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Chicago taxi injury attorney common carrierLarge numbers of people use taxicabs for transportation throughout the Chicago area every day. Unfortunately, most people are familiar with the experience of being afraid for their safety while riding in a vehicle operated by a cab driver who has little regard for traffic laws. The desire to complete fares as quickly as possible causes many taxi drivers to put passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk. Fortunately, taxi companies’ status as common carriers provides those who have been injured in taxi accidents with the ability to recover compensation for their damages.

What Is a Common Carrier?

Companies, entities, or individuals that transport people or property within or through the state of Illinois are considered common carriers. According to decisions made in Illinois courts, common carriers have a duty to provide the “highest degree of care” to their passengers while transporting them or while passengers are entering or exiting a vehicle.

Because of this duty of care, taxi companies may be held liable for passenger injuries which occur because of the negligence of taxi drivers or other employees. In addition to injuries that may occur because of negligent driving, a company may be responsible for injuries caused by equipment failure, negligent maintenance, or failure to follow the proper safety procedures.

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Lake County car accident attorney uninsured driverBeing involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience, regardless of whether the collision is minor or major. Even if a car crash does not result in serious injuries, it is likely to cause damage to your vehicle, and you may experience injuries that are not immediately evident which only begin to affect you in the days or weeks after the accident. In most cases, your injuries and the damage to your vehicle will be covered by the insurance policy of the driver who was at fault. But what happens when you are involved in a collision with a driver who has no insurance?

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

All drivers are required by law to have insurance coverage on their vehicles. At minimum, a vehicle must be covered by liability insurance, which will pay for damages a driver causes to other vehicles, drivers, or passengers in a car accident. However, some drivers do not maintain their required insurance coverage. Many people who are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver may believe that they have no way to recover compensation for their injuries or vehicular damages.

In some cases, an injured driver may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. However, a driver who does not have insurance will likely not be able to pay damages, and even if compensation is awarded, they may be able to declare bankruptcy in order to avoid paying damages.

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DuPage County rideshare accident attorneyWhile people have traditionally used taxis for transportation around cities such as Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, many people now choose to use ridesharing apps such as Uber, Lyft, or Via. These services offer convenience and savings, but since they have only begun operating within the last few years, they are still lightly regulated, especially when compared to the strict laws and regulations surrounding taxis and other forms of public transportation. This means that those who are injured in an accident with a rideshare driver may have trouble determining what is covered by insurance and how to receive compensation.

Insurance Coverage for Rideshare Accidents

Determining liability for any accident can be difficult, but matters become even more complicated in collisions involving rideshare drivers. Accidents may be caused because of a Uber or Lyft driver’s inexperience, because they were distracted when using the rideshare app, or because they were driving recklessly. Accidents may also be caused by other drivers or because of poor vehicle maintenance, and people injured may include passengers in the ridesharing vehicle or other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians. Untangling these factors to establish fault and determine who is covered by insurance is likely to be a complex undertaking.

In response to these issues, rideshare companies have provided insurance policies that cover those injured in accidents. Both Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in coverage per accident for anyone who has been injured, including rideshare passengers, those in other vehicles, and pedestrians. However, this coverage typically only applies if a Uber or Lyft driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or while they have a passenger in their car. Coverage limits are lower when a driver is waiting for a ride request, and they do not apply when a driver is driving their vehicle for personal use.

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Illinois police chase accident attorneyThe exciting high-speed police chases depicted in movies and TV shows may seem like a necessary risk that police officers must take in order to capture dangerous criminals. However, in reality, police chases often cause a great deal of harm to the public, and in many cases, they lead to dangerous car accidents in which innocent bystanders are seriously injured or even killed. If you or a member of your family have been injured in a collision caused by the negligence of a police officer, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.

Police Chase Accident Statistics

A study conducted in 2015 by USA Today analyzed data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found that between 1979 and 2013, at least 5,066 bystanders or passengers were killed in police chases. During this period, 6,301 suspects and 139 police officers were also killed during pursuits. However, the actual number of fatalities is likely higher, since the NHTSA’s data is based on police reports, which sometimes do not disclose whether a motor vehicle collision occurred during a police chase.

The total number of accidents and injuries that occur in police chases is more difficult to determine, since the NHTSA only reports fatal accidents, but based on data provided by six  states that make up 24% of the population in the United States, as many as 7,400 people are likely injured each year in police chases.

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