Rideshare Accident Lawyer Chicago, IL (Uber & Lyft)

Uber and Lyft are part of daily life in Chicago, from late-night rides home to trips downtown. When a rideshare vehicle crashes, the injured passenger, driver, or pedestrian often faces a confusing mix of personal and company insurance policies. A rideshare accident lawyer in Chicago, IL can identify which policy applies, deal with the insurers, and pursue full compensation. Jacobson Injury Firm represents people hurt in Uber and Lyft crashes throughout Chicago. Contact the firm for a free consultation.

How Rideshare Accident Claims Work in Illinois

Illinois regulates Uber, Lyft, and similar services under the Transportation Network Providers Act (625 ILCS 57). The Act calls these businesses transportation network companies, or TNCs. Under the Act’s definitions, a TNC service begins when the driver accepts a ride request in the app and ends when the passenger gets out of the vehicle.

Illinois is an at-fault state, so the person who caused the crash is responsible for the losses that follow. In a rideshare crash, that could be the rideshare driver, another driver, or both. The difference from an ordinary car crash is the insurance.

Section 10 of the Act sets minimum insurance requirements that depend on what the driver was doing in the app at the time of the crash:

• App on, waiting for a ride request.Liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for death and personal injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. The TNC must maintain contingent coverage in those amounts if the driver’s own policy excludes the crash or falls short.
• Ride accepted through the end of the trip.Primary liability coverage of $1,000,000 for death, personal injury, and property damage. This can come from the driver’s policy, the TNC’s policy, or a combination.
• Passenger in the vehicle.The coverage must also include $50,000 in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage from the moment a passenger enters the vehicle until the passenger exits. This protects the passenger if another, uninsured or underinsured driver caused the crash.

The Act also says this coverage cannot depend on a personal auto insurer first denying the claim. If the driver’s own insurance has lapsed, the TNC must provide the required coverage from the first dollar of a claim.

Where Rideshare Accidents Happen in Chicago

Rideshare companies reported more than 93 million trips to the City of Chicago for 2025, according to the City of Chicago Data Portal.

The Chicago Department of Transportation’s 2024 Chicago Traffic Crashes report found the heaviest concentration of severe crashes in the areas around the Central Business District. CDOT’s High Injury Network of the most dangerous major streets includes downtown corridors such as:

• Michigan Avenuefrom 9th Street to Oak Street
• Chicago Avenuefrom Halsted Street to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Ontario Street and Ohio Streetfrom Orleans Street to McClurg Court
• Columbus Drivefrom Ida B. Wells Drive to Ontario Street
• Halsted Streetfrom Harrison Street to Division Street

The City of Chicago also licenses rideshare companies and drivers through its Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Drivers must hold a City-issued TNP chauffeur license.

Common Types of Rideshare Accidents in Chicago

Jacobson Injury Firm handles claims arising from:

• Passengers injured when their Uber or Lyft driver causes a crash
• Passengers injured when another driver hits the rideshare vehicle
• Crashes caused by drivers distracted by the app, a phone, or navigation
• Sudden stops and illegal turns during pick-ups and drop-offs
• Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a rideshare driver
• Rideshare drivers hit by an at-fault motorist
• Hit-and-run crashesinvolving a rideshare vehicle

What Compensation Can a Rideshare Accident Victim Recover?

An injured person may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including future treatment
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Disability, disfigurement, and the effect of the injury on daily life

Some injuries, such as whiplash and concussions, take time to fully appear. The firm’s article on how car accidents can affect health long after the crash explains why early treatment and records matter.

Which Insurance Applies, and What If Someone Was Partly at Fault?

The most important question in a rideshare claim is often what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. A trip in progress usually means the $1,000,000 coverage applies. A driver who was logged on but waiting for a request falls under the lower limits.

When the app was off, the Act’s requirements do not apply, and the driver’s personal policy is usually the main source of coverage. A rideshare accident lawyer in Chicago, IL can request trip data from the company to confirm the driver’s status.

Fault also matters. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, an injured person found more than 50% at fault cannot recover, and a person 50% or less at fault has the award reduced by that share. Passengers usually play no role in causing a crash, but injured drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists may face blame-shifting from insurers.

What Should You Do After a Chicago Rideshare Accident?

If it is safe to do so, an injured person should:

• Call 911.Chicago Police respond to crashes on city streets, and the Illinois State Police generally handle crashes on the expressways.
• Get medical care.Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and UChicago Medicine operate Level I trauma centers.
• Screenshot the trip.Save the ride receipt, driver name, vehicle, and route from the app.
• Write down what happened.Note the time, location, and what each driver did while the details are fresh.
• Get the other driver’s information.Collect insurance details from every driver involved, plus witness names.
• Avoid recorded statements.Speak with a lawyer before talking to any insurer, including the rideshare company’s.

How Long Do You Have to File a Rideshare Accident Claim in Illinois?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury lawsuits in Illinois must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrued, usually the date of the crash.

If a CTA bus or a City of Chicago vehicle was involved, the deadline to sue is generally one year. Trip data, video, and other records should be requested early, before they are lost.

No Fee Unless We Win

Jacobson Injury Firm handles rideshare accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost, and no attorney fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

Clients work directly with attorney Adam Jacobson, who is licensed in Illinois, Florida, New York, and Connecticut. The firm represents injured people only, and he prepares each case as if it may go to trial. Past outcomes are listed on the firm’s case results page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue Uber or Lyft directly?

It depends on the facts. Under the Act, a TNC is not considered to own, control, operate, or manage the vehicles its drivers use, but the company must make sure the required insurance is in place during rides. The Act also states that its insurance rules do not limit a TNC’s liability for amounts above the required coverage.

What if I was a passenger and another driver caused the crash?

The passenger can bring a claim against the at-fault driver. If that driver is uninsured or underinsured, the $50,000 uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage required during a trip may apply.

What if my rideshare driver was between rides?

If the driver was logged on and waiting for a request, the lower limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident apply, with the TNC’s contingent coverage as a backup.

Does my own car insurance matter?

It can. An injured person’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may add protection, depending on the policy. A lawyer can review every available policy.

How much does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?

Jacobson Injury Firm works on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront, and there is no attorney fee unless money is recovered.

Contact a Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Chicago, IL

Jacobson Injury Firm’s Chicago office is listed on its Google Business Profile: Jacobson Law Offices, 1 E Erie St Ste 525, Chicago, IL 60611. Rideshare claims can involve several insurers that each point at the other. A rideshare accident lawyer in Chicago, IL can sort out the coverage, gather the trip records, and pursue full compensation. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation.