Northbrook area residents who are injured in a Lyft accident can trust the Stein & Shulman team to get them the compensation they deserve. Our experienced attorneys know what it takes to plow through the piles of paperwork and other roadblocks that insurance companies and ride-hailing companies like Lyft try to throw in the way of recovery when a Chicagoland passenger, driver, or bystander has been harmed. We aggressively fight to get our clients the money they need to fully recover from their injuries.
Who is Held Liable in Lyft Accidents?
In a typical car accident lawsuit, there are two drivers, two insurance companies, and two attorneys working to come up with a fair settlement that compensates those who have been injured. In a Lyft accident, there are two drivers, at least one passenger, the app developer, at least four attorneys, and at least four insurance companies all angling for advantage and trying to avoid getting stuck with the bill. Nobody wants to take responsibility for the accident.
As attorneys, it is our job to get all of these people at the negotiating table so our client can get the compensation he or she deserves. We start by apportioning fault.
Illinois has what is called comparative fault law, which means anyone who is injured in an accident can get compensation for their injuries, as long as the accident was less than 51% his or her fault. However, the amount he or she is eligible for will be reduced if he or she is partially to blame for the accident. For example, if someone suffers $100,000 in injuries, but was 20 percent at fault, he or she would only be able to seek $80,000 in compensation.
In a Lyft accident, the passenger is rarely at fault, which means under Illinois’s comparative fault law, they are eligible for full compensation for their injuries.
If we are representing one of the drivers in a Lyft accident, we use the evidence from the scene of the accident to determine which driver caused the accident. If both drivers were to blame, fault is distributed between both of them.
But what about Lyft? What happens when the driver most at fault for the accident was using the Lyft app at the time of the accident? Is Lyft partially responsible?
In Illinois, employers are typically responsible for accidents and injuries caused by their employees. However, Lyft claims it is not an employer. Lyft sees itself as a software developer that has created a product that independent entrepreneurs can use to start up their own “taxi” companies and be their own bosses.
Lyft does not tell drivers when to work or how much they need to work, and it has no direct control over its drivers. The company does, however, require drivers who use its app to meet certain standards and jump through a few hoops. Even though Lyft carries insurance on drivers and passengers using its app, it requires drivers to have their own insurance, and it used to push for all compensation to come from the driver’s insurance in the event of an accident.
Illinois policymakers were not completely satisfied with this arrangement. They have passed laws that force Lyft and other ridesharing companies to pay up when a passenger using the Lyft app is injured. Our firm has helped many passengers injured in Lyft accidents make successful claims against the ridesharing company.
Fighting For Your Full Monetary Compensation
We know that no matter what type of injury you have suffered, from a “simple” fracture to a spinal cord injury, the pain you have gone through and continue to endure is almost always accompanied by financial difficulties. Our goal is to obtain damages to cover your costs, both calculable and intangible, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income, present and future
- Property damage
- Physical pain
- Emotional anguish
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If we can prove that the defendants acted with disregard for human safety or engaged in criminal behavior, Illinois law allows us to seek punitive damages as well.
We Do Not Get Paid Unless Our Clients Do
Stein & Shulman represents Northbrook Lyft accident victims on a contingency fee basis. We do not get paid unless our clients do.
We don’t pressure our clients to settle for the first low-ball offer an insurance company throws at them just so we can cash a check. We aggressively fight for every penny our clients deserve because we know they need that money to fully recover from their injuries. We make big insurance companies and ridesharing giants like Lyft stand up and pay attention so our clients get the money they need to heal and move on with their lives.
Contact Our Lyft Accident Attorneys Today
If you were an innocent bystander in a Lyft accident, our team will hold those responsible for your injuries accountable. Whether you are ready to take legal action and seek compensation, or are just curious about what options are available to you, we are ready to take your call. Please contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Helping clients in Northbrook & the surrounding areas including, Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, Will County, McHenry County, and Kane County.
