Suing for Uber or Lyft accident injuries is completely unfamiliar to most victims, even if they have been part of other car accidents in the past. Our attorneys can explain what suing for a rideshare accident entails, clarify the damages you can sue for, and help you file a timely lawsuit in Chicago.
To file a lawsuit, we must first determine liability. Whether or not the driver was logged in and actively working determines whether the rideshare company shares liability. We can review evidence like photos, app information, and eyewitness statements, and help you report the accident to Uber or Lyft through the app. The statute of limitations for Uber or Lyft injury claims in Chicago is two years, so don’t wait to start your case with us. The sooner you do, the sooner we can help you sue for economic and non-economic damages after an Uber or Lyft accident.
Call the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case assessment from our Chicago Uber and Lyft accident lawyers.
What Do You Have to Do to Sue for an Uber or Lyft Injury in Chicago?
To sue for an Uber or Lyft accident in Chicago, you must know who is liable and have evidence to prove their liability.
Determine Liability
If the driver was logged into the app and completing a ride, picking up a passenger, or was between rides, the rideshare company’s liability insurance applies. The driver is solely liable for accidents when they are not logged into the app and working, provided another driver wasn’t at fault.
Don’t automatically assume the Lyft or Uber driver was negligent. A different negligent driver might be wholly to blame or partially liable. Passengers do not always know the exact cause, especially when sitting in the back seat and not paying close attention to the road. We can interview witnesses, review footage, and examine other evidence to see if the other driver is liable.
Determining liability so you can sue after sustaining injuries in an Uber or Lyft crash can be challenging, so let our lawyers help you in Chicago.
Gather Evidence
To successfully sue for a rideshare accident, you need evidence. Always take photos at the scene of a crash. As a rideshare passenger, you won’t have easy access to any involved vehicle after the collision. Photographing property damage preserves physical evidence that can tell our attorneys how fast each car was moving and in which direction.
We can help you gather other evidence, such as eyewitness statements. We can also help you preserve any in-app information that confirms the rideshare driver at the time and your status as a passenger.
Part of gathering evidence is building medical records. To sue for an injury, we need proof that the injury exists, so go to the hospital if you’re hurt. Keep attending doctor appointments so we have solid proof of your injuries and their ongoing consequences.
Report the Accident
Reporting an Uber or Lyft accident helps if you need to file a lawsuit in the near future. Always report the accident to the appropriate rideshare company directly. We can assist with this, ensuring you include all pertinent details.
You can also report the collision to the police. Always do this after a bad car crash, whether you are a driver or passenger. Tell law enforcement everything you can remember, including if the rideshare driver was speeding, recklessly merging, or was otherwise negligent.
How Long Do You Have to Sue for an Uber or Lyft Injury?
There’s a strict deadline for suing for an Uber or Lyft injury in Illinois. File too late, and the court will likely dismiss your lawsuit. Avoid this possibility altogether by contacting us right after you’re injured in a rideshare car.
According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you may only have two years to sue for any personal injury. Two years is not much time to investigate accidents, determine liability, gather evidence, and prepare claims. We may need much of the two-year statute of limitations to build lawsuits after complicated Uber or Lyft accidents, so waste no time initiating the process with us.
You may still have time to sue for an Uber or Lyft injury in Chicago, even if the statute of limitations has almost run out, so you should still reach out to our lawyers about your case.
What Damages Can You Sue for After an Uber or Lyft Accident in Chicago?
Victims injured in Lyft and Uber accidents as passengers, pedestrians, and even other drivers may seek full compensation for their losses by filing a lawsuit with our attorneys’ help.
Economic Damages
Lawsuits for rideshare accident injuries can compensate victims for all the economic damages they incur. For many victims, medical damages are the most consequential. Let us track all hospital and rehabilitative expenses following the crash and keep an accurate tally on your behalf.
You may also sue to recover any wages you’ve missed out on. Inform us if you can’t work right away, and we can calculate lost wages due to a rideshare accident.
If a rideshare driver hit you while you were driving your car, you may also recover property damage costs.
Non-Economic Damages
Any injury can cause physical pain, emotional distress, and other intangible damages. You may also sue for this type of compensation after an Uber or Lyft accident in Chicago. We can quantify your non-economic damages once we understand them, so be candid when discussing your pain and suffering.
There are no statutory caps on non-economic damages in Illinois. You may get more compensation by going to trial, and our Chicago Uber and Lyft accident lawyers can also use this as leverage to get a good out-of-court settlement.
Call Us for Help with Your Accident Claim in Chicago Today
Call the Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502 for a free case evaluation from our Chicago car accident lawyers.
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