Driving for Lyft in Chicago gives you the freedom to set your own hours and work when you want. But when an accident happens while you are working, everything changes fast. Suddenly, you might be hurt, your car might be damaged, and you can’t earn money.
A Chicago Lyft accident attorney can assess your options and advise you on how to proceed. LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Call us at (312) 767-7950 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.
Why Choose LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers?
LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers represents injured Chicago Lyft drivers. We know the unique challenges faced by rideshare drivers in the Windy City and provide the legal support they need.
Rideshare Experience
We fight for injured Lyft and Uber drivers all year long. We’re not a general personal injury firm that takes the occasional rideshare case. Our team of Chicago rideshare accident attorneys is deeply familiar with Lyft’s insurance companies and their tactics.
Local Chicago Roots
Our office is right here in Chicago. We know busy streets where rideshare accidents happen, such as North Lakeshore Drive, Clark Street, or Michigan Avenue. Our team knows the local courts and Illinois’ judicial system.
Client-Focused Strategy
We understand that you may be feeling overwhelmed by medical bills, car repairs, dealing with Lyft, and the physical recovery process. We’re committed to providing you with the necessary resources to move forward.
Call us today for free at (312) 767-7950 or contact us online.
Steps To Take After a Lyft Crash in Chicago
If you have already received medical care, you’re on the right track. Here are some important next steps to protect your rights after a Chicago Lyft accident:
- Report the accident: Make sure you have officially reported the accident to Lyft through the app or their support channels. Also, report it to your personal auto insurance company.
- Keep records: Start a file to keep all accident-related documents together. Keep copies of medical bills and receipts for related expenses.
- Track your symptoms: Keep notes of your pain levels, how your injuries affect your daily life, doctor visits, and missed workdays.
- Be careful with insurance adjusters: Insurance adjusters (from Lyft's insurer or the other driver's) may call you. Avoid giving recorded statements or signing anything without talking to a lawyer first. You can simply tell them you are seeking legal advice and will have your lawyer contact them.
- Contact a Chicago rideshare accident lawyer: Protect your rights and start your claim by speaking to a LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers attorney as soon as possible. We'll guide you through the process and begin working on your case immediately.
Your Personal Car Insurance and Lyft Driving
Many drivers are surprised when their own car insurance company denies their claim after an accident while driving for Lyft. Most personal auto policies have something called a business use exclusion.
This exclusion means the policy will not cover accidents that happen while you are using your car for business purposes, like driving for Lyft or Uber.
Relying on your personal insurance alone is usually not enough when you drive for Lyft.
Understanding Lyft's Insurance in Chicago
Lyft provides different insurance coverage depending on what you were doing with the app at the time of the crash:
- App is off: When the Lyft app is off, you’re not working, and Lyft's insurance doesn’t apply. Your personal car insurance is responsible if you have an accident when you’re offline.
- App is on, waiting for request: If you turned the app on and were waiting for a ride request, Lyft provides some liability insurance if your personal insurance doesn’t cover you. It covers injuries or damage you cause to others. Lyft's insurance in this period generally doesn’t cover damage to your own car or your injuries.
- Accepted a request, en route, or transferring a rider: Lyft's insurance coverage increases during this time, with higher liability limits and contingent collision and comprehensive coverage. It also includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) for your injuries if the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have insurance or not enough insurance.
The Problem With Lyft's Deductible
If your accident happens while the app is on, Lyft's insurance might cover damage to your car. However, there is a catch: the deductible. A deductible is the amount you have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance pays the rest.
Lyft's collision deductible is often very high, typically $2,500. This means if the repairs cost $4,000, you would have to pay the first $2,500, and Lyft's insurance would only pay the remaining $1,500.
Coming up with $2,500 can be incredibly difficult, especially when you are already hurt and unable to earn money. A Lyft accident lawyer in Chicago can sometimes find ways to deal with this deductible issue, including making the at-fault driver's insurance pay it.
Were you hurt driving for Lyft in Chicago? LegalRideshare fights for full compensation
What Money Can an Injured Chicago Lyft Driver Recover?
If you were injured in a Lyft accident in Chicago caused by someone else's carelessness, you may be able to recover money for your losses.
A Chicago Lyft accident attorney at LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers can total your losses and fight to get you fair compensation.
This can include money for:
- Medical bills: This covers all current and future medical costs associated with the accident, including ambulance services, hospital stays, doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, medication, and medical equipment.
- Lost wages: If your injuries or car repairs prevented you from working, you could receive compensation for lost income. This includes future earning capacity if your injuries resulted in long-term or permanent disability.
- Pain and suffering: You might be compensated for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, depression, scarring, disfigurement, and the general hardship the accident caused.
