Do You Wear a Seatbelt When You Ride in an Uber or Lyft?

When people hop into an Uber or Lyft, they’re often more focused on their destination than their safety. Surprisingly, many passengers who always buckle up in their own cars skip the seatbelt when riding in a rideshare. But just because you’re not behind the wheel doesn’t mean accident risks disappear.

Wearing a seatbelt in any moving vehicle is crucial. Failing to do so could increase your chances of serious injury and complicate your ability to recover compensation after a crash. Following a collision, a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and explore all available options for financial recovery.

Seatbelt Use Drops in Rideshares

Research shows that rideshare passengers often overlook safety basics. According to a recent study, nearly one in four rideshare passengers admit they don’t buckle up in the back seat. The number climbs even higher among young adults and those taking short or familiar trips.

Part of the problem is perception. Many passengers view rideshares more like taxis or public transit and assume short rides don’t require a seatbelt. Others may feel awkward asking drivers about seatbelt availability or think they’re being overly cautious. But the reality is that riding without a seatbelt is dangerous.

Seatbelts remain one of the simplest and most effective tools for reducing injury and saving lives in a crash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and serious injury by 50% for passengers in cars.

In rideshare accidents, unrestrained passengers can be thrown into hard surfaces, other passengers, or even ejected from the vehicle entirely. Wearing a seatbelt helps reduce the severity of head trauma, spinal injuries, and internal damage.

Recovery When Not Wearing a Seatbelt During a Crash

If you’re involved in a collision while riding in an Uber or Lyft and weren’t wearing a seatbelt, you may still be entitled to financial compensation. That said, your claim could be affected by an assessment of your own personal actions as Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation can be reduced if your own actions contributed to your injuries.

So, if you suffer injuries that would have been less severe with a seatbelt, insurance companies or defense attorneys might argue you share some blame. It means your compensation could be lowered in proportion to your share of fault, or denied altogether if you are deemed to be primarily responsible. An experienced Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer can help you push back against unfair blame and pursue the full amount you deserve.

Whether you’re commuting across town or heading home from a night out, don’t let your guard down in a rideshare. Buckling your seatbelt only takes a second, and it can protect you from lasting harm.

Could your injury expenses be covered even though your safety belt was not engaged? If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach, contact the attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez. To schedule a confidential consultation, call 561-660-9421.