Des Plaines Lyft Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a Lyft accident in or around Des Plaines, you already know how confusing the aftermath can be. Between dealing with injuries, missed work, and pushy insurance adjusters, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news is that Illinois law gives you real options, and the team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is ready to help you use them. Whether your accident happened on Mannheim Road, near O’Hare International Airport, or along the busy stretch of I-90 running through the Des Plaines area, you deserve to know your rights and how to protect them.

Table of Contents

• How Lyft Accidents Happen in Des Plaines
• Understanding Lyft’s Insurance Coverage Under Illinois Law
• Who Can Be Held Liable After a Des Plaines Lyft Crash
• What to Do After a Lyft Accident in Des Plaines
• What Compensation Can You Recover in an Illinois Lyft Accident Claim
• FAQs About Des Plaines Lyft Accidents

How Lyft Accidents Happen in Des Plaines

Des Plaines sits right at the crossroads of some of the busiest travel corridors in the Chicago metro area. With O’Hare just minutes away and major roads like Touhy Avenue, Oakton Street, and I-294 running through the city, Lyft drivers are constantly picking up and dropping off passengers in high-traffic zones. That combination of heavy traffic and driver distraction creates real danger for everyone on the road.

Rideshare drivers often rely on their phones to receive ride requests, follow navigation routes, and communicate with passengers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents in the U.S., and the nature of rideshare driving makes distractions more likely.

Lyft drivers also frequently work long hours to maximize their income, which leads to fatigue. Fatigued driving slows reaction times and impairs judgment, both of which increase the chance of a crash. Add in the stop-and-go traffic near the Des Plaines Metra station or around the Randhurst Village shopping area, and you have a recipe for accidents.

Common causes of Lyft crashes in the Des Plaines area include distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, running red lights, and reckless lane changes. Pedestrians and cyclists near the Des Plaines River Trail are also at risk when Lyft drivers are not paying full attention. If any of these situations led to your injuries, you may have a strong personal injury claim. A Chicago car accident lawyer at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can review the facts of your case and help you understand who is responsible.

Understanding Lyft’s Insurance Coverage Under Illinois Law

One of the most important things to understand after a Lyft accident is which insurance policy applies. This depends on what the driver was doing at the exact moment of the crash. Illinois law and Lyft’s own policies divide coverage into distinct periods, and the difference between them can significantly affect how much compensation you can recover.

The Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act went into effect in 2015 to set statewide basic requirements for ridesharing companies and drivers in terms of insurance, safety standards, and driver qualifications. The Act applies to ridesharing services known as Transportation Network Companies (TNC), like Lyft. A TNC is any company that uses a digital platform to connect passengers with ride services provided by TNC drivers who use their own vehicles.

Here is how the coverage works in practice. When a driver is not logged into the app, their personal insurance applies. When they are logged in and waiting for a ride request, limited coverage from the rideshare company is available, typically $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. When the driver is en route to pick up a passenger or during a trip, Lyft generally provides up to $1 million in liability coverage.

Under the Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act, ridesharing companies must also maintain this coverage in case the individual driver’s insurance policy fails to meet these limits. This matters because some Lyft drivers carry minimal personal coverage. If their policy falls short, Lyft’s policy steps in. Understanding which period applies to your crash is critical. A skilled Lyft accident lawyer can pull app data and police reports to establish exactly what was happening when you were hurt.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Des Plaines Lyft Crash

Liability in a Lyft accident is rarely simple. Multiple parties can share responsibility, and Illinois law has clear rules about how that responsibility is divided. Knowing who to hold accountable is one of the most important steps in building your case.

Liability in rideshare accidents can involve multiple parties. In Illinois, the driver, the rideshare company, and even third-party drivers can all potentially be held responsible for an accident. Determining who is liable often depends on the specific circumstances of the crash, including whether the driver was logged into the Lyft app at the time.

Illinois law under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117 addresses how fault is shared between multiple defendants. Under this statute, all defendants found liable are jointly and severally liable for a plaintiff’s past and future medical and medically related expenses. Any defendant whose fault is 25% or greater of the total fault is jointly and severally liable for all other damages as well. This means that if the Lyft driver was mostly at fault, you may be able to recover your full damages from that driver or from Lyft’s insurer without having to chase down multiple parties.

Other potentially liable parties in a Des Plaines Lyft accident could include a negligent third-party driver who caused the crash, a vehicle manufacturer if a defective part contributed to the collision, or even a government entity if poor road conditions on a stretch of Golf Road or near the Des Plaines courthouse played a role. The Chicago Lyft accident lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg know how to investigate all possible sources of liability and pursue every avenue of compensation available to you.

What to Do After a Lyft Accident in Des Plaines

The steps you take right after a Lyft accident can make or break your personal injury claim. Acting quickly and carefully protects your health and your legal rights. Here is what you should do.

