Common Challenges in Ride Share Accident Cases and How to Overcome Them
Ride share accidents can leave passengers with significant injuries, including whiplash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. If you were hurt as a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, understanding the challenges associated with recovering compensation in ride share car accident cases is crucial for maximizing your recovery.
Determining Liability in a Ride Share Accident
The first challenge for victims of ride share accidents is often determining liability for the crash. Illinois is an at-fault state for auto insurance claims, meaning you must identify the at-fault party and gather evidence connecting their actions to your injuries.
In some accident cases, determining fault is simple, such as if a distracted driver runs a red light and collides with the side of the vehicle you are in. However, in other cases, determining liability can be far more complicated, such as if the accident you were in involved three or more vehicles, with one of them failing to yield the right-of-way.
When you hire a lawyer to handle your ride share accident case, they’ll investigate the accident to identify the at-fault party or parties and collect evidence to support your claim. This evidence may include accident scene photographs, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, expert testimony, and more.
Understanding Ride Share Insurance Coverage
Depending on who is at fault for the accident and when the accident occurred during the ride share vehicle’s trip, different insurance policies could be at play in your case.
For example, if a ride share driver causes your injuries while they are not using the ride share app, their personal auto insurance applies. And if another driver is at fault for the accident, their personal auto insurance will apply. Illinois requires all drivers to have the following minimum amounts of liability coverage:
- $25,000 per person for injury
- $50,000 per accident for injury
- $20,000 per accident for property damage
If the accident occurred while the ride share driver was logged into the app and available for a trip but not actively transporting a passenger, the ride share service’s liability insurance will cover:
- $50,000 per person for injury
- $100,000 per accident for injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
Finally, if the accident occurred while the ride share driver was en route or on a trip, the ride share service’s liability insurance will cover $1,000,000 for injuries and property damage.
Splitting Compensation Among Multiple Victims
Many people use ride share services as a group. This is a great way to get around town. However, it can also mean there are multiple victims after a ride share accident. And these victims will all seek compensation from the same at-fault party’s insurance policy.
Depending on the severity of your injuries and the number of victims, the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits may cap the compensation you could receive. For this reason, working with an experienced lawyer who can help you explore additional avenues for seeking compensation is essential.
Proving Your Injuries After a Ride Share Crash
Proving injuries after a ride share crash can be difficult depending on their type, severity, and extent. A broken bone may be relatively simple to prove with an X-ray. However, soft tissue injuries are very common and typically don’t show up on medical images. And if you have psychological injuries, like post-traumatic stress disorder, you’ll have to rely on medical expert testimony to prove you suffered harm.
Contact Our Illinois Ride Share Accident Lawyers
If you sustained injuries in an Uber or Lyft accident in Illinois, contact Johnston Law Offices P.C. for a free consultation with one of our experienced ride share accident lawyers. Our firm has over 35 years of legal experience and never charges fees unless we secure compensation for you.