You were just trying to get where you needed to go. Maybe you ordered a Lyft to work, to the airport, or home after a night out in River North. You trusted the driver to get you there safely. But in an instant, everything changed.
Now you’re in pain. Your phone is buzzing with insurance questions. You’re missing work, the medical bills are piling up, and you’re not even sure who’s supposed to be paying for what. Was the Lyft driver at fault? Was it another vehicle? Can you even sue a rideshare company?
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we hear these questions every day. We’ve helped clients throughout Chicago who were injured as Lyft passengers, drivers, and pedestrians—and we understand how confusing rideshare crashes can be.
Lyft accidents are different from regular car accidents, and if you’ve been hurt, you need someone on your side who knows how to deal with their insurance system, their policies, and the legal red tape that stands in your way.
If you were injured in a Lyft accident in Chicago, we’re here to help you figure out what comes next—and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Lyft Accidents Are All Too Common on Chicago’s Streets
In a city as fast-paced as Chicago, it’s no surprise that rideshare services like Lyft are everywhere—from the heart of the Loop to the side streets of Logan Square. At any given moment, there are thousands of Lyft vehicles moving through intersections, merging onto I-90, circling O’Hare, or crawling through traffic on Lake Shore Drive.
And while Lyft has made transportation more convenient, it hasn’t made it safer.
We’ve seen serious rideshare crashes happen in some of the city’s busiest corridors:
- Rear-end collisions on Congress Parkway near the Eisenhower
- Pedestrian strikes near Union Station during rush hour
- Side-impact crashes on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park
- Dangerous lane changes on Columbus Drive near Grant Park
- Distracted driving accidents along Western Avenue
Lyft drivers aren’t professionals. They’re regular people using their own vehicles, sometimes rushing to finish a ride before their shift ends, or navigating unfamiliar streets. When mistakes happen—and they do—the results can be life-altering for passengers and other drivers alike.
If you were injured in a rideshare accident anywhere in Chicago, from Hyde Park to Uptown, we’re here to help you understand your rights and take the next step forward.
Why Hire Us After a Lyft Accident?
After a crash involving Lyft, you may feel like you’re stuck in the middle. The driver says it wasn’t their fault. The insurance company sends confusing emails. Lyft doesn’t return your calls. Meanwhile, you’re in pain, out of work, and left wondering who’s actually responsible.
That’s where we come in.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we help people who are dealing with the real-world consequences of rideshare accidents, not just the legal technicalities. We know how Lyft’s insurance structure works. We know how to gather the evidence you’ll need. And we know how to push back when the insurance company tries to avoid responsibility.
When you work with us, here’s what you can expect:
- Clear answers about your options and who may be liable
- Support in getting your medical care and documentation organized
- Full investigation of driver behavior, app usage, and company policy
- No legal jargon—just real communication and real progress
- Zero fees unless we recover compensation for you
You don’t have to figure this out alone. We handle the legal and insurance process so you can focus on healing. That’s what we’re here for.
We Know How to Handle Rideshare Cases from Start to Finish
Lyft accident claims are different. They involve multiple parties, shifting insurance coverage, and a national corporation that doesn’t make things easy for injured riders. You may not even know if your driver was “on the clock” when the crash happened—or whether that changes how your claim is handled.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we’ve handled rideshare cases involving passengers, drivers, pedestrians, and people in other vehicles. We understand how Lyft’s layered insurance policy works and how to investigate the details that other law firms might overlook, like whether the driver had the app open or had accepted a ride request at the time of the crash.
Our job is to protect your rights while you recover. That means we handle:
- Communication with Lyft, their insurer, and any other involved drivers
- Collection of evidence, including app activity, vehicle data, and driving history
- Building a case that reflects the full impact of your injuries—financial, physical, and emotional
The insurance companies have teams protecting their bottom line. You deserve someone protecting yours. When you work with us, you get a team that’s not afraid to stand up to corporate insurers and hold them accountable.
