We also conduct our own investigation in Riverside or San Bernardino to find out what happened and why. This is especially important if you did not see what happened, such as if you fell asleep on the ride home from the airport, or if you became unconscious shortly thereafter. Here are some of the most common causes your lawyer might look out for in rideshare accident cases.
A 2018 study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine reports drowsy driving as one of
the biggest causes of accidents in the rideshare industry. These become especially likely between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Note that many Uber and Lyft drivers actually maintain nine-to-five jobs in addition to ridesharing, so they might not get adequate sleep. Unfortunately, drowsy driving can have almost the same impact on a driver as operating a vehicle while under the influence.
The CDC reports that roughly
nine people die as a result of distracted driving every day in America. Another 1,000 people are injured. Rideshare drivers do face more distractions than others. For starters, they often engage in conversations with the people in the vehicle, which can become distracting. Secondly, rideshare drivers need to rely on their phones to get information on where they are going or who else might join the trip. This can take attention from the road during crucial moments.
Most of the money Uber and Lyft drivers make is from the distance traveled, not the time. Subsequently, they may become especially frustrated in traffic and might attempt daring maneuvers. If you share your cab, the other passenger might also egg on the driver to go faster or take unknown routes to catch a flight or get to work on time. This can put everyone in the vehicle at risk.
When people move to California — or anywhere else in America — for the first time, they often rely on ridesharing services to pay the bills. This can lead to additional reliance on smartphones to direct them as they travel through unfamiliar locations. In cities, this can make them more likely to commit an error, such as going the wrong way down a one-way street or making a wrong turn.
