The many additional drivers and cars that ridesharing companies Uber, Lyft and others have put on the road in Dallas and other cities has led to about 1,000 more deaths in car accidents each year, research suggests.
Uber/Lyft Drivers Are Causing More Car Accidents
Researchers at Rice University and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business say that app-based ridesharing services account for about a 3 percent annual increase in traffic-related fatalities since their introduction in 2011. That equates to roughly 987 deaths each year.
A key point in “The Cost of Convenience: Ridesharing and Traffic Fatalities,” is that the increased number of ridesharing vehicles on the road has led to a rise in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities, a 2019 research brief accompanying the study report says.
In cities that have introduced ridesharing, bicycle and pedestrian fatalities from accidents involving cars have increased at a similar rate to all driving fatalities. The researchers also assume that the pattern of nonfatal accidents is similar to that of fatal accidents.
The Dallas car accident injury lawyers at Kraft & Associates P.C., can help you if you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a driver for Uber, Lyft, Dallas startup Alto or other such transportation services. Our more than 45 years of experience helping Dallas car accident victims and their families make us well qualified to assist you in seeking full compensation for your accident-related costs and losses. Please contact one of our Uber / Lyftridesharing accident lawyers today for a free discussion of your case.
How Uber/Lyft Protect the Bottom Line After a Car Accident
When confronted with a legal claim, Uber and Lyft will initially say their drivers are independent contractors and not employees, and therefore they are not necessarily responsible for the accident or any injuries. Either company will first tell you to contact the driver’s insurer about an accident, no matter the circumstances.
If the ridesharing driver did not have the ride-hailing app on or had not been matched with a rider, the driver’s auto liability insurance should cover the accident claim.
Uber and Lyft drivers are required to have auto liability insurance, but they are not required to obtain a driving–for–hire endorsement, which is an extra cost. This gives the driver’s insurance company cover to deny an accident claim if the crash occurred while the ridesharing driver was on the clock working for Uber or Lyft at the time of the accident.
If the ridesharing driver was working, then your accident claim should be directed to the ridesharing company. Uber and Lyft have auto liability insurance that covers drivers who are involved in an accident while working as a driver for hire. Unfortunately, many injured individuals with valid claims will drop them once denied by the driver’s individual insurer.
Uber and Lyft maintain extensive insurance coverage, which theoretically makes appropriate payments readily available to riders and others injured in accidents their drivers cause. However, as a Washington Post report explains, Uber goes to great lengths to deny claims. In doing so, Uber not only protects its bottom line but also keeps drivers who have caused accidents on the road.
“Even while arguing it shouldn’t be held liable for driver or rider conduct, Uber has sought to settle cases quickly to avoid the scrutiny of open court,” the Post says.
A Dallas car accident attorney who handles Uber / Lyft claims at Kraft & Associates, P.C., in Dallas can hold a ridesharing company accountable if the company tries to stonewall you or reject your accident claim. We can help you seek full compensation for your injuries and other accident-related losses in a crash caused by a driver for Lyft, Uber or another ridesharing service.
How to Sue After a Car Accident Caused by an Uber/Lyft Driver
When a driver has been found to have injured someone else through negligence or recklessness, the driver should be held legally liable. Businesses that employ reckless or irresponsible drivers can be held liable for their employees’ actions as well.
To ensure that your rights and interests are protected, Kraft & Associates, P.C., can:
- Investigate your accident
- Establish legal responsibility for the accident and your injuries
- Calculate the full cost of your losses
- File a claim on your behalf
- Negotiate for the compensation you deserve from a position of strength.
Most car accident claims are settled before trial or even before a lawsuit is filed. Our Uber accident claim attorneys press aggressively for full compensation for our clients. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators with insurance companies. We successfully resolve most claims without a trial. Whenever an insurance company refuses to do what is right, we are prepared to go to court and prevail.
Types of Personal injuries from Uber/Lyft Accidents that Warrant Lawsuits
Serious car accident injuries can result in the need for hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and lengthy recoveries. Some injuries cause permanent disability. The accident victim also typically loses income due to lost work time. Under Texas law, the accident victim also may be compensated for pain and suffering.
A car accident claim seeks to make the accident victim and/or their family whole financially as well as physically, emotionally and mentally as much as possible.
The types of personal injuries suffered in Lyft and Uber car accidents that warrant a legal claim include:
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
- Back injuries.
- Neck injuries, including whiplash.
- Limb loss (amputation).
- Internal organ injuries.
- Fractures (broken bones).
- Disfiguring facial injuries and scars.
- Knee injuries.
- Foot and ankle injuries.
- Shoulder injuries.
- Wrist and hand injuries.
- Lacerations, bruises.
- Burns.
- Crush injuries.
- Soft-tissue injuries.
Contact Our Dallas Uber/Lyft Accident Lawyers
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping our clients hold Uber and Lyft responsible when their drivers cause injuries and losses due to negligence or recklessness. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don’t owe us anything unless your claim is successful.
To discuss pursuing a claim for injuries suffered in an accident involving Uber, Lyft or another ridesharing service, contact one of our experienced Dallas accident and injury attorneys at Kraft & Associates, P.C., online or at 214-999-9999 today.