We Focus on the People, Not the Paperwork
When someone calls us after a Lyft accident, they’re usually overwhelmed. They’re trying to get back to work, manage appointments, deal with a damaged vehicle, and figure out what they’re supposed to say to the insurance company. Legal paperwork isn’t their first priority—and it shouldn’t have to be.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we focus on what matters: you. We don’t start with forms. We start with questions like: How are you feeling? What kind of care have you received? What do you need help with today?
From there, we handle the rest. That includes:
- Investigating the accident scene and securing evidence before it disappears
- Tracking down app data and GPS logs from Lyft, if needed
- Coordinating with your medical providers to document your injuries
- Calculating your total losses, including future care and lost income
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
We know how easy it is to get buried in the process, especially when Lyft doesn’t respond or their insurer tries to shift the blame. Our role is to make things easier, not harder. And if we take your case, we’ll stay with you every step of the way.
We’ve Helped Clients Recover After Accidents Just Like Yours
Lyft accidents happen more often than people realize, especially in a city as busy as Chicago. And when they do, injured passengers and drivers often assume their case is too complicated or too small to pursue. But the truth is, many of our past clients were in the same position before they called us.
We’ve helped people hit by Lyft drivers in high-traffic areas like the Magnificent Mile and Lake Shore Drive. We’ve worked with injured passengers who were rear-ended while riding in a Lyft on the Kennedy Expressway. We’ve fought for pedestrians who were struck by rideshare vehicles in crosswalks downtown.
In every case, our focus stays the same:
- Learn your story
- Understand the full scope of your injuries
- Build a case that’s based on real facts and solid evidence
- Push back against lowball offers and stalling tactics
- Make sure you’re not left paying for someone else’s mistake
When you hire Abels & Annes, P.C., you’re not just getting legal guidance—you’re getting a team that knows how to navigate Chicago streets, hold negligent drivers accountable, and help you get the support you need to move forward.
What to Do After a Lyft Accident in Chicago
The moments after a Lyft accident are overwhelming. You may not know if you’re supposed to call Lyft, your own insurance, or someone else’s. You may be hurt, disoriented, and unsure of who’s even responsible. That’s normal. But there are a few steps you can take that may help protect your health and your claim.
First, get medical care. Even if you don’t feel hurt right away, crash-related injuries often show up hours or days later. Having a medical record from the start helps document what happened.
Next, report the accident—both to local police and through the Lyft app. The Lyft driver has a duty to report it, but don’t rely on them to follow through. Your own documentation matters.
If possible, gather:
- Names and contact info of everyone involved
- Photos of the scene, vehicle damage, and injuries
- Screenshots showing your Lyft ride receipt and trip details
Finally, don’t speak with Lyft’s insurance company before talking to a lawyer. Their goal is to settle quickly and for as little as possible. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we deal with that part for you, so you don’t say something they’ll later use against you.
Who’s Liable in a Lyft Crash?
One of the most confusing parts of a Lyft accident is figuring out who’s legally responsible. Was it the Lyft driver? Another car? Both? And what happens if the Lyft driver wasn’t even on a ride at the time?
These questions matter because the answer determines what insurance applies and how your claim is handled.
Here are some common scenarios:
- If the Lyft driver was actively transporting a passenger or on their way to pick someone up, Lyft’s commercial insurance policy typically applies.
- If the driver was logged into the app but hadn’t accepted a ride, Lyft still provides coverage, but at reduced limits.
- If the driver was off duty or not using the app, then only the driver’s personal insurance applies.
- If a third-party driver (not the Lyft driver) caused the crash, their insurer may be primarily responsible, but Lyft’s coverage could still come into play depending on the situation.
These liability layers make rideshare cases far more complicated than traditional car crashes. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we sort through the details, obtain relevant app data, and figure out exactly who should be held accountable—so you don’t have to guess.
How Lyft’s Insurance Works
Lyft’s insurance policy isn’t like a typical driver’s—it’s tiered depending on what the driver was doing at the time of the crash. That structure can affect how much compensation is available, how the claim is processed, and what obstacles you may face in getting paid.
aLyft’s coverage generally breaks down into three categories:
- Offline (not using the app): The driver’s personal insurance applies. Lyft is not involved.
