The adjuster is about to ask "What was the exact crash date?" and your answer matters because Illinois deadlines can end the claim before anyone argues about fault or insurance.

The three biggest factors are the date, who can be sued, and whether any tolling rule truly applies.

First, the date of the crash. In Illinois, most injury lawsuits from a car or Uber crash must be filed within 2 years under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. If your Chicago rideshare crash happened more than 2 years ago, a standard personal injury claim is often barred. Waiting even a few weeks near that deadline can matter because records disappear, witnesses forget, and insurers know exactly when the clock runs out.

Second, who the possible defendant is. If the at-fault vehicle was a private driver or the Uber driver, the usual 2-year deadline usually applies. If a City of Chicago vehicle, CTA bus, or another local public entity was involved, the filing deadline can drop to 1 year under the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. That shorter deadline catches people off guard, especially after spring and summer visibility crashes involving bikes, motorcycles, and rideshares on streets like Ashland, Western, or Lake Shore Drive. As for coverage, when you were an Uber passenger, there is typically a $1 million rideshare liability policy in play, but insurance coverage does not extend the lawsuit deadline.

Third, whether Illinois would pause the deadline. A narrow rule can toll time for someone under a legal disability under 735 ILCS 5/13-211. But ongoing memory problems, post-concussion symptoms, or cognitive impairment do not automatically stop the clock. The question is whether you were legally incapable of managing your affairs, not just still suffering.

If you are close to 2 years, or past it and a government vehicle was involved, the calendar is the first thing to check.