Uber’s Safety Report Reveals Disturbing Passenger and Driver Claims
The rise of Uber and other ridesharing companies in New Hampshire and other states has offered working opportunities to car owners and presented a convenient and reliable method of transportation for commuters.
However, there are many risks and legal challenges associated with riding with Uber, especially if a driver or passenger suffers a personal injury in an Uber accident.
Riding with Uber introduces a set of safety concerns, not to mention that anyone who gets into a car accident involving Uber can have a hard time seeking compensation.
The Results of Uber’s First-Ever Safety Report Are Disturbing
Amid rising concerns regarding the safety of Uber passengers and drivers, the ride-hailing company launched a 21-month study to review its safety standards. The study involved analyzing their business practices by examining a plethora of requests and complaints from their drivers, riders, and customers.
Uber categorized those requests according to severity and response. According to The New York Times, the first-ever safety report by Uber revealed over 3,000 reports of sexual assault and nine murders in 2018.
The disturbing report revealed that there are about 3,000 cases of sexual assault each year. Additionally, the safety report also showed more than 5,500 incidents of groping, unwanted sexual advances, and inappropriate touching in 2018.
The nine murders in 2018 and 10 in 2017 accounted for driver and passenger deaths. Also, Uber recorded nearly 60 fatal accidents involving its ridesharing vehicles in 2018. In the preceding year, there were 49 deadly crashes involving Uber cars.
Uber insists that its efforts to perform the safety examination and willingness to report the results are an indication that the company is dedicated to addressing their drivers’ and riders’ concerns. The company wants its customers to review the results of the study in the context of nationwide numbers related to motor vehicle collisions, sexual assaults, and violence against women, as well as murder rates in the U.S.
Can You Recover Damages in a New Hampshire Uber Accident?
Uber has the $1 million liability insurance policy that covers bodily injury and property damages for drivers, passengers, riders, pedestrians, and other parties. However, the coverage is not available to everyone. Uber’s $1 million coverage applies only if the driver is (a) logged into the app and is transporting passengers (or on their way to the pickup location).
Thus, if the driver logged into the Uber app but has not accepted a ride when a car collision occurred, the victim cannot seek compensation through Uber’s $1 million liability insurance policy. Instead, they may be able to recover damages via the driver’s personal insurance policy – which may have an exclusion for Uber-related driving!
Speak with our Manchester personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC to determine whether you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the Uber driver or can sue another liable party. Contact our law offices to evaluate your options. Call at 603-624-7200 today.
Resource:
nytimes.com/2019/12/05/technology/uber-sexual-assaults-murders-deaths-safety.html
