Not a day goes by when there is not an advertisement, a discussion or a reference to the relatively new phenomenon of ride-sharing services. This is a part of daily life in Louisiana and across the nation. It is clearly here to stay with positives and negatives. One potential negative has come to light from research that indicates there has been an increase in auto accident fatalities as Uber, Lyft and other services have grown to prominence. And, those who have been in an auto accident should be aware of this phenomenon and consider it as a factor if they seek compensation after an accident through a legal filing.
From 2011 to 2016, there was a 2 to 3 percent increase in the number of deaths for people riding in vehicles and pedestrians. Prior to this increase, there had been a drastic reduction in fatal auto accidents from the 1980’s to 2010.
In that year, there were just short of 33,000 fatalities. This was the fewest in around seven decades. By 2014, however, that had turned completely around, and the numbers rose. This coincided with the growing amount of ride-sharing services.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics were used, and it was compared with the data of the ride-sharing services. Also examined was the amount of gas drivers used, the number of cars that were registered and the amount of time drivers were in traffic in the 2,955 areas that were studied. Researchers discovered that when there was a launch of ride-sharing in a location, the fatal accidents increased along with the above-factors of gas use, time in traffic and miles traveled.
Large cities and impoverished cities had the bulk of the accidents. Researchers think that people might shun public transport to use ride-sharing services, leading to more drivers being on the road and causing a higher chance of accidents through volume. Naturally, ride-sharing services disagree with these assessments.
The information from this study adds a layer to the concerns that people should have. A car accident can have a life-changing impact on a person and their family with medical expenses, the inability to work, problems taking part in family activities and more. That is if the person survives.
With a fatality, the family will be without a loved one because of a car crash. Having legal assistance to examine the circumstances of the case is key to determine its cause and to pursue a legal filing for compensation. A law firm experienced in car accidents can help.
