Questions of Liability in an Illinois Rideshare Accident

 Posted on April 09, 2024 in Car Accidents

In every car accident, there is at least one at-fault party who is liable for the crash. Maybe the driver drove recklessly, drove under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or violated traffic rules, or maybe some car parts malfunctioned due to improper car maintenance that caused the accident. Either way, when someone is at fault, he or she is responsible for covering the costs of any bodily, property, and other damages caused by the accident.

When an individual is responsible for an accident, they need to pay for the resulting damages. When the driver who is at fault was employed at the time of the accident, their employer’s insurance company will generally be the entity that covers the costs of damages. However, if the driver responsible for the accident works for a rideshare service, it is a more complicated situation. If you were hit by a rideshare vehicle in an accident that was their fault, speak with a qualified Glenview, IL personal injury attorney to understand how to proceed.

Who Is Liable for My Damages?

When a rideshare driver is at fault in a car accident, their status at the time of that accident is necessary for figuring out where the liability lies and how to file the claim, as follows:

• If the driver had the driver app on and was driving rideshare user passengers at the time of the accident, the claim should be filed to the liability insurance policy of the rideshare company.
• If the driver had the app on and was available to take passengers but had no passengers in their car at the time of the accident, the claim should be filed with both the driver’s insurance company and the liability insurance policy of the rideshare company.
• If the driver did not have the app on and had no passengers at the time of the accident, the claim should be filed with the driver’s insurance company.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Northbrook, IL Rideshare Accident Attorney

Appealing to a big company to take responsibility for damages they caused an individual can sometimes seem too overwhelming a task to undertake. With a great deal of resources available and the ability to dedicate their time to this, insurance companies often work to make sure any payout is the bare minimum. Add to that the fact that when a rideshare vehicle is involved, the various insurance companies involved can try to pass liability onto each other, even if the scenario was one of the three mentioned above and should be fairly straightforward to figure out. An experienced Cook County, IL personal injury lawyer who has successfully represented clients against insurance companies can make an enormous difference in your claim settlement experience. Call Gruzmark Law, Ltd. at 847-729-7660 to schedule a free consultation.