Liability in Illinois Car Accidents Involving Ridesharing Companies and Drivers

 Posted on April 22, 2019 in Personal Injury

Gone are the days of stepping off of the street curb in a desperate attempt to get one of the dozens of taxi cabs to notice your flailing arms. Now, you can simply pull out your smartphone and with a few taps, you can have a car outside waiting to take you to where ever you want to go within minutes. Ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have taken off and are becoming more popular than ever. Those these companies offer convenience and simplicity, they pose rather complex and often ambiguous situations, particularly when one of these ridesharing vehicles gets into a car accident with a passenger inside.

What Is a Ridesharing Company?

The Illinois Transportation Network Providers Act is the section of law that outlines rules and regulations for transportation network companies (TNCs). The Act defines a TNC as any entity that operates by use of a digital network to connect passengers to TNC drivers who provide ride services. A TNC driver owns his or her own vehicle and is not associated with any taxicab service. Popular TNCs include Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and Via.

How Ridesharing Works

Ridesharing apps work by having a passenger log into the app and enter in the information pertaining to the ride, such as where the passenger is currently located and where they would like to go. This alerts nearby drivers that the passenger needs a ride. The app then utilizes GPS technology to direct the driver to the passenger’s location and then gives them directions to the destination. Passengers are typically provided with information such as estimated fares for certain routes and the number of drivers nearby, in addition to driver ratings and feedback from other passengers.

Issues in Liability

The issue in determining liability for ridesharing accidents is that these people who are working as ridesharing drivers are not professional drivers. A majority of ridesharing drivers do not do it as their main source of income. These people are typically just people who met the requirements to sign up as drivers through the ridesharing company. The vehicles are not technically company property and the drivers are not actually employees of the company -- they are just independent contractors.

Were You Hurt in a Ridesharing Accident? A DuPage County Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Ridesharing companies can come in handy, especially when you live in a city that does not have a very big taxicab industry. Accidents happen, even when drivers are carrying passengers during on-duty hours, but this can cause much confusion about where the liability lies. If you have been injured in a ridesharing accident, you need a knowledgeable Lombard, IL car accident attorney. At the Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, we can help you recover any damages or compensation that you may deserve. Call our office today at 630-932-9100 to set up a free consultation.