Sacramento Uber and Lyft Accident Stats

uber accident

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies have revolutionized the way that people get around Sacramento and places all over California. Instead of driving yourself, riding the bus, or calling a taxicab, people looking for a ride can connect and pay others to take them to their destination, all through a handy mobile application.

While these services have made getting a ride incredibly convenient, they are not necessarily safer than driving yourself. Some might make the argument that you are actually less safe in a rideshare vehicle, especially since you don’t know the person who is driving you. The driver may be inexperienced, distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent behind the wheel.

Any accident involving Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare vehicle can be extremely complicated, due to the various questions about who might be liable and what insurance policies are in play.

The attorneys of the Demas Law Group want you to be safe when hailing a ride through Uber and Lyft. We’ve provided the following breakdown of rideshare incidents in Sacramento so you’ll be aware of the potential dangers.

Recent Rideshare Incidents in Sacramento

• In January 2018, the Sacramento Bee told the story of a 22-year-old man with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) who was killed in a crash that left his uncle in a coma after their Lyft driver pulled onto Highway 99 at a rural intersection straight into the path of a Toyota 4Runner. According to Forbes, Sacramento was the site of the first fatal accident for Lyft in 2014.

• In January 2019, KPIX-TV reported that an Uber driver posted a video of a drunken passenger attempting to grab the wheel while he was driving. The man said he was thinking about giving up Uber after also having a gun pulled on him by another passenger.

• In February 2019, the Sacramento Bee reported that four people were suing the City of Sacramento and Uber after a Sacramento Fire Department vehicle struck the Uber they were riding in and caused severe injuries. The fire department vehicle driver and Uber driver were also named as defendants.

• In April 2019, KPIX reported that Vallejo police were looking for two suspects who T-boned an Uber while turning onto Sacramento Street from Mississippi Street. That same month KVOR-TV reported that an Uber driver was arrested after he attempted to burglarize the home of passengers he had just dropped off at the airport.

What To Do If You’re Involved in a Rideshare Accident

The steps you take immediately after a crash involving an Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing vehicle will be very important when it comes to recovering compensation later on. In general, you will want to be sure that you take all of the following steps:

  • Seek medical attention. You will want to be sure that you go to a hospital even if you do not think that you were hurt.
  • Call police. Always contact law enforcement and make sure that a police report is filed.
  • Exchange insurance information. Always get the driver’s personal insurance information whether you were a passenger or another driver. Also report the accident to your own insurance company.
  • Take pictures. Use the camera on your smartphone to take as many pictures as you can of your injuries and the scene of the crash.
  • Hire a lawyer. Speak to an attorney before you talk to the other party’s insurance adjusters or Uber or Lyft representatives.

When to Contact a Lawyer

You need to get an attorney right away if you’ve been hurt in a rideshare crash. Keep in mind that the rideshare companies, their insurers, or the insurance company for another negligent driver will not be on your side.

Each of these parties has a financial stake in your claim. It will be their goal to pay you as little as possible. Level the playing field by hiring an aggressive rideshare injury attorney to represent you.

How Can Demas Law Group Help Me?

If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in a ridesharing accident anywhere in the greater Sacramento area, contact Demas Law Group as soon as possible.

We will provide a complete evaluation of your case when you call us or contact us online to set up a free consultation.

The lawyer you choose to represent you in your personal injury matter will greatly affect the outcome of your case. What many people don’t realize, though, is that your relationship with your lawyer will also impact your life.