First, call 911. Illinois law under 625 ILCS 5/11-401 requires that the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting in personal injury or death must immediately stop and remain at the scene until all legal requirements are fulfilled. If the Lyft driver leaves the scene, that is a serious criminal violation and strengthens your claim. Make sure law enforcement comes to the scene and creates an official crash report.

Second, seek medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and internal trauma are not always immediately obvious. Delaying treatment gives the insurance company a reason to argue your injuries were not serious or were caused by something else entirely.

Third, document everything. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, any traffic signs, and your visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of all witnesses. Screenshot your Lyft app to show the trip details, including the driver’s name and the time of the ride.

Fourth, do not give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney. Insurance companies are looking for any reason to reduce or deny your claim. Because ridesharing companies and drivers can make things difficult for accident victims who file a claim, and insurance companies do not always treat claims fairly, having legal representation from the start puts you in a much stronger position. Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg before you speak to anyone from Lyft’s insurance team. You can also review Lyft accident attorney tips on staying safe and prepared as a rideshare passenger.

What Compensation Can You Recover in an Illinois Lyft Accident Claim

If you were injured in a Lyft accident, Illinois law allows you to seek compensation for a wide range of losses. You should not have to pay out of pocket for injuries that someone else caused. Understanding what damages are available helps you know what is truly at stake in your claim.

Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses. These include past and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, and property damage. If your injuries are severe, future medical care can represent a very large portion of your total damages. Non-economic damages cover the impact the injuries have had on your life, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship for your family members.

In cases where a Lyft driver’s conduct was especially reckless, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, punitive damages may also be available. Illinois courts can award these damages to punish particularly bad behavior and deter others from acting the same way.

If a loved one died in a Lyft accident, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180) allows surviving family members to bring a claim for their losses. These losses can include funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of the deceased person’s companionship and guidance.

It is also worth noting that Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. However, as long as you are less than 51% at fault, you can still recover damages. If you have been injured in a ridesharing accident in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois, you need experienced legal representation. The lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg know exactly how to handle such cases to ensure a quick resolution that gets you the compensation you deserve. Reach out to our team today for a free consultation about your Des Plaines Lyft accident claim. We also serve clients throughout the greater Chicago area and the Lyft accident lawyer resources on our site can give you a head start on understanding your rights.

FAQs About Des Plaines Lyft Accidents

How long do I have to file a Lyft accident claim in Illinois?

In most Illinois personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit under the state’s statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to sue. There are some exceptions, such as cases involving minors or claims against government entities, which can have shorter deadlines. Do not wait to speak with an attorney. The sooner you act, the better your chances of preserving evidence and building a strong case.

Can I sue Lyft directly if their driver caused my injuries?

This is a common question, and the answer depends on the details of your case. Lyft classifies its drivers as independent contractors, which limits direct liability in some situations. However, Lyft’s insurance policy provides up to $1 million in coverage when a driver is actively transporting a passenger or on the way to pick one up. There may also be situations where Lyft’s own negligence, such as failing to properly screen a driver, could support a direct claim against the company. An attorney can review your specific facts and advise you on the best approach.

What if the Lyft driver was not logged into the app when the accident happened?

If the Lyft driver was not logged into the app at the time of the crash, Lyft’s commercial insurance policy likely does not apply. In that case, the driver’s personal auto insurance would be the primary source of coverage. However, many personal policies exclude coverage for commercial driving activity, which can create a coverage gap. This is exactly the kind of situation where having an experienced attorney on your side makes a real difference. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can investigate the driver’s app status and insurance coverage to identify all available sources of compensation.

What if I was a passenger in the Lyft and the other driver caused the crash?

If a third-party driver was at fault for the crash, you would typically file a claim against that driver’s auto insurance first. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured and cannot fully cover your losses, Lyft’s policy includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that may apply. Illinois law under the Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act requires ridesharing companies to carry this type of coverage specifically to protect passengers in this situation. You may have multiple claims to pursue at the same time, which is another reason to work with an attorney from the start.

Does it matter where in Des Plaines my Lyft accident happened?

The location of your accident can matter in a few ways. If your crash happened near a specific intersection, highway on-ramp, or in a construction zone, that information can help establish fault and identify potential additional defendants, such as a government agency responsible for road maintenance. Local landmarks like the Des Plaines River, the I-294 interchange, or heavily traveled routes near O’Hare can all be relevant to how an accident occurred. Our attorneys are familiar with the Des Plaines area and the Cook County court system, which means we can handle your case efficiently from start to finish.

More Resources About Vehicle Injuries

• Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Des Plaines
• Des Plaines Bicycle Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Car Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Truck Accident Attorney
• Des Plaines Uber Accident Lawyer
• Des Plaines Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer