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Suburban Cook County · Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyers

Suburban Cook County Uber & Lyft Accident Lawyer

Fighting for justice, securing your future

call (312) 262-3971
Aerial view of downtown Evanston, Illinois high-rises and tree-lined streets

If you or a family member was harmed by an Uber or Lyft crash in suburban Cook County, a Cook County Uber accident lawyer at Mixan Mahony can review your claim at no cost. Partners Colleen Mixan Mikaitis and Mackenzie J. Mahony personally oversee every case, and there is no fee unless there is a recovery.

If you were hurt in an Uber or Lyft crash in Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Cicero, Berwyn, Schaumburg or near O’Hare, you may have access to up to $1,000,000 in rideshare insurance, depending on what the driver was doing in the app at the time. Mixan Mahony represents passengers, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists hurt in rideshare crashes across suburban Cook County. There is no fee unless there is a recovery.

Where Rideshare Crashes Happen in Suburban Cook County

Rideshare traffic in the suburbs clusters around a few busy areas. O’Hare and the Rosemont hotel and entertainment district see constant pickups and drop-offs. Northwestern University and downtown Evanston draw riders day and night. Woodfield Mall and the Schaumburg business corridor, the Cermak Road and Ogden Avenue corridors in Cicero and Berwyn, and the Lake Street and Harlem Avenue area in Oak Park all generate heavy app traffic.

  • Sudden stops and illegal U-turns to pick up or drop off riders
  • Drivers looking at the app instead of the road
  • Fatigued drivers working long shifts between the airport and the suburbs
  • Passengers struck while getting in or out at the curb
  • Crashes on I-90, I-294 and I-290 during airport runs

How Rideshare Insurance Works in Illinois

The Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act sets insurance rules for Uber, Lyft and similar companies under 625 ILCS 57/10. From the moment a driver accepts a ride request until the ride is complete, primary liability coverage of $1,000,000 for death, personal injury and property damage must be in place, and passengers have $50,000 in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage while in the vehicle. When the driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride, the required coverage drops to $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for property damage.

If the driver was offline, only the driver personal policy may apply. The app status at the moment of the crash is often the first thing the insurers fight about, so we request the trip and app data early.

Who Can Bring a Rideshare Claim

  • Passengers hurt in their Uber or Lyft, whether their driver or another driver caused the crash
  • Other drivers hit by a rideshare vehicle
  • Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a rideshare driver
  • Rideshare drivers hurt by another motorist, who may have claims against that driver and their own coverage

Each situation involves different policies. See our Uber accident page and Lyft accident page for company-specific details.

Where a Suburban Cook Rideshare Case Is Filed

Larger injury cases in Cook County are usually filed in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County at the Daley Center in Chicago. Some cases are heard in the suburban municipal districts, including Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham. Where a case is filed affects scheduling and strategy, and we evaluate venue early. Learn more on our suburban Cook County personal injury page.

Evidence in a Rideshare Case

  • Screenshots of the ride receipt, driver name and vehicle
  • The police crash report and report number
  • Photos of the vehicles, the scene and your injuries
  • Witness names and phone numbers
  • App and trip data showing whether the driver was online, en route or carrying a passenger
  • Medical records from the emergency room and follow-up care

Save the ride receipt right away, because it proves you were a passenger and identifies the driver and trip.

Illinois Deadlines and Fault Rules

Most Illinois injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. If a city, county, township or other local public entity vehicle was involved, the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act generally requires suit within one year (745 ILCS 10/8-101). Illinois also uses modified comparative fault under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116: your damages are reduced by your share of fault, and you are barred only if you are more than 50 percent at fault.

Airport and Rosemont Pickups

O’Hare is one of the busiest rideshare pickup points in the country, and the roads around it are crowded with drivers searching for riders, shuttle buses and hotel traffic. Many crashes happen on Mannheim Road, River Road, Higgins Road and the I-190 and I-294 ramps, where drivers make sudden lane changes to reach a pickup zone.

Airport crashes can involve drivers who live far from Cook County, rental vehicles and several insurance policies. We gather app data, airport and hotel camera footage and police reports quickly so that every responsible party and policy is identified.

Injured as a Passenger: Your Options

Passengers are rarely at fault in a rideshare crash, but they often face the most confusion about who pays. Depending on the facts, a passenger may claim against their own rideshare driver, the other driver, or both, and may use the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that the rideshare policy provides while the passenger is in the vehicle. Your own auto and health insurance may also play a role. We sort out the order of coverage so medical bills are paid and nothing is left on the table.

What to Do After an Uber or Lyft Crash

  • Call 911 and get medical care
  • Report the crash in the app and screenshot the trip details
  • Photograph the scene and get the other driver insurance information
  • Do not accept a quick settlement from the rideshare insurer before talking to a lawyer
  • Contact a rideshare accident lawyer to identify every available policy

Mixan Mahony meets suburban Cook clients in person, by phone or by video. There is no fee unless there is a recovery.

Suburban Cook County Uber and Lyft Accident FAQs

How much insurance does Uber or Lyft carry in Illinois?

Under 625 ILCS 57/10, $1,000,000 in primary liability coverage applies from the moment a driver accepts a ride until the ride is complete. Lower limits apply when the driver is logged in but has not accepted a ride.

I was a passenger. Who pays my medical bills?

Passengers can usually claim against the at-fault driver, which may be their own rideshare driver, another driver or both. The rideshare policy also includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for passengers.

Where is a suburban Cook County rideshare case filed?

Larger cases are often filed in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago. Some cases are heard in the suburban municipal districts.

How long do I have to file a claim?

Most Illinois injury claims must be filed within two years under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Act sooner so app and trip data can be preserved.

How much does a rideshare accident lawyer cost?

Mixan Mahony charges no fee unless there is a recovery, and the first consultation is free.

Related Pages

Mixan Mahony, LLC
River Point, 444 W. Lake St., Suite 1707, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 262-3971 | Open 24 hours
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This page provides general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Talk With a Cook County Uber Accident Lawyer

Call (312) 262-3971 any time, day or night, to speak with a Cook County Uber accident lawyer about what happened and what your options may be. For more background, see our suburban Cook County page and our Illinois rideshare accident page.