Ideally, as the number of rideshare vehicles on the roads increases, the number of car accidents would decrease. Just the drunk drivers alone, who may now call an Uber instead of driving, should have an impact – but do they? Keep reading to find out how rideshares have affected car accident statistics. If you have suffered an injury in a rideshare accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707.
A Look at a Study from the San Francisco County Transportation Authority
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority created their own study to take a look at vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and they found that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are the largest contributors to traffic congestion in six cities, including San Francisco. The study found that there is as much as a 14% increase in traffic congestion caused by these rideshare services.
Stats for Fatal Car Accidents Can Be Misleading
Just because there are more rideshare vehicles on the road does not automatically mean that they are involved in more accidents. In fact, a cursory glance at statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can give the impression that fatalities are declining. Consider that in 1985 there were 4,960 fatal car accidents compared to just 3,602 in 2017. It seems good but a closer look paints another picture.
The issue is that since 2014, the number of fatal accidents has begun to rise. It is the first time in over 50 years that fatal accidents increased – and they continued to increase as time went on. California now has the second-highest number of pedestrian and bike fatalities involve auto accidents – second only to Florida.
More Statistics from a Different Survey
There have been additional studies done, including one done by Rice University and the University of Chicago. It determined that there is about a 3% increase in fatal car accidents as rideshare vehicles take over cities. This includes bike accidents and pedestrian accidents. Note that this is using the best information available. Direct statistics are not available because Uber and Lyft require anyone who gets a settlement from them for an accident to sign a confidentially agreement not to disclose the accident to anyone.
Do You Have Questions About Rideshare Accidents?
If you have been involved in a rideshare accident and need the help of a personal injury attorney then you can contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707. We will begin with a free legal consultation. If we determine that you have grounds for a case, and we decide to take that case, it will cost you nothing upfront. Our fee comes from the eventual settlement or jury award you receive. If we do not recover funds for you then we do not get paid.
