Lyft, an on-demand ride share transportation company, based in San Francisco as is Uber, and other ridesharing transportation services reportedly have contributed to increased traffic deaths in the United States since 2011 by approximately 2% - 3%. This increase is equivalent to approximately 1,100 deaths each year, according this study: “The Cost of Convenience: Ridesharing and Traffic Fatalities”, conducted by both Rice University and the University of Chicago.
So if you or anyone you know were injured in a Lyft accident, Uber accident or any rideshare accident or any family member killed with a resulting wrongful death claim, please call us now at 1 866 INJURY 2 (that’s 1.866.465.8792) or contact us now for your FREE case consultation and evaluation.
Before ridesharing transportation, traffic accident deaths decreased to their lowest number in the United States just before Uber started in San Francisco. In 2010 there were about 32,885 deaths caused by car collisions in the United States. This was the smallest total number of traffic deaths due to traffic accidents since 1949. Upon the launch of ridesharing in the U.S., this decrease in traffic fatalities changed. However, some researchers believe it may be too early to know whether this increase in traffic fatalities due to increased use of Lyft, Uber and other rideshare services is just a short-term adjustment to Lyft, Uber and the other transportation services or is actually a longer-term circumstance resulting from this rideshare phenomenon.
This study and conclusions were based on statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compared with the traffic accident data of the cities after Lyft or Uber started in each city.
“Deadheading” is one additional reason for this traffic increase. Deadheading is the practice used by Lyft, Uber and other ridesharing services when their drivers are not transporting passengers, but searching for passengers between accepted fares. Reportedly, Lyft, Uber and other ridesharing drivers spend 40% - 60% of their time deadheading -- searching for passengers. This deadheading practice naturally increases traffic congestion, leading to more traffic accidents, including those with deaths and wrongful death accident claims. Just in the city of New York it is reported that the average Lyft, Uber and other rideshare drivers drive about 2.8 miles between passengers.
This increased traffic congestion also is believed exacerbated by a corresponding decreased use of public transportation services because of the affordability and convenience of using Lyft, Uber and other ridesharing services.
Because of the increased traffic fatalities resulting in more wrongful death claims believed caused by increased traffic congestion caused by Lyft, Uber and other rideshare transportation services, if a family member was killed resulting in a wrongful death accident claim or if you suffered any serious injuries and damages, please contact us for your FREE case consultation and evaluation. This consultation and evaluation is absolutely FREE. There is NO charge or obligation. And if we take your Lyft or Uber case we work on a contingency fee basis. This means there is NO fee received by us until your case is resolved and won.
Please do NOT wait. There are many time deadlines, different Lyft ride share insurance practices and procedural rules. Please don’t miss a deadline or give-up your rights. Please contact us now – You will be glad that you did!