What Factors Lead to New Jersey Uber Accidents?
According to estimates from the car insurance industry, the typical American will be involved in nearly three to four car crashes during their lifetimes. These statistics have been skewed by the growing popularity of rideshare services. It is crucial to note that it does not include the thousands of passengers and drivers who are injured by reckless, tired, and distracted rideshare drivers.
Does Uber Encourage Reckless Driving?
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies are always hiring new and unqualified drivers in order to meet the growing demand for their services, but many of these drivers are pressured to engage in reckless actions in order to maximize their profit. For instance, a rideshare driver has a short time period to accept a new passenger before it is claimed by another driver. This intense competition can mean that drivers are constantly on their phones in order to not miss an opportunity to make some income. This naturally contributes to instances of distracted driving, which is responsible for a significant number of New Jersey Uber accidents and pedestrian deaths each year.
Increased Time on the Road Increases the Risk of an Uber Accident
Another issue is that, in order to make money, rideshare drivers have to carry passengers for extended periods of time, regardless of hunger, fatigue, or dehydration. Rideshare drivers are categorized as independent contractors and not direct employees, meaning that they do not operate on a company-mandated work schedule. The driver is responsible for setting their own work hours and how long they are active on the network. Sadly, the typical driver is more than willing to ignore roadway safety in order to increase their paycheck, even if it means putting themselves and their passengers in danger.
Uber drivers have discussed this potentially dangerous attitude in the rideshare industry. Some riders will do nearly 50 trips in the span of two days, which is a lot of time to spend on the road.
It is crucial to keep in mind that rideshare drivers are anything but professional. The rate of Uber and Lyft DUI arrests has decreased nationwide, but neither company can guarantee the quality or sobriety of their drivers. Drivers from both rideshare companies have been arrested for DUI charges in past cases. If you are a passenger riding with a drunk Uber driver, it is important that you stop the ride immediately and get to safety before being involved in a collision.
Uber Accidents in New Jersey
Those who are injured in a crash involving a rideshare vehicle should consult with an Uber/Lyft crash lawyer in New Jersey immediately in order to better understand their legal options. The legal team at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC is here to help you make sure that your case is treated fairly and that the liable driver is held accountable for his or her actions. We will fight to make sure that you recover the compensation you deserve so that your life can get back on track. Contact our New Jersey rideshare crash attorneys today at (201) 997- 0030 if you or a loved one has been unfairly injured in a crash involving a rideshare driver.