Increase in Traffic Deaths Attributed to Rise in Uber and Lyft Services
A relatively new study from the University of Chicago and Rice University has led to a surprising, and somewhat perturbing finding. The study found that the rise of ridesharing services, like Uber and Lyft, has increased traffic deaths by 2% to 3% since 2011. This percentage is the same as about 1,100 extra traffic mortalities every year. If you or a loved one was injured in a rideshare accident, contact a skilled car accident lawyer now to get the compensation you deserve.
More on the Study
The researchers behind the study largely examined data and statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They looked at the same sets of data for a number of cities both before ride-sharing services were launched and after they began. The study first showed that traffic deaths increased in San Francisco starting in 2010, the year that Uber started. Researchers then reported similar findings in the other cities examined.
The study suggests that one reason for the increased mortalities is “deadheading.” Deadheading refers to the time that rideshare drivers spend traveling within and around a city to pick up passengers. According to the study, rideshare drivers spend 40% to 60% of their time driving around to find a customer. Two problems with this are that:
- Deadheading results in an increase in road congestion, and
- More cars on the road means more opportunities for crashes and traffic-related deaths.
Traffic Fatalities Prior to Rideshare Services
Before Uber and Lyft emerged in popularity, traffic deaths were at their lowest numbers in years. In 2010, the same year that ridesharing services were launched, there were 32,885 fatal car accidents nationwide. This was the lowest number of fatalities that the U.S. saw since 1949.
Proving Negligence in a Rideshare Accident Case
If you were injured in a rideshare accident, you can file an injury claim or lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries. But to succeed, you will have to show that your Uber or Lyft driver was negligent. “Negligence” is essentially a legal term that means your rideshare driver was at fault for causing your accident.
In general, you can prove negligence by showing that your driver either:
- Took some act that a careful and reasonable driver would not have done under the same circumstances, or
- Failed to take some act that a careful and reasonable driver would have performed under the same circumstances.
Consider, for example, the scenario where you were injured after your Uber driver sped through a stop sign. Here, a reasonable and careful driver would not speed, but would stop at a stop sign. This means that your driver was negligent in causing your accident and should be held accountable for any injuries that you suffered.
Keep in mind that with any injury claim or lawsuit, you must also show that you did in fact suffer injuries from the accident. You can usually do this by relying on:
- Doctors’ notes,
- Medical records,
- X-rays, and
- Physical therapy records.
Contact Premier Injury Law Firm for Help
If you or a loved one was injured in a rideshare accident, please know that the Premier Injury Law Firm is here to help. Our legal team is skilled, experienced, and passionate in their representation. Let us shoulder the burden of an injury claim or lawsuit while you focus on healing from your injuries. Contact us today for the quality legal help you deserve.