Plainfield Lyft Accident Lawyer

Lyft rides are part of everyday life in and around Plainfield, Illinois. Whether you’re heading into Chicago on I-55, catching a ride near the Plainfield Township area, or getting picked up close to downtown Joliet, rideshare services are everywhere. Most trips go smoothly. But when a Lyft accident happens, the aftermath can be confusing, painful, and financially overwhelming. You may be dealing with injuries, missed work, and a tangle of insurance questions that nobody seems willing to answer clearly. That’s where Briskman Briskman & Greenberg comes in. Our team has helped injured people across the Chicago area, and we want to help you understand your rights after a Lyft crash.

Table of Contents

• How Illinois Law Governs Lyft Accidents
• Understanding Lyft’s Insurance Coverage Tiers
• Who Can Be Held Liable After a Lyft Crash in Plainfield?
• What to Do After a Lyft Accident Near Plainfield
• How Illinois Law Limits Your Time to File a Claim
• FAQs About Plainfield Lyft Accident Claims

How Illinois Law Governs Lyft Accidents

Illinois has specific laws that apply to rideshare companies like Lyft. 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, driver qualifications, and more. This law is the foundation of any Lyft accident claim in Illinois, and understanding it can make a real difference in how much compensation you recover.

One of the most important things the law addresses is insurance coverage. From the time drivers accept passengers to when they complete rides, rideshare drivers must have insurance coverage of at least $1 million for personal injury, death, and property damage. Drivers must also have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage of at least $50,000, and the coverage requirements must be satisfied by the driver, the ridesharing company, or a combination of their policies.

The law also sets rules about driver qualifications. Drivers who do not have a valid driver’s license or are under the age of 19 do not qualify to become rideshare drivers. Drivers with three or more moving violations or one major violation, such as reckless driving or driving on a revoked license, during the last three years cannot become a rideshare driver. Those who are registered sex offenders or have criminal convictions within the past seven years are also ineligible to drive for ridesharing companies.

Illinois law also requires all drivers involved in a crash to stop and remain at the scene. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-401, the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting in personal injury must immediately stop and remain at the scene until all legal requirements are fulfilled. A driver who flees the scene commits a serious felony. This applies to Lyft drivers just as it applies to any other motorist on Illinois roads.

If you were hurt in a Lyft accident near Plainfield, along Route 30, or anywhere in the Will County area, working with an experienced Lyft accident lawyer who knows these laws is one of the most important steps you can take.

Understanding Lyft’s Insurance Coverage Tiers

One of the biggest sources of confusion after a Lyft accident is figuring out which insurance policy applies. Lyft’s coverage is not one flat policy. It changes based on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. The coverage requirements are tiered, changing based on the driver’s status. When a driver is logged into the app but hasn’t accepted a ride request yet, lower levels of liability coverage are typically required. During a prearranged ride, from the moment a driver accepts a ride request until the passenger exits the vehicle, the law generally requires a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability coverage for death, bodily injury, and property damage.

Here’s how the tiers break down in practical terms. When the app is completely off, the driver’s personal auto insurance applies. From the moment a driver logs into the TNC app until a ride is accepted or completed, they must have liability insurance of at least $50,000 per person for death and injury, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage. Once a passenger is in the vehicle, the $1 million policy kicks in.

Why does this matter to you? Because the tier determines which insurance company you file your claim with, and how much coverage is available. Insurance companies know this too, and they will look for any reason to argue that a lower coverage tier applies to your situation. Because TNCs are still relatively new, ridesharing companies and drivers can get away with making things difficult for accident victims who file a claim. Insurance companies do not always treat claims fairly.

Think about a scenario where a Lyft driver is heading south on I-55 near Shorewood and rear-ends your vehicle while en route to pick up a passenger. The driver’s app was on and a ride was accepted. That means the $1 million policy should apply. But without a lawyer, you may not know how to prove the app status at the time of the crash. Our Chicago Lyft accident lawyers know exactly how to gather that evidence and use it to support your claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Lyft Crash in Plainfield?

Lyft accident cases often involve more than one potentially liable party. This is one of the reasons these cases are more involved than a standard two-car collision. Depending on the facts of your case, you may have claims against the Lyft driver, Lyft itself, another driver, a vehicle manufacturer, or even a government entity responsible for road maintenance near Plainfield’s busy corridors like Route 59 or the I-55 interchange.

Illinois law addresses how fault is divided among multiple defendants. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, 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 one defendant can’t pay, another may be required to cover the full amount of certain damages.

Lyft classifies its drivers as independent contractors, not employees. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have historically classified their drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This distinction is significant because, traditionally, companies are less likely to be held vicariously liable for the negligence of independent contractors compared to employees. This is exactly why the $1 million insurance requirement under the Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act is so important. It provides a direct source of compensation even when Lyft tries to limit its own liability.

There’s also the question of uninsured and underinsured motorists. What if another driver caused the crash but has no insurance? The Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act requires TNCs to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. As a passenger, you can make a claim under this UM/UIM portion of the rideshare company’s policy if the at-fault third-party driver cannot cover your losses.

