Rideshare Accidents

As long as there have been cars, there’s been ridesharing. Our society has been built around being able to travel by car. Whether you’re going to see a friend or just going to the grocery store, in many parts of the country, you need a car to make the trip. However, many people don’t have access to a car. Others are unable to drive for various reasons, including those who are disabled. Therefore, society has set up various systems to transport people who cannot do it themselves.

Up until a few years ago, there was a vibrant taxi industry across the country. However, many times getting a cab wasn’t very easy. You could try hailing a cab, but it was often difficult to find them. At the same time, hailing a cab could be difficult for minorities and riders trying to get to certain low-income areas. If you tried calling a cab, it could be difficult to get to a dispatcher. It could also be difficult to schedule a cab ride during busy times.

Starting the past decade, taxi cabs were supplemented and eventually supplanted by rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft. Arranging a ride through these apps is usually easy, but it was not without risks. At first, many vehicles and drivers had not been screened to be suitable for ridesharing. Also, surge pricing was often onerous for those trying to secure a ride.

At this point in time, Uber, Lyft, and the taxi industry still carry a significant portion of those trying to travel by car. While there are differences between the three carriers, one thing remains constant: accidents still happen.

Being in a car accident when you are in the back of an Uber, Lyft, or Taxi Cab leads to the same types of injuries as people who are passengers in private vehicles. Depending on the severity of the crash, injuries can range from mild sprains to catastrophic personal injuries.

However, one of the problems with these types of accidents is that it is sometimes quite difficult to get information about what happened and who was involved. When you’re in a rideshare vehicle, you have no real relationship with the person driving. Therefore, if the drivers exchange information at the scene, it can often be difficult for the passenger to later get the information. This is especially true if you suffer serious injuries and were taken from the scene by an ambulance.

One aspect of Rideshares that companies try to sweep under the rug is Sexual Assault. When a rider entrusts his/her safety to a driver, it can sometimes be easy for that driver to betray that trust, resulting in unwanted sexual advances and sexual assaults. While Uber has put more protections in place such as background checks on drivers, these assaults still happen.

If you were injured in a Rideshare Car Accident, you need an attorney who has the experience not only dealing with the routine aspects of a car accident case, but also the specific problems that come up in Rideshare Situations. Whether you used Uber or Lyft for a ride or called a taxi-cab, there are many nuances that are involved in these claims.

At Marcotte Law Firm, we’ve dealt with many accidents involving taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts. We know what needs to be done to get all the information needed, and also to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Please call the Rideshare Car Accident Lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free consultation.