If you are like many other people, you have stepped into an Uber or Lyft at some point as a way to quickly get where you need to go. When you do that, you are putting yourself – and anyone with you – in the hands of the driver, who may or may not have much experience, training, and sensibilities. Considering this, you may be wondering about some of the rideshare accident statistics you should know from the Lansing car accident lawyer from White Law PLLC.
How Common Are Rideshare Accidents?
Companies like Uber and Lyft have a reason to ensure that their drivers are safe on roadways and that accidents are not happening since they do not want to be liable for significant losses. Uber is one organization that shares some information, albeit a bit delayed, about how well it is doing in this area. For example, in a report it released about the 2019 to 2020 span, they claim that 99.9 percent of their rides resulted in no safety incidents at all.
The report shows that there were 101 traffic fatalities on the platform in 2019 and 2020, which involved a total of 19 riders and 14 drivers, with the rest being other vehicle occupants, people on bikes, or those who were walking. Lyft also released a report for 2019 that showed that 10 people were. It reports that 94 percent of those accidents were caused by third-party drivers and not the Uber drivers themselves.
Consider a recent report from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business that found about 3 percent more vehicle fatalities and fatal accidents have occurred since 2011 when rideshare services began to be used. Their study found that, as access to ridesharing grew throughout the country, the number of accidents in those associated areas also grew. That is a clear link between the number of accidents increasing throughout the country.
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Uber’s Safety Report Sheds Even More Light
Ridesharing continues to grow in demand across the U.S., with a Pew Research Center survey showing that about 36% of all American adults say they have used the service in the past, which is a significant increase from 2015, when just 15% said they had used the service. This provides an interesting look at just how common these accidents are, with Uber reporting that, in the U.S., it completes over 3.1 million average trips each day. In 2018, the company reported that 1.4% of those rides led to accidents of some type, and 0.1% were related to safety-related concerns.
That report, from 2017 and 2018, also shows that there were 97 deaths in accidents with rideshare vehicles. That means nearly 100 people lost their lives and had no idea they were at risk. Of those, 21 percent were riders, and 21 percent were drivers, leaving the rest as bicyclists or third parties, according to the data for that year.
If you have been in an accident like this and you have suffered losses as a result of these accidents, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney. Even if you are unsure if you can file a claim or if the rideshare driver was to blame, we encourage you to take legal action. There are many times when our attorneys can help you navigate your rights to compensation with clarity and dedication.
What Should You Do If You Have Been in an Accident While in a Rideshare?
The facts are clear – there is a risk of getting into a rideshare vehicle with a driver that you know nothing about (this does not even touch on the number of people who have been assaulted in such situations). Yet, if you need to use these services, it is critical to know your rights to obtain compensation for the losses you have. That is where our legal team can help you.
We do not recommend that you settle your claim with a rideshare service without first having an attorney by your side to help you. This helps to ensure you know what your legal rights are and that you are treated fairly by the insurance adjusters who will handle your case. Our attorneys will also help you determine who is responsible for your losses and the legal options available to you.
If you have been in an accident, get the medical care you need, follow up with your doctors, and then contact our legal team to get the support you need to move your case forward. Let us determine what your losses are as well as who you should seek out to cover those losses. Then, we will fight for you to get the maximum compensation owed to you.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Common Injuries in Rideshare Accidents
What types of accidents can occur, and what injuries happen? Injuries can involve many things, including being hit by a rideshare driver, being in an accident with an intoxicated driver, or being injured as a pedestrian. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
The severity of these accidents can vary widely based on how the accident occurred, the speed at which the drivers were moving, and the conditions present. One of the most important things to know is that, after such an accident, it is up to you to head to the doctor, follow up with your medical care, and then file a police report to document your incident. Our attorneys will help you every step of the way through this process, so be sure to review our case results.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Your Case with Us Today
When you are facing financial losses from medical bills and pain and suffering due to an accident someone else caused, you should have an experienced attorney by your side to help you. White Law PLLC is ready to be there to guide you in the process of filing a comprehensive claim and pursuing maximum compensation for the losses you have.
What is most important right now is knowing that, no matter what the statistics have to say, you have legal guidance and support by your side in our team at a free consultation.
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