Even if you don’t live in a major metropolitan area, there is a good chance you have made use of rideshare services like Lyft or Uber. Unfortunately, these increasingly popular services have also resulted in a growing number of accidents, often due to the negligence of these companies. But what are rideshare accidents, and how can they potentially result in avoidable injuries?
What Are Rideshare Accidents?
Rideshare accidents are, put simply, auto accidents that involve drivers while they are driving for rideshare services. These include accidents that occur while a passenger is in the car, as well as accidents that happen while a driver is en route to pick up a passenger. These accidents may also occur during pickup, if a driver does not see their passenger and accidentally collides with them.
How Might You Be Hurt in a Rideshare Accident?
The risks involved with rideshare accidents are very similar to the issues involved with any other auto accident. If you are in the vehicle when they happen, you may suffer from broken bones, strained or torn muscles, damage to your neck or back, or even concussions or other head injuries. If you are unfortunately to be hit by a driver while crossing the street or trying to meet the driver at the agreed pickup point, the chances of severe injuries are much greater.
What Can Cause a Rideshare Accident?
In theory, rideshare drivers are supposed to be screened to ensure they will drive safely and take care to follow traffic laws. However, rideshare companies do not always do their due diligence to perform background checks and other forms of screening to ensure their drivers are safe and responsible. As a result, people who would normally not be allowed in these sorts of jobs can slip through the cracks, and people can be injured in avoidable accidents as a result.
What Should You Do?
If you or someone you love was injured due to a rideshare accident, you should make sure to get a medical exam, even if you do not believe you were seriously injured. Then, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling personal injury cases, who can help you explore all of your legal options. The sooner you call, the sooner they can get to work for you.
For more than 50 years, the New York lawyers at Elovich and Adell have represented clients like you in personal injury cases. Our attorneys, conveniently located in Long Beach, handle personal injury, real estate, commercial transactions, criminal defense, and labor and employment claims all across New York State. For a consultation, please call us at 516-432-6263 or visit our contact page for more information.
