Lyft and Uber Accidents In Vancouver, WA
At first glance, rideshare services seem to be a great deal for everyone. Drivers can earn some extra cash to cover some of their auto expenses, the environment benefits from fewer cars on the road, and passengers can save some money by not having to pay for parking. With a lower need for parking, more urban areas can be used for other things, like parks instead of parking. Rideshare services may have even helped cut down on the number of drunk driving accidents. All in all, it seems like a good deal all around, but there is one problem.
National Lyft and Uber Accident Statistics
A study conducted by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business showed that the rise in rideshare services also increased the number of traffic fatalities and fatal accidents by 3 percent. While a three percent increase may not seem like much, it is important to understand that traffic fatalities increased from 32,885 in 2010 to more than 37,400 in 2016, which brought the 3 percent share of additional deaths due to Lyft and Uber accidents out to 987 people each year. Based on U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) estimates for the statistical value of human life, they estimated fatalities due to Lyft and Uber accidents amount to about $10 billion per year, which doesn’t even include the costs for non-fatal accidents.
While the overall costs of Lyft and Uber accidents are staggering, individually, the costs are almost as high, regardless of whether an accident results in a fatality. On the positive side, the State of Washington recently passed a no-fault coverage law. The law requires rideshare platforms like Uber and Lyft to provide insurance coverage for both the driver and any passengers that were engaged through the platform. That being said, it is also no secret that insurance companies will go to great lengths not to have to pay out claims, and the more parties involved, the more complicated things can get.
Contacting An Attorney
If you are involved in an accident with a ride-share driver, either as a passenger or as a driver, it is critical to call an attorney right away. In any rideshare case, there are at minimum four parties involved in addition to any passengers: the rideshare platform, the platform’s insurance company, the driver, and the driver’s insurance company. You can bet every one of those parties will try to pass on liability to another. That’s why you need someone powerful in your court and on your side to go to battle for you.
If you’ve been injured in a lyft or uber accident within Washington our experienced Vancouver, WA auto accident attorneys are here to help. We have helped individuals who have been injured on Interstate 5, highway 14, surface streets and even parking lots within Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County, Pacific County, and other areas of Washington and Oregon. If you need the help of an experienced accident injury attorney, please contact our firm today for a FREE case review.