- App on, no ride accepted: Lyft provides limited liability coverage, often much lower than you’d expect.
- En route to pick up or transporting a passenger: Lyft’s full commercial policy applies, which may include up to $1 million in liability coverage.
While those numbers sound promising, getting access to that coverage isn’t automatic. Lyft and its insurers may dispute what the driver was doing at the time, delay access to records, or argue that another driver was to blame.
We’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be to get clear answers without legal pressure. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we know how to request trip logs, confirm app activity, and apply pressure where needed. If you’ve been hurt in a Lyft crash, we work to make sure the right coverage is triggered—and that you’re not stuck waiting while the companies point fingers.
Common Injuries in Lyft Accidents
Even at low speeds, rideshare accidents can cause serious injuries, especially for passengers who don’t expect a collision and aren’t braced for impact. The force of a sudden stop, sideswipe, or rear-end crash can throw your body in unnatural ways, leading to injuries that may not be immediately obvious.
Some of the most common injuries we see in Lyft accident cases include:
- Whiplash and soft tissue damage from sudden acceleration or deceleration
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries caused by impact or head movement
- Back and neck injuries, including herniated discs or spinal misalignment
- Fractures and broken bones, especially from airbag deployment or being thrown inside the vehicle
- Knee, shoulder, or wrist injuries from bracing or absorbing impact
- Emotional distress, including anxiety or PTSD, especially for passengers
These injuries can range from minor to life-altering, and in many cases, the full severity isn’t clear until days or weeks after the crash.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we work with medical providers to understand how your injury affects your life now and in the future. That way, we can pursue compensation that actually reflects what you’ve been through.
What Compensation Can Cover
If you’ve been injured in a Lyft accident, the goal of a personal injury claim is to help you recover, not just physically, but financially. That means holding the at-fault party accountable for the full scope of your losses, including the ones that don’t come with an obvious price tag.
Depending on your case, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses – Hospital visits, physical therapy, follow-ups, and long-term care
- Lost wages – If you’ve had to miss work due to pain, appointments, or recovery
- Loss of future earning potential – If your injuries make it harder to return to your previous job
- Pain and suffering – For the physical pain, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment in your daily life
- Emotional trauma – Especially if you’ve developed anxiety, depression, or PTSD
- Property damage – If your vehicle or personal belongings were damaged in the crash
We don’t believe in quick, one-size-fits-all settlements. Every case is different. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we take the time to understand your story and build a case that reflects your full experience, not just what the insurance company wants to pay.
Why do Chicago Lyft drivers have to work long shifts and aggressively pursue rides?
A recent study showed how poor the earnings are for Lyft drivers in Illinois. Even though the study found that Lyft drivers make between $19 and $23 per hour on an outright basis, their real pay is far less after accounting for fees and taxes. The real wage of Lyft drivers in Chicago is less than $13 per hour, which is the state's minimum wage. This puts drivers in a terrible place economically and unleashes an army of desperate drivers onto Chicago streets.
The low wages mean that Lyft drivers need to work long hours just to make ends meet if they are driving Lyft as a full-time job. The only entity making any real money is Lyft itself, which takes a nice cut of the driver’s hard-earned money just for providing the app. Those driving Lyft as a side hustle will need to work even more hours late at night to earn the money they need from the job.
Where do Lyft drivers deadhead in Chicago?
Deadheading is the practice where Lyft drivers roam around the neighborhoods in busy areas, hoping to be in position when they get a ride request that can pay them well. Deadheading is dangerous because it means that large numbers of cars are lingering in high-traffic areas with their eyes glued to an app and without a clear plan. They may then execute a sudden maneuver if they need to turn around to head in the direction of a pickup.
The biggest problem is the traffic and damage to local roads caused by deadheading drivers in the downtown area. Roughly 8,000 deadheading drivers each day add to the already staggering traffic. Nearly 40 percent of ridesharing vehicle miles happen when deadheading.
