Uber Accidents

Car Crash Lawyers Helping Injured Residents of the Wheaton and Schaumburg Areas

Ride-sharing services are more popular than ever across the United States, and Illinois is no exception. With an increased use of Uber and similar services, however, come more accidents. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an Uber accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our Wheaton and Schaumburg Uber accident lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options after a crash caused by distracted driving or another type of negligence. We know the importance of staying up to date on the laws regarding Uber, since this is a relatively new area of law that changes often.

Legal Options Following an Uber Accident

Uber is the most popular ride-share company in the world. In fact, Uber facilitates more than 2 million rides in Chicago alone per month, and many more if you add the other cities in Illinois that use the service. Of course, one of the major concerns surrounding Uber is that it is not as heavily regulated as taxicabs, since drivers use their personal vehicles to transport passengers. Another important point to note that is Uber drivers are not considered employees of Uber. Instead, they are independent contractors.

When a person is injured in an Uber accident, Uber provides commercial insurance that covers bodily injuries and property damage. However, Uber has often tried to deny liability for such accidents through technicalities and pointing to fine print in their terms of agreement. To address this, the Illinois legislature passed the Transportation Network Providers Act, which outlines insurance requirements that Uber and its drivers must meet. It is important to be aware, however, that if the crash occurred while the driver was off duty, the Uber insurance coverage does not apply. Nevertheless, an Uber accident attorney in Schaumburg or Wheaton can help you explore other options for compensation.

Ride-sharing accidents, like other car crashes, are typically caused by someone’s negligence. Negligence is a legal principle that intends to hold careless or reckless parties accountable for the harm that they cause. Put another way, negligence claims hold parties responsible for causing preventable injuries or death. When determining whether an individual was negligent, a court will ask whether a reasonably prudent person would have done the same thing in the same or similar circumstances. If the answer is no, the defendant is said to have been negligent. However, it is not enough to show that a reasonably prudent person would have behaved differently; an essential element of proving liability is showing that the defendant’s unreasonable behavior was a direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s harm.

Negligence cases are highly fact-intensive. Thus, your Schaumburg or Wheaton Uber accident attorney will want to obtain any police reports, seek witness statements, collect medical documents, potentially consult experts, and gather other evidence to show what happened and how it led to your injuries. Car accidents can result in long-term, even life-changing injuries. If liability is established, the injured person may be able to recover a variety of damages under Illinois law. Some of these damages include but are not limited to medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In some extreme cases, plaintiffs may be able to recover punitive damages. These are awarded when a defendant was acting especially recklessly, such as in some situations involving drunk driving.

Seek Guidance from an Uber Accident Lawyer in Schaumburg or Wheaton

If you or someone close to you has been injured in an Uber accident, you should speak to a knowledgeable car accident attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Therman Law Offices, we understand the stress and confusion that often ensue after an Uber accident, but you can trust that we are here to help. We can answer all of your questions and address your concerns at every step of the way. We proudly represent people in cities such as Schaumburg, Wheaton, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, Roselle, and Carol Stream. For a free case evaluation, you can contact us via telephone at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.