By Dan Noll on May 14th, 2025 in Articles, Car Accident
Navigating Insurance After an Uber Accident or Lyft Accident in Springfield, IL
When you are involved in a car accident with an Uber or Lyft driver, or if you are a rideshare driver yourself, navigating multiple insurance policies can be overwhelming – especially if you have been seriously injured. The key to handling the claims process in Illinois is understanding when the rideshare company’s policy applies versus your personal insurance applies, and therefore how to properly file and pursue the correct type of claim. Since rideshare accidents in Illinois present unique challenges due to the complicated insurance policies involved, victims and their families need to hire an experienced Springfield car accident lawyer who focuses on rideshare accident claims to help them.
Here at the Noll Law Office, Dan Noll and Sarah Noll are personal injury attorneys in Springfield who are dedicated to helping those who have been injured in rideshare accidents throughout Illinois. Whether you are a passenger, a rideshare driver, or another motorist involved in a collision with a rideshare vehicle on Springfield roads, understanding the applicable insurance coverage is essential for receiving fair compensation. To learn more about how the fifth-generation lawyers at the Noll Law Office can help you, schedule your free consultation by dialing (217) 414-8889.
Understanding Rideshare Insurance Coverage in Illinois
There are different types of auto insurance policies or systems that a state may adopt. Under Illinois law, the Legislature has adopted an at-fault insurance system. Also known as a “tort” system of auto accident insurance, means the party responsible for causing an accident bears liability for resulting damages. This straightforward concept becomes significantly more complicated when rideshare vehicles are involved on Springfield streets. That’s because rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft provide different levels of insurance coverage depending on the driver’s status at the time of the accident.
Victims who have been injured in an auto accident involving a ridesharing accident in Springfield or anywhere else in Illinois should understand the different coverage tiers applicable to ridesharing accidents. These include the following tiers:
When the App is Off (“Period 0”)
Rideshare drivers receive no coverage from Uber or Lyft when the application is turned off. Therefore, a driver’s personal auto insurance applies in these situations, just as it would for any other Springfield motorist or in any other motor vehicle wreck.
Waiting for a Ride Request (“Period 1”)
Rideshare drivers who have the app activated but have not yet accepted a ride request receive limited contingent liability coverage from the rideshare company. This is when a driver is cruising around waiting to be assigned a ride or before the driver has been able to click accept on a ride. This coverage from Uber or Luft typically includes the following:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and
- $25,000 per accident for property damage.
This coverage only applies if the driver’s personal insurance denies the claim or fails to provide full coverage for damages sustained on Springfield roadways. That is why it is often called contingent liability, and functions as a second layer of protection.
En Route to Pickup and During Trips (“Periods 2 & 3”)
The most substantial insurance coverage applies when Springfield rideshare drivers have accepted a ride request and are either en route to pick up passengers or actively transporting them. This is when a driver is acting directly within the scope of employment with the ridesharing company, often following the exact route prescribed by the app.
During these periods, both Uber and Lyft provide the following coverage:
- Up to $1 million in third-party liability coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and
- Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage.
Springfield passengers injured during these periods may benefit from the maximum available coverage, which is particularly important on busy and fast-moving streets in Springfield or elsewhere in Illinois where accidents may result in catastrophic personal injuries or the wrongful death of an innocent person. The same is true of pedestrians and other motorists, who may be involved in a significant motor vehicle accident and suffer disabling injuries that may be permanent.
Personal Insurance Policies and Coverage Gaps in Springfield
All states have different auto insurance requirements. In Illinois, the Legislature has also set forth the minimum requirements which are fairly consistent with the requirements from other states. Based on the statutory law, rideshare drivers in Illinois must maintain personal auto insurance that meets these minimum requirements:
- $25,000 for injury or death of one person (cap per person)
- $50,000 for injury or death of multiple people (cap per accident total), and
- $20,000 for property damage.
