Picture this: It’s a Saturday night and your friends are going out in the city to celebrate a recent engagement within your group. You get dressed up and are about to head out the door when you realize that parking is going to be terrible downtown. You consider, for a minute, just walking so you don’t have to worry about finding a space or fear getting a ticket. Although, you live on the other side of town and by the time you get there, the bars will be closed. Then you realize, why not ride-share?
Ride-sharing is the latest solution to helping you get to where you need to be. If you’re unfamiliar with the term “ride-sharing,” here’s what it is. When you download an app for one of the numerous ride-share companies, you enter your desired destination into your phone and within minutes, a driver will be there to pick you up and take you where you need to be. It’s extremely convenient because it eliminates having to worry about parking, driving home after a night out, or paying an obscene amount for a cab. You pay for the service right through your phone, so you don’t have to worry about having cash on you.
Ride-sharing seems like the best thing to ever happen, right? Well, according to documents obtained by the New York Post ride-sharing has become one of the most dangerous forms of transportation since its start.
AsRide-Sharing Opportunities Go Up, so do the Amount of Crashes
According to data gathered by the New York Post, the number of crashes involving ride-sharing vehicles went from 534 in July of 2014 to 1,672 in June of 2016. They also say that the number of crashes involving yellow cabs has significantly gone down. In July of 2014, the crashes involving cabs were at 1,168. In July of 2015, the number of car accidents was 1,118. In June of 2016, the number of crashes was 1054. The reason for the crashes is said to be lack of experience. The drivers of the ride-for-hire vehicles are not professional drivers.
The After Effects of Ride-Sharing Crashes
As the number of crashes goes up, the need for insurance companies and lawyers rises as well. If these crashes are causing any type of bodily injury, the automotive insurance may not be able to help out. Those situations would be reserved for a personal injury lawyer. The personal injury lawyer is able to help the victim gain compensation if they are eligible. The personal injury lawyer would then handle the case instead of any other type of lawyer or law office.
Even though this has made a positive impact on the financial state of many areas in which ride-sharing exists, could the number of crashes be the reason for new regulations or even the diminishment of the program itself?