Lyft Sued by Widow for $1 Million in Wrongful Death Car Accident

 Posted on August 15, 2018 in Wrongful Death

Kelly Wenzel, wife of Robert Wenzel, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the rideshare company Lyft for compensation of more than one million dollars. One Saturday evening in April of 2016, Robert Wenzel was killed on his motorcycle by an illegally stopped car driven by a Lyft driver. The accident occurred on a generally busy road, where Wenzel's attorney says Wenzel crashed after a truck driving in front of him abruptly swerved to the left, revealing the Lyft driver in a Honda Civic who had stopped for its passengers. Wenzel then lost control of his motorcycle and hit the curb of the road, striking a wooden utility pole. 31-year-old Robert Wenzel was found dead at the scene.

Lyft spokesperson Alexandra LaManna released a short statement after the announcement of Wenzel's death saying, "Our heartfelt sympathies are with the family and loved ones affected by the accident. We are available to assist the authorities in their investigation."

Wenzel's lawsuit points out the city's law on rideshare companies: “A driver operating as a rideshare driver may not stop, stand, park, load or unload passengers in a travel lane or in an officially designated bus stop.” Wenzel's lawyer says the wife did not file the lawsuit for money only, but to get answers to questions about of her husband's death and to find closure for her family, which she expects to find once the investigation on Lyft is completed.

Can I Sue if I am Hurt in a Car Accident?

Whether or not you can sue if you are hurt in a car accident depends on who is at fault for the accident. Proving who is at fault is critical to knowing if you have a lawsuit. Fortunately, your personal injury lawyer is familiar with your state's laws regarding proving fault in a car accident.

When accidents and injuries happen, it is important for you or your loved one to seek justice as soon as possible to protect their rights. There are time limitations for filing lawsuits in Illinois, so if you are an Arlington Heights, Libertyville, Chicago, Fox River Grove, or Itasca resident and believe that you have a potential case, contact us right away.

Contacting Your Car Accident Lawyer

Finding the right lawyer to handle your personal injury case can be uncomfortable for many people. To start, you should search for a firm that has experience handling cases like yours. The lawyers at Newland and Newland, LLP have the experience needed to handle complex personal injury cases to get you the compensation you deserve.

If you experienced serious injuries or the loss of a loved one due to the wrongful conduct or negligence of another person, consult with an experienced Illinois personal injury lawyer to learn about compensation your family may deserve. Call us at the office of Newland & Newland, LLP at (312) 981-0409, or a fill out an online contact form for a free initial consultation. We will work to get you maximum compensation for your losses. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Matthew Hamilton)