Many Springfield drivers are unaware that standard personal auto policies often exclude coverage when the vehicle is used for commercial purposes. This creates dangerous coverage gaps for rideshare drivers operating in the Springfield area, particularly on congested roads and intersections like South MacArthur Boulevard and South Grand Avenue.
To address these gaps, several insurance companies now offer rideshare endorsements for rideshare drivers. These special policy add-ons provide coverage during Period 1 when rideshare company coverage is minimal. Illinois rideshare drivers should consider these endorsements essential protection given the city’s growing rideshare usage and the extreme potential liability that could occur when a driver causes the wrongful death or serious injuries of an innocent person.
Step-by-Step Claims Process for Springfield Car Accident Cases
After a rideshare accident in Springfield, prioritize immediate medical evaluation at facilities like Springfield Memorial Hospital or HSHS St. John’s Hospital. Even seemingly minor injuries can develop into serious medical conditions if left untreated. Therefore, Dan Noll and Sarah Noll recommend that victims of an auto accident in Illinois take the following steps:
- Seek Medical Attention and Document Everything
Victims need to immediately seek medical assessment and evaluation for all bodily injuries, even those that may appear slight right now but could because horrific later on. The information that you should be documenting includes the following:
- Driver information from all vehicles involved
- Rideshare trip details and screenshots (take a screenshot of the map showing that your ride was still in progress and had not been completed yet before you give contact help to report an accident or leave the app to take photos)
- Photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries
- Contact information for witnesses at the Springfield accident location
- Police report number from the Springfield Police Department or any other reporting law enforcement agency, and
- Other information regarding the accident, individuals involved, or anything else that may support your claim.
- Notify All Relevant Insurers Promptly
Springfield ridesharing accident victims must inform all potential insurance providers about the accident and their damages or injuries. Prompt notification helps prevent claim denials based on delayed reporting, which can be difficult resolve a late claim and, even where it is possible to reverse, it can result in a delayed recovery because it may require a declarative judgment action along with separate personal injury action.
It is important to just note that, when you are beginning to notify insurance carriers, you really need to also have a Springfield auto accident lawyer already on your side like someone from the Noll Law Office. Insurance carriers train their adjusters to undermine and undervalue cases, and the delay in retaining legal representation can result in you and your family receiving less compensation than you deserve under Illinois law.
- File a Claim with the Appropriate Insurer
Based on the rideshare driver’s status at the time of the accident, file a claim with the appropriate insurance provider based on the insurers that they give you at the time of the accident or from the law enforcement officer. This process often requires submitting substantial documentation to prove damages sustained on Illinois roads due to a Springfield ridesharing accident.
- Negotiating Fair Compensation
Insurance companies frequently offer quick settlements that undervalue Springfield accident victims’ claims. These initial offers rarely account for:
- Long-term medical expenses at Springfield healthcare facilities
- Lost earning capacity for Springfield residents
- Pain and suffering endured as a result of the accident
- Future rehabilitation needs
- Injuries and damages to family (i.e., loss of consortium), and
- The full damages that you should be entitled to under the law.
- Addressing Denials or Disputes
Delays filing of claims, failing to cooperate, not completing forms, not cooperating with doctors (especially those assigned by the insurance carrier to perform a medical examination), and general disputes over liability can all result in your claim being denied. When this happens, you and your Springfield car accident lawyer can work together to protect your rights to compensation against the at-fault ridesharing driver’s insurance carrier, whether that is Uber, Lyft, or a private insurer.
Contact an Illinois Rideshare Accident Attorney if You Have Been Involved in an Uber or Lyft Crash in Springfield or Central Illinois
If you have been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Springfield, do not attempt to navigate the claims process alone. Dan Noll and Sarah Noll at Noll Law Office are personal injury lawyers in Springfield who are committed representing those who have been seriously injured in rideshare accident claims throughout Illinois. They are fifth-generation lawyers who do not charge anything upfront and only get their legal fees paid from a percentage of what they recover for you and your family. To learn more about how they can help you and your family, contact us today by dialing (217) 414-8889 or by sending a message here.