- Vehicle damage: If your car was damaged in an accident, you can recover the cost of repairs or the fair market value if it was totaled. You may also be able to recover the cost of a rental car.
What if You Were Partly At Fault?
Illinois uses a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident, as long as you were not 50% or more at fault.
Insurance companies might try to shift a larger proportion of the blame onto you to reduce how much they have to pay. A rideshare accident attorney can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and fight back against unfair blame.
Don’t assume you cannot get compensation just because you think you might share some fault. Talk to a Chicago Lyft accident attorney at LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers today by calling (312) 767-7950.
How LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers Helps Chicago Lyft Drivers
At LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers, we focus on helping rideshare drivers navigate the aftermath of an accident. We understand the unique pressures and questions you have as a Lyft driver in Chicago.
Here is how we’ll use our local knowledge and rideshare claim experience to your benefit:
- Investigate: We gather police reports, talk to witnesses, look for traffic camera footage, and analyze all the details to understand how the crash happened and who was at fault.
- Handle insurance communications: You won’t have to talk to insurance adjusters. We take over all communication, protecting you from saying something that could hurt your claim.
- Explain your options: We’ll determine which insurance policies apply (Lyft's, the other driver's, or maybe yours) and explain how they work in your specific situation.
- Calculate your lost income: We’ll work with you to gather proof of your Lyft earnings and calculate the full amount of income you have lost due to the accident.
- Determine all your damages: We look at everything—medical bills, future medical needs, lost wages, future lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and car repairs or replacement costs.
- Negotiate or go to trial: Our rideshare accident lawyers will present a strong case to the insurance company and negotiate forcefully to get you the compensation you deserve. If the insurance company will not offer a fair settlement, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit and fight for you in court.
LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers will handle the legal and insurance complexities so that you can concentrate on getting better.
Frequently Asked Questions for Chicago Lyft Drivers After an Accident
Here are answers to some common questions Lyft drivers have after being injured in a Chicago accident.
Which Insurance Pays for My Medical Bills and Car Damage After My Chicago Lyft Accident?
Different rules apply depending on when the accident happened—were you waiting for a ride, driving to pick someone up, or carrying a passenger? If another driver caused the crash, their car insurance should be the first place to seek payment for your medical bills and car repairs.
However, if the other driver does not have insurance or does not have enough, Lyft's insurance might provide coverage for your injuries.
For your car damage, Lyft's insurance might help if the app is on, but only if you have collision coverage on your personal policy, and you will likely have to pay a large deductible (often $2,500).
A Chicago Lyft accident attorney can investigate which insurance policies apply and help you get payment from the right sources.
How Can I Get Paid for the Time I Can’t Drive for Lyft if I Am Injured or My Car Is Wrecked?
Losing income because you cannot drive is a major worry, but you can make a claim for these lost wages as part of your accident case. Since you work as an independent contractor, you must show how much money you typically earned from Lyft before the accident happened.
You can do this using your ride history records from Lyft, bank statements showing your deposits, and your past tax returns. It’s important to calculate not just the income you have already lost, but also any future income you might lose if your injuries take a long time to heal.
A lawyer can help you gather the right proof and present a strong claim to the insurance company to recover your lost earnings, including those for Uber if you drive for them too.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me After a Lyft Car Crash in Chicago?
Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible. They might try to argue that you were partially at fault to reduce your payment or offer you less money than your claim is truly worth.
Rideshare accident claims have extra complications, like dealing with Lyft's specific insurance rules and proving your income as a gig worker.
Rideshare lawyers understand these issues and can protect your rights, handle all the paperwork and negotiations, and ensure you are treated fairly.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit After My Chicago Lyft Accident?
There is a strict time limit, called the statute of limitations, for filing a lawsuit after an accident in Illinois. If you miss this deadline, you generally lose your right to sue for compensation forever.
For personal injury claims, the deadline in Illinois is typically two years from the date of the accident.
While two years may sound like a long time, it’s crucial to act quickly. Investigating the accident, gathering evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies all take time.
Waiting too long can make it difficult or impossible to build a strong case before the deadline. If you were injured driving for Lyft in Chicago, talk to a rideshare lawyer well before the two-year mark to understand your rights.
Contact a Chicago Lyft Accident Lawyer Today
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident while driving for Lyft in Chicago is challenging, but Chicago rideshare accident lawyer is here to help drivers like you. We understand the specific laws and insurance rules that apply to rideshare accidents in Illinois.
We fight to protect the rights of Chicago Lyft drivers and help them recover the compensation they need to move forward.
Call LegalRideshare Injury Lawyers today at (312) 767-7950 for a free, confidential consultation, or contact us online.