Accidentes de viajes compartidos

Los programas de viajes compartidos han planteado cuestiones de seguridad para los conductores de viajes compartidos, los pasajeros de viajes compartidos y otras personas que comparten las carreteras con ellos. Una mayor cantidad de automóviles en las carreteras pueden significar una mayor probabilidad de sufrir un accidente. Aunque las aplicaciones de viajes compartidos se crearon para descongestionar las carreteras y evitar que los conductores incapacitados se pongan al volante, la facilidad de generar más ingresos para los conductores de viajes compartidos significa más y más automóviles en las carreteras. Aquellos que han estado involucrados en un accidente de viaje compartido conocen de primera mano la pesadilla de problemas legales complejos que potencialmente pueden desarrollarse que involucran múltiples pólizas de seguro, indemnización por facturas médicas y determinación de responsabilidad o quién tiene la culpa.

Causas comunes de los accidentes de viajes compartidos

Si bien compartir viajes puede ser una fuente de positividad al eliminar DWI y DUI Si bien el viaje compartido puede ser una fuente de positividad al eliminar los DWI y los riesgos de DUI, no es infalible con respecto a la seguridad vial. De hecho, las muertes por accidentes de tráfico han aumentado entre un 2 % y un 3 % cada año desde que los viajes compartidos ganaron popularidad entre los usuarios en 2011. Aunque el 2 % al 3 % puede no parecer sustancial, la estadística se traduce en la pérdida de casi 987 vidas al año. Además de más conductores en la carretera, los viajes compartidos se han relacionado con un aumento de accidentes automovilísticos debido a las siguientes causas comunes:

Ubicaciones desconocidas

A los conductores de Uber a menudo se les pide que conduzcan por áreas de la ciudad que no conocen para completar los viajes. Esto significa que, además de conducir, los conductores deben centrarse en otros factores, como las señales de tráfico y la aplicación de viaje compartido en sí.

Accidentes por conducción distraída

Este es una escena que cualquier pasajero de viaje compartido ha presenciado: el conductor usa la aplicación de viaje compartido en su teléfono mientras conduce. Es bien sabido que la conducción distraída, en particular el uso de teléfonos móviles, ha sido el catalizador del aumento de accidentes de peatones, motocicletas y automóviles en los últimos años; y los accidentes de viajes compartidos tampoco son inmunes a sus peligros. Otras formas de conducción distraída que inhiben la capacidad del conductor para prestarle atención a la carretera incluyen hablar por teléfono, enviar mensajes de texto, usar las redes sociales y escuchar música con los auriculares.

Exceso de velocidad

For rideshare drivers, each trip equals financial income, and drivers feel pressure to accept and complete as many trips as possible. Speed is a top cause of all types of auto accidents, and ridesharing crashes are no different. Speeding not only increases the severity of car accident injuries, it can also cause fatalities.

Agotamiento

Es común que los conductores utilicen aplicaciones de viajes compartidos como un segundo trabajo o un “ajetreo lateral" para generar más ingresos. Debido a que elegir conducir y aceptar viajes es tan fácil para los conductores como lo es para los pasajeros solicitar un viaje, los conductores pueden optar por recoger los turnos de conducción al final de su jornada laboral habitual. El agotamiento afectar gravemente la capacidad del conductor para concentrarse y reaccionar ante numerosas situaciones en la carretera.

Agresión física

Cada vez que ingresa a un vehículo de Uber o Lyft, corre el riesgo de que el conductor lo lastime. Las empresas no proporcionan suficientes medidas de seguridad. Informes y demandas recientes han demostrado que las empresas recibieron miles de informes de los pasajeros de que sus conductores los agredieron sexualmente.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ride Sharing Accidents

I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver, what do I do now?

The first thing to do after any car accident is to make sure everyone involved is ok and to call emergency services. Make sure to get the names, contact information, and insurance information from all parties involved. If there were witnesses to the accident, make sure to get their contact information as well. Then take as many pictures, videos, and other visual evidence of the scene as you can. Once the police arrive, give them your statement and make sure to ask for a copy of the police report or the police report number. Having a police report to back up your claim will be critical in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver.

After the accident occurs, report it as soon as possible to Uber, Lyft, or the rideshare service the driver of the vehicle that hit you was working for. You have to start the claims process with the rideshare service as quickly as possible making sure to only relay the facts of what happened. The rideshare company’s insurance provider may not want to cooperate or will attempt to blame the accident on your actions. It is essential to have your own legal counsel to fight the uphill battle you will face against a rideshare company’s team of high-powered and high-priced lawyers and insurance agents.

Who is liable in a rideshare accident?

There may be more than one liable party in a rideshare accident. An injury victim must be able to establish that someone was at fault for hitting their vehicle or otherwise causing them physical injury and that the accidente resulted in injury-related damages. You may or may not be able to file an insurance claim against the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal auto insurance depending on when and how the accident occurred. Because the driver was using their vehicle for work purposes, their personal auto insurance carrier will likely deny the claim if the driver was transporting a passenger at the time of the accident. Uber and Lyft offer their drivers liability insurance policies that can kick in when their personal insurance policies deny an accident claim. It is entirely possible to hold Uber or Lyft responsible for the damages resulting from a rideshare accident, but you will need legal help to ensure it is done properly.

How common are rideshare accidents?

There are an estimated three million Uber drivers in the United States driving at any given time. According to a study conducted by the University of Chicago, since the inception of rideshare services in the United States, outside of typical taxi cab companies, there has been a three percent increase in vehicle accident fatalities. The study also showed that the increase of drivers on the road indirectly led to an increase in daily car accident deaths overall as more drivers are attempting to speed through cities with their passengers to get the best rating possible.

What happens if you get into an accident with an Uber driver?

If you get into an accident with an Uber driver, start by treating it like any other car accident. Exchange information, survey the damage to your vehicles, and make sure to get medical treatment for your injuries. Report the accident to the police who will create their own report stating their findings. Once all information is gathered, report the accident to Uber and begin the claims process. If the Uber driver was actively transporting a passenger, Uber may be required to pay for the resulting damages to your vehicle and/or for your medical costs. Uber may ask you to provide a statement regarding what happened during the accident. If they do this, make sure to have your legal counsel available to speak on your behalf. Uber will attempt to deny liability for the rideshare accident and having legal support on your side will protect you from its predatory tactics.

Does Uber pay if you get in an accident?

Because Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, whether or not Uber will pay for your rideshare accident injury claims completely depends on if the driver was working at the time of the accident. Uber has a commercial liability insurance policy for each of their drivers that can pay up to $1 million in case of a serious crash. That compensation is meant for injury-related expenses and property damage. Specific circumstances must apply, though, to be able to access that compensation. Uber may try to deny your claim, or its insurance provider may deny your claim, citing a variety of reasons. These reasons may include allegations that the Uber driver not on duty at the time of the incident or that you or another driver was at fault. With experienced legal counsel by your side, Uber can be held accountable for its driver’s negligence and your resulting injuries.