Rideshare services are convenient. They can help people traveling for business or pleasure navigate unfamiliar surroundings. Rideshare services are also useful for people who may have had more to drink than they anticipated while at a social gathering.
Having a safe ride from someone who knows the area is highly useful for rideshare passengers. However, not all rideshare trips end with the passenger reaching their destination safely. A small percentage of rideshare trips end in collisions. There are several risk factors that passengers may need to watch carefully for as they begin a rideshare trip.
Intoxicated drivers
Traditional taxi services drivers arrive at a central location to pick up a fleet vehicle in most cases. They are subject to direct supervision while on the clock and may have to talk to dispatchers. Rideshare drivers are independent contractors who may not interact with anyone from the company directly. They might decide to accept rides while they are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. While both major rideshare companies have zero-tolerance policies, it is largely up to passengers to notice signs of intoxication and report the matter, which may involve contacting local law enforcement. Otherwise, they may be at risk of a negative review for refusing the ride and at increased risk of a crash as well.
Distracted drivers
Rideshare drivers don’t always know the area as well as people might hope. They may rely on navigation services to reach their destination quickly. Especially when there are unexpected disruptions, such as a crash ahead, rideshare drivers may need to reroute or may otherwise interact with mobile devices during a trip. They may also work for multiple different services and may need to respond to incoming messages or decline other trips when they already have a passenger in their vehicle. The unfortunate outcome of such circumstances is that rideshare professionals don’t always have their attention focused entirely on the road. They may cause crashes because of their distraction.
Unsafe drivers
Rideshare drivers count on tips or gratuities to make their work lucrative. They have an incentive to be as quick as possible to keep their clients happy. They may speed, drive the wrong way down a one-way street or otherwise engage in unsafe and aggressive behavior at the wheel. Passengers sometimes end up injured because aggressive rideshare drivers make the wrong choice and end up causing crashes.
Injured rideshare passengers may need help dealing with the aftermath of a car wreck that occurs in a rideshare vehicle. Reviewing insurance coverage and fault for a crash with a skilled legal team are both important steps when a collision occurs during a paid ride.
