Rideshare services have become the go-to mode of transportation for millions of Americans these days, owing to its convenience and the ability to call up a ride at the tap of your phone. From Uber, to Lyft, rideshare has meant that you no longer have to ask for a ride from a friend or put up with ridiculous cab fees, and that rides are available at anytime, anywhere. Rideshare services such as Uber, however, mean that just about anyone can become a driver, and rigorous driver background checks aren’t performed, making it more likely for you to be involved in an accident or assault in one of these vehicle services. It is important to understand that you have rights as a rideshare user, and that it is legally possible to recover compensation if you’ve been hurt in an Uber or Lyft vehicle.
Are you looking for a rideshare accident injuries attorney? If you were in an accident while in a rideshare vehicle, we’d love to help. The attorneys at McCready Law have been helping people just like you for over 90 YEARS get the justice and compensation they deserve. Please get in touch with our rideshare accident attorneys in Chicago NOW at (773) 985-5139 to learn more about your legal options for compensation. We take on all cases on contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t charge you a cent until we recover compensation on your behalf. For more information on compensation for a rideshare accident lawsuit, please call (773) 985-5139 at NO COST to speak with a Chicago rideshare accident attorney NOW.
Put simply, ridesharing refers to the transportation of a passenger by a driver that owns a private care in exchange for a fee, or free of charge depending on their relationship. Rideshare agreements are done via an app like Lyft or Uber. Its popularity has been due to the rise of Smartphone use which has grown exponentially over the years. One such service, Uber, has become the most popular rideshare service thanks to its ubiquity, a clean interface and intuitive platform, as well as competitive fares.
Here are some of the risks associated with the use of rideshare services:
- Driver distraction is one of the most common causes of rideshare accidents. Because drivers must know where they are going, they may find themselves staring and fiddling with their phones in order to make sure that they don’t go past the designated pick up or drop off point. The NHTSA, a national government agency on road and highway safety has shown how dangerous distracted driving can be, and has published statistics on how it is one of the most common causes of auto accidents.
- Other rideshare drivers may continue working for numerous hours without taking a break as there’s really no regulatory agency enforcing the taking of such breaks which are vital as it has been shown that driver fatigue significantly increases the rate by which accidents happen.
- Some Uber drivers may drive you while intoxicated by drugs and alcohol, a deadly mix that doesn’t work with the operation of a vehicle. These drivers do so because they know the company they work for cannot oversee the behavior of all its millions of drivers, and they use this as carte blanche for their behavior.
Who’s Responsible for My Uber and Lyft Accident?
When it comes to liability for accidents in an Uber or Lyft, it is important to note that liability is determined by negligence. You as an Uber or Lyft passenger are owed what is known as duty of care by your rideshare driver which aims to keep you safe at all times, failure to which you can file an Uber accident or Lyft accident lawsuit. Depending on circumstances, Uber insurance policy will take over and you’ll be compensated off of this. There’s so much we haven’t talked about in this post, and consequently, we’d love for you to speak with us. Please call our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys NOW at (773) 985-5139 to learn more about your legal options for compensation. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.