The biggest problem with this is that Lyft drivers can be involved in accidents with other drivers when they do not even have passengers in the car. If they have not accepted a ride request, there is a lower level of coverage for your accident injuries, increasing the chance that you need to make a UIM claim against your insurance.
Where are the most popular areas for Lyft pickups in Chicago?
Based on an extensive study, the busiest area for Lyft drivers (and one where they often deadhead in the evening hours) was the Near North Side Area. Neighborhoods such as Gold Coast, Streeterville, Old Town, and River North had nearly 20 percent of the total pickups in Chicago. After this, the Loop area had nearly 10 percent of the total pickups. The third-busiest area for Lyft drivers was the Near West Side, including the Fulton Market, Illinois Medical District, and the United Center area. This area had almost the same number of pickups as the Loop district.
Are there any other types of incidents involving Lyft drivers other than accidents?
There have also been numerous reports of Lyft drivers sexually assaulting passengers, and some of these incidents have happened in Chicago. Nationwide, over 1,000 Lyft passengers each year have reported a sexual assault. In addition, some passengers have reported that Lyft drivers engaged in drug use behind the wheel.
In another Illinois incident, a couple filed a lawsuit against a rideshare driver when the driver kicked them out of the car in the middle of a busy intersection at 2 a.m.
When rideshare companies hire drivers with minimal background checks (no matter how much they promise stringent checks on drivers), incidents like these can happen. Even if they are very rare, one sexual assault of a passenger who is putting their trust in a driver is completely unacceptable, and the rideshare company needs to pay for it.
Is there any way to sue Lyft for accident injuries?
As mentioned above, Lyft makes it as difficult as possible to sue them by classifying the driver as an independent contractor. However, there have been some lawsuits that have taken Lyft on directly. Here, the ground is that Lyft was negligent in hiring the driver who caused the accident. Even when a company claims not to employ an independent contractor, they still have legal obligations to ensure that the person has the competence and skill to perform the job. If not, they face a lawsuit for negligent hiring.
The negligent hiring lawsuits are a relatively new legal tactic used by plaintiffs. Ridesharing companies have already faced lawsuits for sexual assaults that drivers committed. Now, injured passengers are trying to find a new way to have legal options beyond just dealing with the insurance company.
What happens when the insurance company makes me a settlement offer?
While receiving a settlement offer is seemingly good news because the insurance company believes you are entitled to some money, it is not always a cause for celebration. The chances are that the first offer from the insurance company will not pay you what you deserve. Review the initial offer with a serious grain of salt.
Your attorney will review the settlement offer closely to see if it pays you fairly. If it falls short, your lawyer will determine which additional damages it should cover. If the insurance company's offer is not enough to compensate you, your attorney will advise you to reject it and counter with an offer of your own. You may need to exchange several proposals and rounds of offers with the insurance company before reaching an agreement.
How much will a Lyft accident attorney cost me?
While not many things in this world are free, our services are if we cannot help you win your case. The way that the personal injury law system works, you do not have to come up with money upfront to hire a lawyer. If you did, very few injured people will have the money to get the legal help they need. It costs nothing out of your pocket to retain a Chicago car accident attorney.
Of course, an attorney is not working for free. Their pay comes if and when they win your case. Winning means that you have received a settlement or have won your case in front of the jury. Then, your lawyer will receive a percentage of the financial proceeds of your case. They take their percentage directly from the proceeds before it hits your account, meaning that you will not have to write a check to an attorney for their services.
How long do I have to file a Lyft accident claim?
In Illinois, like in every state, there is a deadline for you to file a lawsuit in court. This is called the statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline to file your case, you will not obtain financial compensation for your injuries.
The statute of limitations is a strict deadline with very few exceptions, meaning that you must begin to work on your case shortly after the accident. In Illinois, the time limit to file a personal injury case is two years from when you suffered or realized you suffered injuries.
