The Growing Concern of Rideshare Accidents and Distracted Driving

The very technology that allows rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to thrive can also create accident risk. This is because mobile devices are a way to connect with rides, but devices play a central role in distracted driving dangers, too.

With more Uber and Lyft drivers on the road than ever before, distracted driving due to cell phone use is an increasing concern, especially when it leads to accidents and injury. After a rideshare accident in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, or Vero Beach, connect with a  personal injury lawyer.

How Cell Phone Use Impacts Liability

Rideshare drivers rely on their phones for nearly every aspect of their job, from accepting rides to navigating. But when drivers divert their attention from the road to interact with these apps, they put themselves, their passengers, and others at risk. If a rideshare driver causes a crash while distracted by their phone, liability often falls squarely on them. Yet proving distraction can be challenging without proper evidence such as phone records, dashcam footage, or eyewitness accounts.

Distracted driving is broadly defined as any activity that diverts attention from driving, including texting, navigating through apps, or adjusting music. For Uber and Lyft drivers, even checking a ride request or updating a passenger’s ETA can lead to a lapse in focus that results in a crash. This is often an issue because unlike traditional taxi drivers, rideshare drivers are independent contractors using personal phones and vehicles.

Even though companies like Uber and Lyft require drivers to follow local traffic laws and discourage texting while driving, enforcement is largely reactive, meaning accountability is only triggered when something goes wrong. Additionally, the pressure to accept rides quickly and keep up with app notifications can push drivers to engage with their phones more than they should while behind the wheel.

Responsible Ways to Use Mobile Devices

While completely avoiding phone use isn’t practical for rideshare drivers, there are responsible ways to minimize risks:

• Use hands-free technology. Voice commands and Bluetooth systems allow drivers to communicate and navigate without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.
• Set up before driving. Drivers should review routes, start navigation, and adjust settings before the vehicle is in motion.
• Pull over safely. If a driver needs to respond to a message or address an app issue, they should pull over in a safe location.

Certain actions which should always be avoided while driving include typing out messages and holding the phone in one hand while driving. Switching between apps while the car is moving is dangerous as well, along with watching videos or engaging in social media. If any of these behaviors lead to your injury, connect with a  personal injury lawyer.

Was cell phone use a contributor to your accident injury? If you’ve been injured in a rideshare collision in Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, or Pompano Beach, talk to the attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez. When you are ready to access a full and fair settlement, call 561-660-9421.