Our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will investigate every angle of your case. We look at all possible defendants and all available insurance policies. We want to make sure you recover the full compensation you deserve, not just a fraction of it. Reach out to our Chicago car accident lawyer team today to discuss your options.

What to Do After a Lyft Accident Near Plainfield

The steps you take right after a Lyft crash can have a big impact on your case. Here is what you should do if you are ever involved in one near Plainfield, Bolingbrook, or anywhere along the Route 30 corridor.

First, call 911 and get medical help. Your health comes first. Even if you feel okay at the scene, some injuries, like whiplash or internal trauma, don’t show up right away. Getting checked out by a doctor creates a medical record that links your injuries to the crash. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-401, any injury requiring immediate professional treatment in a medical facility or doctor’s office qualifies as a personal injury under Illinois law. Don’t downplay your symptoms.

Second, document everything you can. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, any traffic signs, and your injuries. Get the Lyft driver’s name, license plate number, and insurance information. Note whether the driver had the Lyft app open on their phone. Ask any witnesses for their contact information.

Third, report the accident through the Lyft app. This creates an official record with the company. However, be careful about what you say to Lyft’s insurance representatives. They are not on your side. Their job is to pay out as little as possible.

Fourth, contact a Lyft accident lawyer before you sign anything or accept any settlement offer. Insurance companies often move fast to get injured people to settle for less than their case is worth. Once you sign a release, you give up your right to seek more compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you initially thought.

For more helpful guidance on staying safe and protecting your rights, review these tips from a Lyft accident attorney on what to do before, during, and after a rideshare ride.

How Illinois Law Limits Your Time to File a Claim

Time is not on your side after a Lyft accident. Illinois has a strict deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits. In Illinois, this time limit is governed by 735 ILCS 5/13-202, which states that actions for personal injury must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued. If you are injured due to someone else’s negligence in Illinois, you typically have exactly two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Once this period expires, you lose your legal right to seek compensation through the court system, regardless of how strong your case might have been.

Two years might sound like a long time, but it goes by fast. Building a strong personal injury case takes time. Your attorney needs to gather evidence, obtain the Lyft driver’s app data, review medical records, work with accident reconstruction experts, and identify all liable parties. The sooner you start, the better your chances of preserving critical evidence.

There are some exceptions to the two-year rule. For example, if the injured person was a minor at the time of the crash, the deadline may be extended. There may also be exceptions in cases involving fraud or concealment. But these exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. You should never assume an exception applies to your case without speaking to a lawyer first.

Will County cases are often filed in the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, located at 14 West Jefferson Street. Our team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is familiar with the courts that serve the Plainfield area and the procedures that apply to rideshare injury cases filed there. As a trusted Chicago personal injury lawyer team, we handle cases across the greater Chicago metro area, including Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, and beyond. Call us today so we can review your case and make sure you don’t miss any critical deadlines.

FAQs About Plainfield Lyft Accident Claims

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

You may be able to bring a claim against Lyft’s insurance policy, but suing Lyft directly as an employer is complicated. Lyft classifies its drivers as independent contractors, which limits direct employer liability in many cases. However, the Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act requires Lyft to maintain a $1 million liability policy that covers passengers and others injured during an active trip. An attorney can review the specific facts of your case to determine the best approach for recovering full compensation.

What if the Lyft driver was not at fault? Can I still recover damages?

Yes. If another driver caused the crash while you were a passenger in a Lyft vehicle, you can file a claim against that at-fault driver’s insurance. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may also have a claim under Lyft’s UM/UIM coverage. Illinois law requires TNCs to carry this type of coverage to protect passengers in exactly these situations. You should not assume that being a passenger in a Lyft vehicle limits your options.

How long does a Lyft accident claim take to resolve in Illinois?

There is no single answer to this question. Some cases settle within a few months, while others take a year or more, especially if your injuries are serious or liability is disputed. Cases that go to trial in Will County or Cook County can take longer. The complexity of rideshare insurance coverage tiers, multiple defendants, and negotiations with corporate insurance adjusters all affect the timeline. Starting the process early gives your attorney the best chance to build a strong case and push for a fair resolution.

What damages can I recover after a Lyft accident in Plainfield?

Illinois law allows injured accident victims to recover a wide range of damages. These include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage. In cases involving extreme recklessness or willful misconduct, punitive damages may also be available. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, defendants found to be 25% or more at fault are jointly and severally liable for all damages, which can be especially important when multiple parties share responsibility for your injuries.

Do I need a lawyer if Lyft’s insurance company already contacted me?

Yes, and the sooner the better. When Lyft’s insurance company contacts you quickly after a crash, it is often because they want to settle your claim fast and for as little as possible. Accepting an early settlement offer without legal advice can mean giving up your right to compensation for future medical bills, ongoing pain, or lost income you haven’t even experienced yet. An attorney can evaluate the true value of your claim, handle all communications with the insurance company, and make sure you are not pressured into accepting less than you deserve.

More Resources About Vehicle Injuries

• Dangerous Roads & Intersections in Plainfield
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• Plainfield Car Accident Lawyer
• Plainfield Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
• Plainfield Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
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