Ride-sharing companies like Uber or Lyft are incredibly convenient for millions of Americans who rely on drivers to take them home after a night out, help them navigate a new city, or get them to work in the morning.

While most rides end without incident, some passengers find themselves involved in ride-sharing accidents or experiencing abusive behavior from a driver.

When a ride is on its way – whether your driver rideshare is involved in an accident and you’re wondering how you’ll pay for your injuries or a driver acted inappropriately toward you. – experienced lawyers from Burg Simpson can help restore your peace of mind. Simpson’s Castle car accident and sexual assault attorneys pursue accountability and justice for passengers facing the consequences of a life-changing ride-sharing experience.

Rideshare passengers have legal protection and recourse. Read on to learn how you can protect and advocate after an untoward ridesharing incident.

What causes travel accidents?

While many riders may use Uber or Lyft to avoid impaired driving, using a ride-sharing app doesn’t completely protect you from the risk of an accident. There are several reasons ride-share drivers may be accident-prone, including:

• Tired Driving: Lyft and Uber drivers often squeeze ride-sharing work on top of other jobs to pay the bills. One study found that 69% of carpool drivers have other full-time or part-time jobs. Meanwhile, drivers who rely entirely on schedule work generally aren’t focused on just one ride-sharing gig — Business Insider reports that 60% of gig workers actually have multiple gigs. Simply put, carpooling drivers can be overworked and tired, which can create problems on the road.
• Distracted driving: An integral part of the ride-sharing experience—for both rider and driver—is the company’s app. your driver rideshare needs to constantly look at its app to get directions and receive new ride requests, but that app can also take your eyes off the road long enough to cause an accident.

If your vehicle public transport is in an accident, regardless of whether your driver caused a wreck or hit another driver, you have important rights and insurance protections available.

What to do when you are in an accident

Fortunately, Colorado is unique in its insurance requirements for ride-sharing companies.

Unfortunately, these requirements only exist because a Colorado Lyft passenger found himself paying out of pocket for some of the medical bills he incurred in a 2020 hit-and-run accident (even though neither he nor the Lyft driver were not at fault) according to a CBS report.

At the time, rideshare companies were no longer protects their passengers with uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage ensures that passengers are covered if an uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run driver causes an accident.

A Colorado Act of 2022

Enacted after that hit-and-run accident, it now requires ride-hailing companies or drivers to have primary liability insurance to cover drivers while they’re on the clock, and for companies to reinstate coverage for uninsured drivers they previously dropped.

Although this coverage will more easily ensure that your expenses are covered if you are injured in a carpooling accident, you will still want to seek immediate assistance from an attorney. A skilled personal injury attorney at Burg Simpson will provide you a free consultation and help you determine the best course of action for your case. public transport accident.

If your vehicle public transportation is involved in an accident, you’ll want to act as you would if your own car were hit:

• Call 911 if you need to.
• Take photos of the damage and the scene.
• Get insurance information from your driver. sharing and from the other side. Tell the rideshare app about your accident.
• Most importantly, get a Burg Simpson attorney on the phone.

Other shared transportation risks

Car accidents are far from the only personal injury risk involved in ride sharing.
Tragically, in recent years, more Rideshare drivers in Colorado they were accused of sexual assault female passengers. Both Uber and Lyft have faced repeats reports and processes claiming that passengers were sexually assaulted while using their services.

While Uber’s the latest safety report says 99.9 percent of the company’s rides end without any safety incident, the report also documents 2,717 reported sexual assaults in 2021-2022, 68 percent of which were allegedly committed by drivers.

While the onus shouldn’t be on passengers to protect themselves from sexual violence, there are ways to stay safe when using ride-sharing apps. These measures include:

• Check your car’s number plate. share with the number plate the app shows you to make sure you’re getting into the right vehicle.
• Ask your driver for proof of your license or ID before getting into his car.
• Refuse any food or drink offered by your driver.
• Avoid sharing personal or travel details with your driver.
• Travel with a friend or let a trusted loved one know your plans. of sharing.
• Share your location with friends/loved ones.

If you’ve been sexually assaulted while using a ridesharing service, you’re not alone. The reliable one sexual assault attorneys at Burg Simpson can guide you through it free evaluation and help you manage your case with understanding and compassion.

Finally, you can take steps to protect yourself when using a ride-sharing service in the event of an accident or unwanted advances from your driver. The experienced attorneys at Burg Simpson I’m here to answer your questions and talk to you if you’re in a compromising situation. Call them today!

The news and editorial staff of The Denver Post had no role in the preparation of this post.

Originally published: November 15, 2024 at 9:03 AM MST