Uber & Lyft Accidents

Advocating for Public Safety: Holding Uber and Lyft Accountable for Accidents

The Rise of Uber and Lyft

Amongst ridesharing companies around the world, Uber and Lyft are two of the earliest, and consequently, amongst the biggest in the world today. Established in 2010, Uber introduced an idea that was revolutionary at the time – a way to secure transportation without having to wait on a busy sidewalk or at a cold bus stop.
The company introduced ease and convenience into the idea of daily commuting, even allowing people to car-pool, thereby allowing vast reduction in commuting costs. Yet, it did all this without owning a single car, bus, truck, or SUV. By allowing people to provide ride-hailing services using their own personal vehicles, Uber could focus solely on linking people who want to provide a ride with people who need a ride. This way, riders do all the transportation while Uber moderates its app and makes money hand over fist.
Uber became so successful and popular that other companies began to mirror their company model. In 2012, Lyft launched in San Francisco, using essentially the same structure as Uber, but with a few modifications. One of the most notable differences is Lyft drivers are required to put a pink moustache at the front of their vehicles, which differentiates them from other ridesharing companies like Uber who don’t have any identifying detail.
Today, Lyft and Uber are very successful. Uber, in particular, has spread to multiple countries around the world. As of 2020, Uber was active in more than 93 countries around the world, with over 75 million active drivers and more than $12 billion in gross bookings for a single quarter. Further, statistics indicate that 25% of Americans use Uber at least once a month.
While this popularity has resulted in a successful business model, Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies have become subject to numerous complaints.

Uber and Lyft Complaints

When ridesharing companies were first introduced, the social case for their introduction was that they would help reduce road congestion, accidents, and death. Since more people would be able to access safe driving, especially in situations such as driving home after a night out, there would be less incidents of drunk driving and other irresponsible driving.
However, research has indicated quite the opposite. According to a study conducted by experts from the University of Chicago and Rice University, the start of ridesharing is linked to a 2%-4% yearly rise in motor vehicle fatalities across the US. The experts found that while the number of motor vehicle accident deaths in the US stood at 32,885 in 2010 (the lowest since 1949), that number had risen to 37,400 by 2016. This correlates to a roughly 3% increase in deaths year over year – or the equivalent of about 987 more deaths each year.
Even more than the deaths experienced, ridesharing companies, including Uber and Lyft, are routinely implicated in thousands of complaints, including by people who suffer severe injuries in these accidents. Ridesharing companies have contributed to congestion in cities around the world. These situations have largely been created by drivers who refuse to abide by the rules of the road, thereby road incidents that victimize other road users.
Uber in particular has come under fire for its failure to adequately screen drivers. While Uber requires its drivers to undergo background checks in some cases, use vehicles that are no older than 10 years, and carry insurance, these measures are arguably insufficient. Uber does not require its drivers to possess commercial licenses, meaning they are held to a lower standard of conduct and qualification. This results in drivers who may not be qualified to operate a vehicle, much less carry passengers along busy city roads.
These companies have also come under fire for their treatment of their drivers. One of the reasons why Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies have disrupted the public transportation industry is because of their affordability. But in many cases, they are only able to offer such low fares because they don’t always treat their drivers well. Uber and Lyft drivers, for instance, earn less than minimum wage in certain locations.
Uber has also been implicated in making false claims about how much drivers can make in certain areas. In 2017, it was forced to pay out $20 million to settle a claim brought to challenge its conduct on this account. However, the fallout of these misleading claims impacts more than just the livelihood of these drivers. Research indicates that drivers spend between 40%-60% of their time looking for passengers (a practice called “deadheading”). This means they are under more pressure to meet daily earning targets, which can lead them to take risks, drive dangerously, and put people in harm’s way.

Claims for Uber and Lyft Accident Victims

Due to the incredible danger that ridesharing drivers often create for other road users, many municipal authorities are taking a sterner approach to these companies. Under Chicago’s Transportation Network Provider Rules, for instance, ridesharing drivers must meet certain regulations:

Collecting Compensation After an Uber or Lyft Accident

The business model of ridesharing companies and how they classify their riders makes the process of collecting compensation tricky. Uber and Lyft classify their riders as “independent contractors”. This means that these companies will not necessarily take responsibility for the actions of drivers, because they are deemed to be independent businesses all on their own.
However, it is possible to collect compensation, both from ridesharing companies and the errant driver, if you are injured in an accident. But how much compensation you can collect, who you can collect compensation from, and how, will vary depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident.