Joliet ride sharing accident victims need a skilled attorney who knows how to secure, preserve, and use evidence proving the rideshare driver’s status at the time of a crash. Without quick action, that information can get lost, depriving victims of their opportunity to obtain full compensation for their injuries and losses.
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys has years of experience ensuring that rideshare victims obtain the maximum benefit from rideshare liability insurance under the TNPA. Contact our team right away if you or a loved one suffered harm in a Joliet-area rideshare accident, to make sure you get the money you need to pay for unplanned expenses and the difficulties you have suffered.
Your Potential Damages in a Joliet Rideshare Accident Case
The extra insurance potentially available in your Joliet rideshare accident case can help you pay for a wide range of expenses and losses. Every ridesharing crash case we handle at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys differs, so the types and amounts of compensation you may have the right to receive will depend on the details of your Uber or Lyft accident case.
In general, however, personal injury lawyers know to take full advantage of rideshare liability insurance. You may have the right to receive money to pay for damages, such as:
- Your medical expenses related to treating your injuries and to addressing any future health complications you may suffer because of them.
- Any other non-medical expenses you have because of the accident and your injuries, such as the costs of replacing damaged property or hiring help with day-to-day activities while you heal.
- Your lost wages and income owing to the crash and the harm you suffered in it, including the value of paid-time-off (PTO) you had to use while you were in the hospital, and any loss of income due to becoming partially or totally unable to work.
- Your pain, suffering, and overall loss of quality of life, which includes your inability to enjoy favorite activities or pastimes, harm to your personal or intimate relationships, and the challenges and inconveniences you face because of your injuries.
Sometimes, our team can sue for punitive damages. Will County courts and the federal court in the Northern District of Illinois may award these damages when clear and convincing evidence shows the at-fault driver acted with an evil motive or reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm and a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others.
The most reliable way to find out the types and amounts of compensation you may receive in your Joliet rideshare accident case is to speak with a skilled ridesharing accident lawyer today. At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we offer free, no-obligation consultations with our experienced legal professionals to help you explore your rights and options.
Protect Your Rights With These Certain Steps
If you suffered injuries and losses in a Joliet-area rideshare accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, be aware that the steps you take afterward can affect your rights. Following these tips can protect, and even enhance, your ability to get maximum financial compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Always go to a doctor as soon as possible after getting into any rideshare accident in Joliet. Do not trust your judgment of whether you suffered a serious injury. Accident victims are notoriously bad at assessing their conditions, and often the most serious injuries do not show symptoms right away.
Not only does letting an experienced medical professional check you over safeguard your health, but it also protects your legal and financial rights. The records the doctor creates by examining you will serve as critical evidence for your lawyer to use in proving the type and cause of your injuries and in getting you the money you need.
Don’t Try to Handle Liability Insurance On Your Own
Virtually every motor vehicle accident in Joliet, rideshare accidents included, forces victims to deal with insurance in some way. You may need to contact your auto or health insurance providers to let them know about the crash and your injuries, for example.
But as a victim, you should try your best not to get involved in any discussions with liability insurance carriers—that is, insurance companies representing other parties who may owe you damages. It’s not uncommon for those companies to try to contact victims like you, hoping to convince you to accept a quick cash payment to settle your rideshare accident claim.
Don’t fall for this tactic. The amount liability insurance providers offer you directly is virtually certain to be far less than what you deserve and what a skilled rideshare accident lawyer can get for you. Saying “yes” to a quick cash offer could cost you tens of thousands of dollars (or more).
Instead, if a liability insurance representative calls you, decline to talk directly to them and refer them to your lawyer. An experienced Uber or Lyft accident lawyer can deal with insurance companies and, if negotiations fail, take your case to court in a personal injury lawsuit.
Call a Rideshare Accident Lawyer as Soon as You Can
The sooner you have a lawyer on your side defending your interests and fighting for your rights, the better your chances of taking maximum advantage of rideshare insurance, and of securing full payment for the injuries and losses you suffered.
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys: Skilled Representation for Joliet Rideshare Accident Victims
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, our award-winning team puts our clients’ interests first, and we have the track record of success to show for it. Our team has years of experience and know-how in ridesharing accident cases to put to work on behalf of you and your loved ones.
Do not wait to protect your rights. Contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys online or call our Joliet office today at (815) 726-1616 for your free consultation and case evaluation.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Joliet, IL
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys
Address:
195 Springfield Ave
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone:
(815) 726-1616
Business Hours:
Monday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12 PM
Sunday: Closed
Our personal injury law firm in Joliet, IL also provides:
- Brain Injury Lawyers in Joliet, IL
- Car Accident Attorney in Joliet, IL
- Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Joliet, IL
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Joliet, IL
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- Premises Liability Attorney in Joliet, IL
- Truck Accident Lawyer in Joliet, IL
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- Wrongful Death Attorney in Joliet, IL