Accidents from ride-sharing transportations are rising. Uber lyft accidents are not left out of this upsurge. They are popular for both the locals and tourists as it’s easy to book a ride from the comfort of your cellphone. In addition, the rides are relatively cheaper than taxi cabs. Unfortunately, the demand for these drivers, especially during rush hours, may cause avoidable accidents and injuries. Some of which are – Broken bones, joint discoloration, whiplash, burns, spinal cord injuries, etc. Here are some common causes of these accidents.
Driving while distracted
One of the most common causes of car accidents is distracted driving. For rideshare drivers, many things cause distractions, such as engaging with the passengers or looking at the map to get directions instead of keeping eyes on the road. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) believes that taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds while driving is equivalent to driving through an entire football field at 55mph with your eyes closed.
Speeding
Uber or Lyft drivers may want to speed up to round up trips quickly and get more passengers to increase the fares for the day. However, speeding is another avoidable but common cause of car accidents. The effects and injuries from speeding are always very catastrophic. They are usually severe because of the force of the impact caused by the speed.
Lack of Experience
Unfortunately, most rideshare services don’t provide exclusive training for prospective drivers before hiring them. So, these drivers are likely to make many basic driving mistakes and may not be able to drive in tricky situations such as narrow roads, congested lanes or during rush hour. They may not accurately navigate or interpret the traffic instructions.
Wrong Parking
Rideshare drivers such as Uber or Lyft drivers often park in unsafe areas after dropping passengers and waiting for new orders. They may also drop off passengers in unfamiliar places that may have unique regulations that they’re unaware of. Situations like these can lead to accidents or attacks.
Poor Car Maintenance
Uber and Lyft drivers often overlook the importance of periodic car maintenance checks because of the time it may cost them. However, the negligence may come back to affect these cars and lead to accidents. The poorly maintained vehicles may also become hazards on the road, endangering lives. In this case, it is possible that the case is more complex if the car is owned by Uber and Lyft. The driver of the vehicle might be able to file for benefits through a workers compensation attorney and you would file for a personal injury claim against the rideshare company or the driver, based on what is determined in the investigation that follows the accident.
What next after an Uber or Lyft Accident?
People injured from an Uber or Lyft collision caused by their driver could be entitled to compensation for injuries. Affected passengers can file a claim under the ride share’s liability policy – in this case, Uber or Lyft. However, rideshare accident claims have different processes as they are typically more complicated than standard car accident cases. The rules differ depending on different scenarios, such as whether the passenger was in the car, waiting for the driver or if it’s a collision.
Uber and Lyft accidents are increasing. So, while there’s a compensation option, it’s better to avoid situations or report situations that could potentially cause accidents.