Risks of a Car Accident for Uber Passengers in Philadelphia

Many passengers feel secure when getting into an Uber to go to Center City, get a ride to the airport, or get home safely after drinking. Unfortunately, passengers may be putting their health and safety at risk by trusting these ride-hailing apps. If a passenger is injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, they may have trouble getting compensated for their injuries when the rideshare companies don’t pay. 

Uber Accidents in Philadelphia

With any vehicle on the road in Philadelphia, there is some risk of a vehicle accident. Even if the driver is safe, paying close attention to the road, and following all the traffic laws, you can’t always account for the dangerous driving habits of others. Uber drivers are no exception. 

Some passengers think that Uber and Lyft drivers have to go through special training or safety tests before they can drive. However, the requirements and safety checks to get approved by Uber are very limited. According to Uber, driver requirements include: 

• A valid US driver’s license
• At least one year of driving (minimum 3 years for drivers under 23 years old)
• Driver screening for criminal and driving history

There is no special safety training or requirement that the driver knows the traffic laws where they are driving. In some cases, an Uber may even be more dangerous than other drivers because of the way the company operates. Uber requires the driver to interact with a phone or mobile device at the beginning and end of a ride. However, many drivers use their phones for maps, music, or checking their messages while driving. 

Distracted Uber Driver Accidents 

Distracted driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the road can increase the risk of an accident. For Uber drivers, there can be a lot of distractions, including: 

• Using the rideshare app
• Interacting with passengers
• Finding music
• Mapping directions
• Watching for a place to pull over
• Looking for an address or passenger

There may be other safety concerns for Uber passengers because of the way the rideshare companies operate. Many Uber drivers are driving as a second job to make extra money. The driver may have already worked a full day before driving at night, which could increase the risk of drowsy driving. Driving while tired can cause a driver to react more slowly, which might increase the chance of getting into a car crash. 

Another problem with Uber is the way they incentivize drivers to complete rides as quickly as possible. There are Uber promotions for drivers that give them extra money for completing more trips in a set amount of time and for consecutive trips. This may give the driver more of a reason to get as many trips in as possible, even if it means speeding, rolling through stop signs, or picking up and dropping off passengers in the middle of traffic. 

Distracted Uber Driver Accidents 

Uber tries to avoid liability in a car accident by putting the responsibility on the driver. However, Uber may share some responsibility for passengers injured in an accident. If you were injured as an Uber passenger, don’t be surprised if Uber doesn’t want to pay. Talk to a skilled personal injury attorney like those at the Philadelphia law office of Gilman & Bedigian to make sure you get the financial compensation you need and deserve. Contact us online for help.