The popularity of ride sharing services like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar left open to question if insurance would cover passengers using the service if the car was involved in an accident. In response, The Illinois Legislature passed the Transportation Network Providers Act of 2014, which just went into effect this summer.
Under the new act, drivers must meet two different sets of insurance requirements. When the driver is working but does not have passengers he or she must carry at least $50,000 per person for injury or death, $100,000 per incident for injury or death, and $25,000 for property damage. When the driver accepts a passenger, he or she must have insurance to cover $1,000,000 for injury, death, and property, and at least $50,000 for uninsured/under insured motorist coverage.
Additional safety requirements imposed by the law include background checks for drivers, ineligibility of drivers under the age of 19 or those who lack a valid driver’s license. Some drivers with certain moving violations or criminal convictions are also ineligible to drive for these companies.
The law gives victims of car accidents better protection in the event of an accident and allows you more avenues for recovery when you have been injured.
The legal process to recover compensation for your injuries can still be quite complicated as you may be able to pursue the driver of your car, the driver of the other car, or the ride sharing company itself.
If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident while riding in an Uber or other ride sharing vehicle, call the Law Offices of Mark L. Karno & Associates at (312) 701-0090 for your free consultation.
We welcome clients from Aurora, Chicago, and the surrounding communities. Our attorneys work for you on a contingency fee basis. That means we don’t get paid until you do.