How to Protect Your Personal Safety When Using Rideshare – The Denver Post

On By Pranco

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 get them to work in the morning.

While most rides end without incident, some passengers are involved in ride-sharing accidents or experience abuse from a driver.

When a ride goes wrong—whether your driver is involved in an accident and you’re wondering how to pay for your injuries, or if a driver has acted inappropriately toward you—the experienced attorneys at Burg Simpson can help you restore your peace of mind. Burg Simpsons car accident And sexual abuse lawyers seeking accountability and justice for passengers dealing with the aftermath of a life-changing rideshare experience.

Rideshare passengers have legal protection and recourse. Keep reading to find out how you can protect yourself and stand up for yourself after an unwanted ride incident.

What causes rideshare accidents?

While many passengers use Uber or Lyft to avoid driving while impaired, using a rideshare app doesn’t completely protect you from the risk of an accident. There are several reasons why taxi drivers are prone to accidents, including:

  • Tired driving: Often, Lyft and Uber drivers work their jobs on top of other jobs to pay the bills. One study has shown that 69% of rideshare drivers have other full-time or part-time jobs. Meanwhile, drivers who rely entirely on gig work generally don’t just focus on one trip – Business Insider reports that 60% of gig workers actually have multiple gigs. Simply put, rideshare drivers can be overworked and tired, which can cause problems on the road.
  • Distracted driving: An integral part of the rideshare experience – for both rider and driver – is the company’s app. Your rideshare driver will need to constantly look at their app to get directions to your destination and submit new ride requests, but that app can also take their eyes off the road long enough to cause a crash.

If your shared vehicle is in an accident, whether your driver caused an accident or hit another motorist, you have important rights and insurance coverage.

What to do if you have an accident

Fortunately, Colorado is unique in its insurance requirements for rideshare companies.

Unfortunately, these requirements only exist because a Colorado Lyft passenger had to pay out of pocket for some of the medical bills he incurred in a 2020 accident (even though neither he nor his Lyft driver were at fault), according to a CBS report.

At the time, they were rideshare companies no longer protect 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 law of 2022

The law put in place after that accident now requires rideshare companies or drivers to have primary liability insurance to cover drivers while they are on the clock, and that companies reinstate uninsured motorist coverage they previously eliminated.

Although this coverage will better ensure that your costs are covered if you are injured in a ride-hailing accident, you will still want to seek the help of an attorney immediately. A qualified personal injury lawyer from Burg Simpson will help you with this a free consultation and help you determine the best course of action in your rideshare accident case.

If your rideshare vehicle is involved in an accident, you want to act as you would if your own car was hit:

  • Call 911 if necessary.
  • Take photos of the damage and the scene.
  • Request insurance information from your rideshare driver and the other party. Notify the rideshare app of your accident.
  • The most important thing is that you hire a Burg Simpson attorney on the phone.

Other Rideshare Risks

Car accidents are far from the only personal injury risk associated with car sharing.
Tragically, there have been several cases in recent years Colorado rideshare drivers have been accused of sexual abuse female passengers. Both Uber and Lyft have faced repeated challenges reports and lawsuits claiming that passengers were sexually assaulted while using their services.

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

While it shouldn’t be up to passengers to protect themselves from sexual assault, there are ways to ensure your safety when using rideshare apps. These measures include:

  • Check the license plate of your shared car against the license plate number shown in the app to ensure you are getting into the correct vehicle.
  • Request your driver’s license or ID from your driver before getting into the car.
  • Refuse the food or drinks your driver offers.
  • Do not share 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 have experienced sexual assault while using a ride-sharing service, you are not alone. The familiar sexual abuse lawyers at Burg Simpson you can go through a free evaluation and help treat your case with understanding and compassion.

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

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

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