The Kane County rideshare accident lawyers at Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley understand the unique challenges and complexities that come with rideshare accident claims. Whether there are challenges with the rideshare company insurance policy or you have just been in an accident and are unsure of how to proceed in a manner that protects your rights and provides a fair path forward, we are here to help.
Rideshare accidents often involve intricate legal and insurance issues that can differ from typical car accidents. With the rapid growth of rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, understanding your rights and personal protections available is now more important than ever. As you work towards healing, in whatever way that looks like, our team of injury attorneys is here to help you secure the compensation and justice you deserve.
While ridesharing apps offer convenience and accessibility, there are certain dangers and risks that users should be aware of. Potential safety concerns include the thoroughness of driver background checks. Though rideshare companies often conduct background checks on their drivers, it is not always foolproof as there have been instances of drivers with serious criminal records or poor driving histories getting hired by these apps.
Ridesharing apps also collect a significant amount of personal data from their users. This includes a user’s location, payment information, and travel habits. This data can be vulnerable to breaches or misuse. The continuous tracking of your location can be a concern for privacy-conscious individuals. While this may not be a high concern to some, it should be a consideration that users are aware of before opting into these services.
In the moments following a ridesharing accident, it is crucial to take specific steps to not only ensure your own personal safety but to also protect your rights and set yourself up for a successful claims process, should that be necessary to cover the losses you endure due to injuries and damages. Below are steps that may be helpful to conduct in the event of a rideshare accident:
A rideshare accident lawyer can provide vital and essential support for individuals who experience damages as a result of the accident. If you have been injured or experienced any type of loss in an accident, your attorney acts as your legal advocate while they pursue legal action to ensure you receive the compensation and justice that you deserve. The following are essential ways your rideshare accident lawyer can help:
Injury attorneys can be an invaluable ally in ensuring that you receive fair compensation and that your legal rights are protected throughout the process. Their experience, negotiation skills, and dedication to your case can significantly impact the outcome, helping you recover both physically and financially from the accident.
At Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley, we stand for justice. Our lawyers have worked locally in Illinois for over 50 years and consider ourselves to be your trusted family law firm. As a small team of local attorneys, we have a strong allegiance to our fellow residents in Kane County, Illinois.
We treat each case with personalized attention and an understanding that each accident and injury is unique. With a thorough understanding of the latest rideshare regulations and insurance policies, we ensure our clients receive knowledgeable and up-to-date representation.
Our team works on a variety of cases, including the following:
We can serve as your legal advocates for almost all of your legal needs. We care about our client’s well-being and the well-being of our community at large. You can remain confident that in choosing to work with us, your interests become our interests. We will fight relentlessly to see that justice is pursued by fighting for appropriate financial compensation from the at-fault parties.
As users of rideshare apps, we want to trust that the companies that we are entrusting our data and safety to will perform their function in a fair and safe manner. Unfortunately, even the most well-intentioned services have risks and concerns associated with their use. This makes it essential that as users of these services, we continue to think logically and find ways to protect ourselves.
A primary way to ensure safety in a ride is to verify your driver and their vehicle. It is not an uncommon occurrence for a rideshare app user to hop into the wrong vehicle because they did not examine the driver’s name or vehicle details such as the license plate number. Another way to ensure your safety is to use the “share your ride” app feature where you can share in real-time the status of your drive. This ensures safe monitoring of your progress.
While rideshare drives are a nice method to enjoy peace and calm as you do not have to navigate busy streets and highways, it is helpful to monitor the route being taken via the app to ensure that the driver is following the correct path. Ultimately, trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe at any point, ask the driver to stop and exit the vehicle. Your safety is always worth the extra precaution.
A: You have two years following a rideshare accident that led to injuries to pursue legal action in Illinois. Illinois has a statute of limitations, or legal deadline, in which injured individuals are legally allowed to take legal action for personal injuries that allows two years from the date of the injury. Rideshare accidents will generally fall under personal injury law and must adhere to all related laws and regulations.
A: Yes, rideshare companies typically provide insurance coverage for passengers during the ride. This generally includes liability coverage, collision coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and contingent comprehensive coverage. If you have been involved in an accident while using a rideshare service, it is important to speak with a personal injury lawyer to get the support you need to receive a fair settlement amount.
A: Illinois is not a no-fault state for auto accidents, including rideshare accidents. Instead, it follows a traditional fault-based system in which the driver who is found to be at fault for an accident is responsible for compensating the injured parties for their damages.
Rideshare companies, like Uber and Lyft, typically provide insurance coverage for their drivers which can cover an accident depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident. The insurance coverage can vary depending if the driver was waiting for a ride, on the route to pick up a passenger, or carrying passengers.
A: Yes, you can potentially take legal action against a rideshare company after an accident, but it can pose significant challenges due to the classification of drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Circumstances, where legal action may be successful, are accidents due to inadequate vehicle maintenance, rideshare app system malfunctions, rideshare insurance company disputes, and proven negligence by the rideshare company. To understand your options after an accident, speak with a rideshare accident attorney.
A: There are several types of compensation you can receive after a rideshare accident, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the extent of the injuries and damages suffered. The main types of compensation you can receive include the following, if applicable to your situation: economic losses, non-economic losses, and punitive damages. By taking time to understand the types of compensation available, you can take the proper steps post-accident to ensure that you receive a fair settlement amount.
Rideshare accidents can be especially challenging and stressful for a passenger. It can be challenging to know how to respond and what resources to engage with to ensure your fair and just treatment after the event. Reach out to the injury attorneys at Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley today to set up a consultation. Together we will evaluate your situation and determine what options you have in moving towards full compensation for your total losses.