INJURED BY UBER OR LYFT
INJURED BY UBER OR LYFT? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
What Happens if You Get Injured in an Accident with an Uber or Lyft Driver?
One of the emerging areas of personal injury litigation relates to accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers. This is of course ironic since many people utilize this service to avoid accidents and to be in a safer environment. Many people use the Uber and Lyft apps to get home safely after a night out. Others use it as a means of regular transportation to and from work or an airport. If you are a passenger in one of these vehicles that is involved in an accident or happen to be hit by such a driver, it is important to know your rights and ensure you maximize the damages you are entitled to.
What are the requirements to become a driver for Uber or Lyft? Surprisingly, there are not that many. Generally speaking, they include:
- Being at least 21 years of age
- Licensed to drive in the US for at least one year (or 3 years if under the age of 23)
- Have access to a 4-door vehicle with at least 5 seatbelts
- Model of car requirements vary from 10-15 years of age (depending on the city)
- Auto insurance
- Valid Driver’s License
- Background check and complete driving record
Road tests are not required and there is no clear indication whether or not Uber or Lyft continuously update a driver’s background and driving record. Furthermore, with the advent of self-driving vehicles and how new the technology is, it is almost a certainty that accidents will be on the rise.
Insurance is the tricky area of Uber and Lyft litigation. While drivers are required to have insurance on their vehicles, there are multiple layers of insurance which both Uber and Lyft provide which you may be entitled to access. This is especially important in cases where the injuries are substantial or catastrophic and the driver’s own insurance will not be enough to fully compensate an injured party. A seasoned personal injury attorney, particularly one who has experience litigating cases against Uber and Lyft, will be in a much better position to ascertain all avenues of recovery and find all possible insurance policies that can satisfy an injury victim’s damages.
Injured due to the negligence of an Uber or Lyft driver? Contact the attorneys at Woodruff Johnson & Evans to fully explore your rights and damages. Woodruff Johnson & Evans Law Offices has three convenient locations to serve our clients from across the state of Illinois. Make an appointment to see us in the Chicago loop. Visit us at our west suburban office in Aurora. Get a free consultation at our central Illinois office in downtown Champaign. Or ask us to meet with you in your hometown. If you are injured and need legal representation, wherever you live, we are there. Call us at: (630) 585-2320 or contact us online to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today.