The Rise of Rideshare Accidents Involving Cyclists
Uber and Lyft have changed how Chicago moves. But the explosion of rideshare vehicles on city streets has created new hazards for cyclists. Rideshare drivers make frequent, unpredictable stops. They pull over in bike lanes to pick up or drop off passengers. They make sudden U-turns. And their passengers swing open doors without looking.
Chicago has one of the highest concentrations of rideshare vehicles in the country. Thousands of Uber and Lyft cars operate on city streets at any given time, particularly in busy areas like the Loop, River North, Wicker Park, and around bars and restaurants during evening hours. For cyclists sharing these same streets, the risk of a collision with a rideshare vehicle is real and growing.
How Rideshare Vehicles Cause Bicycle Accidents
Stopping in Bike Lanes
One of the most dangerous behaviors is rideshare drivers stopping in bike lanes to pick up or drop off passengers. This forces cyclists to swerve suddenly into traffic to go around the stopped vehicle. That sudden lane change puts cyclists directly in the path of moving cars and trucks.
Chicago municipal code prohibits stopping or standing in a bike lane. A rideshare driver who blocks a bike lane is violating the law, and that violation can establish negligence if a cyclist is injured as a result.
Dooring by Passengers
Rideshare passengers often exit the vehicle on the street side, directly into the path of approaching cyclists. Unlike a vehicle owner who parks regularly and may be more aware of bike traffic, rideshare passengers are focused on getting out quickly and rarely check for cyclists. These dooring accidents can cause severe injuries.
Sudden Stops and U-Turns
Rideshare drivers following GPS directions sometimes make abrupt stops when they realize they have reached the pickup location. They may execute sudden U-turns to reach a passenger on the other side of the street. These unpredictable maneuvers catch cyclists off guard.
Distracted Driving
Rideshare drivers are constantly looking at their phones for ride requests, navigation, and passenger communication. This level of phone interaction while driving significantly increases the risk of failing to notice a cyclist. Distracted driving accidents involving rideshare vehicles are increasingly common.
Who Is Liable When a Rideshare Vehicle Hits a Cyclist?
Liability in a rideshare bicycle accident can involve multiple parties, making these cases more complex than a typical car-versus-bike crash.
The Rideshare Driver
The driver is the first and most obvious party at fault. If the driver stopped illegally, made an unsafe turn, was distracted, or otherwise drove negligently, they are personally liable for your injuries.
The Rideshare Company (Uber or Lyft)
Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This classification is their primary defense against liability. However, both companies carry commercial insurance policies that cover accidents during certain phases of a ride.
The insurance coverage depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the accident:
- App off: The driver’s personal auto insurance applies. Uber and Lyft provide no coverage.
- App on, waiting for a ride request: Uber and Lyft provide limited liability coverage, typically $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
- En route to pick up a passenger or during a trip: Both companies provide $1 million in liability coverage. This is the highest level of coverage and applies during active rides.
Determining which phase the driver was in at the time of the accident is critical. An attorney can subpoena trip records from Uber or Lyft to establish exactly when the ride was active.
The Passenger
If a passenger opened a door into a cyclist, the passenger is at fault for the dooring. However, collecting from a passenger’s personal assets can be difficult. It is usually more practical to pursue a claim against the driver’s or rideshare company’s insurance for stopping in an unsafe location.
Insurance Challenges in Rideshare Bicycle Accident Claims
Rideshare accident claims involve layers of insurance that can create confusion and delays.
Coverage Gaps
Many rideshare drivers carry only the minimum personal auto insurance required by Illinois law. Their personal policies often exclude coverage for accidents that occur while driving for a rideshare company. If the driver’s app was on but no ride was active, there can be a gap between the driver’s personal policy and the rideshare company’s commercial policy.
Insurance Company Finger-Pointing
The driver’s personal insurer and the rideshare company’s insurer often blame each other and try to deny coverage. The personal insurer says the driver was working for Uber or Lyft and therefore their policy does not apply. The rideshare insurer says the driver was not on an active trip and therefore their policy does not apply. This back-and-forth can delay your claim significantly.
An experienced attorney who handles insurance disputes can cut through this process and identify the correct insurance source.
Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If the at-fault driver does not have adequate insurance, your own underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage may fill the gap. Cyclists who carry auto insurance on their own vehicles may be able to access this coverage even though they were on a bicycle at the time of the accident.
Common Injuries in Rideshare-Related Bicycle Accidents
Injuries from rideshare vehicle collisions are often severe because the cyclist is hit by a moving car or thrown into traffic while trying to avoid a stopped rideshare vehicle.
- Head and brain injuries from impact with the vehicle or pavement. Traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of long-term disability after bicycle accidents.
- Broken bones including fractures to the pelvis, legs, arms, wrists, and collarbones.
- Spinal cord injuries that can result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Internal injuries from the force of the collision.
- Soft tissue damage including torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
- Road rash and scarring from sliding across pavement.
What to Do After a Rideshare Bicycle Accident
Identify the Vehicle as a Rideshare
Look for Uber or Lyft stickers on the windshield. Ask the driver if they were working for a rideshare company. This information is essential for determining which insurance policy applies.
Get the Driver and Passenger Information
Get the driver’s name, license plate number, phone number, and insurance information. If a passenger caused the accident by opening a door, try to get the passenger’s name and contact information as well.
Call the Police
Always get a police report. The report should note that the vehicle was operating as a rideshare, which insurance companies will need to process the claim.
Document Everything
Photograph the vehicle (including any rideshare stickers), the scene, the bike lane, and your injuries. Note whether the vehicle was stopped in a bike lane, a no-stopping zone, or a legal parking spot.
Get Medical Treatment
Go to the hospital or urgent care immediately. Follow up with your doctor for all recommended treatment. Gaps in medical care give insurance companies an excuse to argue that your injuries were not serious.
Do Not Accept a Quick Settlement
Uber and Lyft’s insurance carriers may offer a fast settlement to close the claim cheaply. Do not accept any offer before you understand the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs. What seems like a fair amount early on may be far less than what your case is worth.
Compensation for Rideshare Bicycle Accident Victims
You may be entitled to recover:
- Medical bills, both current and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage to your bicycle and gear
- Loss of quality of life
When a rideshare driver was on an active trip, the $1 million commercial policy provides substantial coverage for serious injury claims.
The Statute of Limitations
In Illinois, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Given the complexity of rideshare insurance claims, it is important to contact an attorney early so they can preserve evidence, request trip data from the rideshare company, and identify all available insurance coverage.
Get Help from a Chicago Bicycle Accident Attorney
Bicycle accidents involving rideshare vehicles are legally complex. Multiple insurance policies, corporate legal teams, and questions about driver status all make these cases harder to handle on your own. An experienced attorney who understands rideshare accident law can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call Phillips Law Offices at (312) 346-4262 or contact us online at /contact/ for a free consultation.