In reality, the longer you wait to file a claim, the harder you make your case. You might lose evidence and witness recollections might fade. However, do not rush to file a claim. You need to put your best foot forward. If you do not have the evidence to prove who was to blame and a clear presentation of your damages, you may get less money, if you even get money at all.
What should I do after I suffer injuries in a Lyft accident?
There are two things that you should do after you have suffered damages in a Lyft accident:
- Tend to your physical health
- Take action on your legal situation
In terms of your physical health, you should get medically checked out by a doctor to treat your injuries or to learn if you have any in the first place. Car accident injuries are not always apparent at the time of the accident. Some injuries, like whiplash, take some time to show symptoms. Some Lyft accident victims develop back pain in the days after the accident. Either way, to file a claim, you need clear documentation that you suffered injuries, so you can receive payment for it.
To begin working on the legal process, you must contact an experienced lawyer who knows how to work on behalf of injured Lyft passengers and other drivers. Lyft has engineered a very complicated system for financial compensation. It takes knowledge of the process to navigate this complex system. Then, it takes toughness to stand up to the insurance companies trying to keep you from getting what you deserve.
Which insurance companies does Lyft use to provide coverage?
Lyft crows about its "trusted insurance partners." When Lyft says it trusts an insurance company, you should not trust that insurance company to care about your best interests. A partner to Lyft is no friend of yours. Both Lyft and their insurance companies try to make as much as possible for themselves without regard to your financial welfare when you suffered injuries due to one of their drivers.
Lyft works with the following insurance companies:
- Allstate Insurance Company (North Light Specialty Insurance Company)
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Mobilitas Insurance Company
- Progressive (United Financial Casualty Company) or AXA-XL and Travelers (Constitution State Services)
Mobilitas serves the rideshare industry. You can expect that the company knows what it is doing when it gets your claim and well-oiled machinery that can make your life difficult. Rideshare insurance is big business for these companies, and the business becomes even bigger when they can successfully underpay your accident claim.
What percentage of the Chicago rideshare market does Lyft control?
There are no definitive recent statistics about Lyft’s market share in Chicago, but we can get an idea by analyzing Uber’s market share. Uber controls two-thirds to three-quarters of the Chicago rideshare market. Lyft is the second-largest rideshare company, with most of the remaining market share that Uber does not have. As such, Lyft controls somewhere between 25 to 33 percent of the Chicago market.
Lyft has been growing its market share in recent years. It has cut commissions to attract drivers and offered incentives to win customers.
How does the driver shortage affect safety?
As in the rest of the country, Lyft is having trouble finding enough drivers in Chicago to transport passengers. The company has been trying to raise prices, but it still has not attracted enough people to the platform. Even though ridesharing companies say that they have strict protocols to check potential drivers, Lyft has cut corners. Now, it has even more motivation because of the overall driver shortage. You can expect that this will drive up the Lyft accident rate even further, as drivers can practically come in off the street and transport passengers, regardless of whether they are good drivers.
Driving Lyft safely is not as easy as the company makes it seem.
Many factors make the platform more dangerous (and require experience to navigate), including:
- Always looking at the app to see if there are ride requests (even while driving)
- Driving late at night to earn a living (often after working a full shift during the day at another job)
- Operating in high-traffic areas to be around when there is demand for a ride
These all require experience driving on the rideshare platform and skill behind the wheel. However, Lyft does not necessarily check for it, nor does it care, especially when it has engineered a system where it makes it very hard to sue Lyft.
Following a Lyft accident, it is natural to have many questions. You do not need to wonder how you will navigate the process or what your rights are—you can have a Chicago Lyft accident lawyer evaluate your rights.
Looking for a Chicago Lyft Accident Lawyer?
If you’ve been injured in a Lyft accident—whether as a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian—you don’t have to handle it alone. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we understand how complicated rideshare cases can be. We’ll explain your options, handle the insurance company, and fight to recover what you’re owed. You focus on healing. We’ll take care of the rest.
Call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 924-7575 for Chicago or (224) 998-6007 for Evanston to schedule your free consultation.