Rideshare companies like Uber or Lyft are incredibly convenient for millions of Americans who rely on drivers to get them home after a night out, help them navigate a new city, or take them to work in the morning.
While most rides end without incident, some passengers find themselves involved in rideshare traffic accidents or dealing with abusive behavior from a driver.
When a trip goes sideways — whether your rideshare driver is involved in an accident and you’re wondering how you’ll pay for your injuries, or a driver has acted inappropriately toward you — the seasoned attorneys at Burg Simpson can help restore your peace of mind. Burg Simpson’s car accident and sexual assault attorneys pursue accountability and justice for passengers who are dealing with the aftermath of a life-altering rideshare experience.
Rideshare passengers have legal protections and recourse. Keep reading to find out how you can protect and advocate for yourself after an unwanted rideshare incident.
What Causes Rideshare Accidents?
While many riders may use Uber or Lyft to avoid driving while impaired, using a rideshare app does not wholly protect you from the risk of a crash. There are several reasons why rideshare drivers may be prone to accidents, including:
Tired driving: Often, Lyft and Uber drivers squeeze in rideshare work on top of other jobs to pay the bills. One study found that 69% of rideshare drivers have other full-time or part-time jobs. Meanwhile, drivers who rely entirely on gig work generally don’t solely focus on one rideshare gig — Business Insider reports that 60% of gig workers actually have multiple gigs. Put simply, rideshare drivers may be overworked and tired, which can create issues on the road.
Distracted driving: An integral part of the rideshare experience — for the rider and driver alike — is the company’s app. Your rideshare driver constantly needs to look at their app to receive directions to your destination and field new ride requests, but that app can also take their eyes off the road long enough to cause a crash.
If your rideshare vehicle is in an accident, whether your driver caused a wreck or another motorist hit them, you have important rights and insurance protections available.
What to Do When You’re in an Accident
Fortunately, Colorado is unique in its insurance requirements for rideshare companies.
Unfortunately, those requirements only exist because a Colorado Lyft passenger found himself paying out of pocket for some of the medical bills he sustained in a 2020 hit-and-run accident (even though neither he nor his Lyft driver were at fault), according to a CBS report.
At the time, rideshare companies were no longer protecting their passengers with uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage ensures that passengers are covered if an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver causes a crash.
A 2022 Colorado law enacted after that hit-and-run accident now requires that rideshare companies or drivers carry primary liability insurance to cover the drivers while they’re on the clock and that companies restore the uninsured motorist coverage they previously did away with.
While this coverage will more seamlessly ensure your expenses are covered if you’re injured in a rideshare accident, you’ll still want to seek immediate assistance from a lawyer. A qualified personal injury attorney at Burg Simpson will provide you with a free consultation and help you determine the best course of action for your rideshare accident case.
If your rideshare vehicle is involved in a crash, you’ll want to act like you would if your own car was hit:
Call 911 if you need to.
Take photos of the damage and the scene.
Get insurance information from your rideshare driver and the other party. Inform the rideshare app of your accident.
Most importantly, get a Burg Simpson attorney on the phone.
Other Rideshare Risks
Car accidents are far from the only personal injury risk involved in ridesharing.
Tragically, over the last few years, several Colorado rideshare drivers have been accused of sexually assaulting female passengers. Both Uber and Lyft have faced repeated reports and lawsuits alleging that passengers were sexually assaulted while using their services.
While Uber’s latest safety report says that 99.9% of the company’s rides end without any kind of safety incident, the report also documents 2,717 reported sexual assaults from 2021-2022, 68% of which drivers allegedly perpetrated.
Though the onus shouldn’t be on passengers to protect themselves from sexual violence, there are ways to help ensure your safety when you use rideshare apps. Those measures include:
Check your rideshare car’s license plate against the license plate the app shows you to ensure you’re getting in the right vehicle.
Request proof of license or ID from your driver before you get in their car.
Decline any food or drink your driver offers.
Avoid sharing your personal or travel details with your driver.
Ride with a friend or let a trusted loved one know about your rideshare plans.
Share your location with friends/loved ones.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault while using a rideshare service, you’re not alone. The trusted sexual assault attorneys at Burg Simpson can walk you through a free evaluation and help handle your case with understanding and compassion.
Ultimately, you can take steps to protect yourself when utilizing a rideshare service in the event of an accident or if you experience unwanted advances from your driver. The experienced attorneys at Burg Simpson are here to answer your questions and talk to you if you do find yourself in a compromising situation. Give them a call today!
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this post’s preparation.