Ride-sharing giants like Uber and Lyft have rapidly monopolized the on-demand transportation industry. Admittedly, most consumers find ride-sharing comfortable, cost-effective and convenient. By storing their financial information directly in the Uber or Lyft application, consumers can find a ride to any destination within minutes.
The reverse is true for the drivers! Provided one passes a system of background checks, anybody can become a driver to earn an income. With the demand for clean, private, and convenient transportation high, there are increasingly more passengers and therefore, more drivers on the roads of Los Angeles.
With this symbiotic relationship between drivers and passengers and billions of dollars in market capitalization between Uber and Lyft, what risks does this convenience carry with it? GB Legal Group has your answers.
At some point in 2011, when Uber first went live, and until present, the growth of rideshare services has led to increased traffic congestion and decreased reliance on public transportation in many major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and NYC.
Due to the increase in riders and drivers alike, a direct relationship with traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities has emerged. In other words, the public is paying a serious price for the convenience of rideshare services. If you have been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, it is crucial to work with an experienced ride share accident lawyer discuss your options and possibility of compensation for injuries.
Based on recent statistics, there were over 55,000 traffic accidents in 2016, reflecting a significant increase in the past several years. Between 2015 and 2016, there was a 422% increase in traffic-related pedestrian deaths. Uber and Lyft drivers have been responsible for several fatalities. By August 2017, Uber employed 147,000 drivers in California, although the exact number involved in accidents is unknown.
Let’s take a few examples over the years:
- In February 2019, according to NBC Los Angeles, a Lyft passenger was killed in a hit-and-run following an alleged altercation with the driver, who admitted to making the man exit the car on the side of a freeway, where he was struck by another vehicle.
- In September 2018, a CBS Los Angeles report stated that two people were killed on the 210 Freeway, after their Uber vehicle was struck by a driver going the wrong way. The rideshare driver was heading in the correct direction on the freeway.
- In March 2018, it was a reported that a 19-year-old woman from Belgium was killed in Goleta, near Santa Barbara, while riding in an Uber vehicle. The foreign exchange student was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the two-car collision.
- In June 2018 – WGN9 in Chicago reported that a 23-year-old woman was killed when a Lyft car she was riding in collided with another vehicle in Chicago’s Logan Square.
Additionally, personal injury and property loss claims involving Uber and Lyft are complex. Cases include various factors, such as whether a driver was logged into the app when the accident happened and will often result in multiple claims against the company, the driver, and even other drivers involved.
Along with the complexities of each unique case, studies have shown that the use of ride-sharing services has increased traffic deaths by 2% to 3% in the US since 2011. Protect yourself and call GB Legal Group if you’ve been injured in a ride-sharing accident.
As a victim of a ride share accident with companies likeUber and Lyft,you may be entitled to compensatory damages for
1) Emotional Distress
2) Lost Wages,
3) Property Loss
4) Medical Bills and
5) Pain and Suffering.
