As ridesharing continues to grow, we see more people driving for both Lyft and Uber. However, it doesn't always mean safer roads. In fact, there are some major safety concerns surrounding ridesharing.
In 2018 alone, over 2 million people used Lyft and almost 600 thousand people used Uber. This number is expected to rise even further in 2020. With these numbers come many potential risks.
According to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 718 reported crashes involving Lyft drivers in 2017. There were 537 crashes in 2016. Those statistics represent a nearly 20% increase from just three years prior.
The NHTSA also found that Uber had 467 crash reports in 2017. These figures represent a significant jump from the previous year, where there were only 311 reports.
While these numbers show an alarming trend, they don't tell the whole story. For example, the NHTSA does not count every single accident involving a driver, nor do they include every type of vehicle involved in the crash. They also exclude serious injuries and fatalities.
With that being said, here are some key stats and information regarding Lyft and Uber accidents:
Lyft & Uber Accident StatisticsUber and Lyft are among the most popular ride-sharing apps around. But while many people use them to get home safely, others aren't as lucky. In fact, according to a report released today by Uber, there were 4,853 reported crashes involving Uber drivers and passengers in the US in 2018 alone.
The data covers all types of incidents – including those where no one was injured and those where someone died. And it includes both minor and major collisions. Here are some highlights from the report:
In 2018, there were 3,638 total serious injury crashes involving Uber drivers and riders. Of those, 2,061 resulted in injuries that required hospitalization.
Of the 801 fatal crashes, 573 resulted in deaths.
Roughly half of the fatal crashes occurred during rush hour periods.
The number of fatal crashes involving Uber drivers and/or riders rose nearly 40% compared to 2017.
On average, Uber drivers and riders were involved in about five fatal crashes each month in 2018.
The vast majority of fatal crashes happened in urban areas.
About 70% of fatal crashes happened outside of large metropolitan areas.
Injuries Involving Uber and Lyft Occur in More Than Just Motor Vehicle AccidentsWhile most people think of motor vehicular accidents when discussing Lyft and uber accidents, uber and Lyft vehicles and drivers are also sometimes involved in other types of accidents.
Lyfts and ubers vehicles and drivers may be the victim of physical injuries, such as being struck by another vehicle while driving, or property damage, including being hit by another vehicle while parked.
Lyfts and Ubers drivers and vehicles may also be the victim of assaults from intoxicated, unruly, or violent passengers, including when a driver terminates rides because of the passenger's behavior or for safety reasons.
Drivers have also been victims of rape or sexual assault committed by passengers, including when passengers attempt to sexually assault the driver during a ride.
Of course, drivers are just as capable of injuring or harming passengers, including robbery, kidnapping, assault, sexual assault, and even murder.
Rideshare Insurance RequirementsDrivers for rideshare services like Lyft or Uber, or other transportation network companies are required to carry certain statutory minimum levels of motor vehicle insurance coverage, depending on what type of trip you're taking.
The state requires that drivers carrying passengers must maintain $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage, $100,000 in property damage liability coverage, and $25,000 in medical payments coverage. Drivers transporting goods must maintain $1.5 million in total bodily injury coverage and $1.5million in total property damage coverage.
If the driver is logged into the app while waiting for a passenger, the coverage applies. However, if the driver accepts a ride request or picks up a paying customer, it doesn't matter whether he or she is logged into the app; the coverage requirement still applies.
Drivers without insurance coverage could face fines of up to $500.
Uber and Lyft Sexual Assault StatisticsAt the end of 2019, ride-hail companies Uber and Lyft released safety reports detailing the number of incidents of sexual assault and physical violence that occurred within their platforms over the course of one year.
The numbers revealed that there were 5,981 cases of sexual assault reported to Uber and Lyft since 2017, and 19 deaths due to physical assaults. In both cases, Uber and Lyft did not provide data regarding how many of those attacks took place while customers were being transported via the app.
In addition to the aforementioned figures, Uber and Lyft provided statistics that showed that, in the five months leading up to December 31, 2018, there were 3,922 sexual assaults recorded by Uber and Lyft. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the 2,849 sexual assaults reported in the previous 12-month period.
While it is difficult to compare the two sets of data because they come from different sources, the latter figure does suggest that Uber and Lyft riders are becoming increasingly aware of the risks associated with riding in cars operated by strangers.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Lyft / Uber Accident CaseDid you or a loved one suffer severe injuries due to a car crash involving a Lyft or Uber driver in If so, you could be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. Contact a personal injury lawyer today in Harris County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, and Stafford, Texas at Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, to discuss your legal options. Contact us today at www.thorntonesquirelawgroup.com for a free consultation.