Belleville Rideshare Accident Lawyer
Hipskind & McAninch, LLC: Dedicated and Effective Advocates
While the term “rideshare” has been around for years, referring to carpooling with friends or taking a cab, new rideshare companies have disrupted the industry and given the term a new meaning. Are Uber and Lyft coming to mind? To date, at least 15% of adults in the United States have used a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft; of those, 17% said they use one on a daily or weekly basis. While these companies bring new and convenient ways for us to get around, they also bring new complexities to the law.
It’d be nice to say that rideshare accidents follow the same legal process as any other car accident, but rideshare accidents can be much trickier – especially because of how new the industry is. If you were injured in a rideshare accident, contact our experienced Belleville car accident lawyers at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, to help you navigate the legal process.
Illinois Ridesharing Driver Requirements
Since ridesharing apps started gaining popularity a few years ago, states have enacted laws and rules for ridesharing drivers that vary widely in their strictness. In Illinois, potential rideshare drivers must first apply and meet various document and vehicle requirements.
Drivers must have their vehicle inspected, have a photo taken, and show proof of driver’s license, vehicle registration, and personal vehicle insurance. According to Lyft, a driver’s vehicle must be a 2002 model or newer, and have four doors and five to eight seats, including the driver’s.
Illinois Ridesharing Insurance
As stated above, ridesharing drivers are required to have personal vehicle insurance. In addition, each transportation network company (the official name for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft) has commercial insurance coverage.
Many Illinois insurance companies also offer rideshare insurance coverage. Rideshare insurance fills in any coverage gaps, like during the time a driver is awaiting a match and until he or she accepts a ride.
Different Insurance Covers Each Portion of the Ride
This is important information to know if you are going to use rideshare services. But what does it all really mean? Whose insurance pays how much for what incidents?
Because different parties’ insurance pays for different portions of the trip, the timing of an accident plays a large role in who pays. A driver’s personal auto insurance will almost always play a part in covering the driver and the driver’s car. Only about 23% of rideshare drivers have purchased rideshare gap coverage, leaving the company’s commercial insurance and the driver’s personal insurance to cover the accident.
This combination of personal insurance plus commercial insurance plus possible rideshare insurance makes for a complicated process. A skilled attorney will know more precisely who should be paying and how much they should be paying.
Who Is Liable?
Either the rideshare driver or another driver on the roadway will cause the rideshare accident. Either way, the rideshare company may still be a third party considered responsible for the accident, even though the rideshare driver is an independent contractor.
As long as your attorney can prove that you suffered serious injury due to negligent driving by the rideshare driver and/or others on the road, you should be able to receive appropriate compensation from both the personal auto insurance and commercial insurance involved. Again, it is up to your attorney to navigate the intricate systems of insurance and rideshare liability.
Choose Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, for Your Rideshare Representation
People use rideshare services to get to their destination as safely and simply as possible. Hopefully, a rideshare accident doesn’t throw a wrench into that plan. If it does, however, it is unreasonable for you to navigate the ever-changing landscape of ridesharing laws and insurance policies alone.
At Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty for you. Because we have experience working on both sides of insurance claims, we are better prepared to handle your case. Dealing with medical bills and lost wages is the last thing you expect when you call a rideshare service. Let our rideshare accident attorneys fight for the compensation you need to get back on your feet quickly.
We’re dedicated to your case, we have a five-star reputation, and you don’t pay us until you win. Call us for a free consultation at 618-641-9189.