Next to Uber, Lyft is one of the most popular ride-sharing services in the state of New Jersey. Lyft is an alternative to a traditional taxi service, in which you may use its app to order a car that will transport you from Point A to Point B at your convenience. This may be considered a safer transportation option than, say, driving yourself after drinking alcohol or taking public transportation at nighttime. However, it still poses possible risks. That said, read on to discover the potential dangers of riding in a Lyft and how one of the seasoned Bergen County auto accident attorneys at McNerney & McAuliffe can come to your aid if you are ever put in such a threatening situation.
What are the safety measures the Lyft company implements for its drivers?
You must know that the Lyft company does its due diligence in implementing safety measures to ensure the safety of its drivers and subsequently its riders. More specific examples read as follows:
- The company expects its drivers to comply with a criminal background check, as part of their application process.
- The company expects its drivers to attend a community safety education program, to learn how to handle challenging situations and promote a safe ride.
- The company expects its riders to accompany minor children, along with bringing a car seat when necessary.
- The company allows for two-way ratings, so that it may deactivate drivers from their roster when necessary.
- The company monitors rides in progress, to detect any unusual activity and asks its riders to confirm their safety when necessary.
- The company carries insurance for covered accidents (i.e., third-party auto liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, etc), if such an unfortunate event occurs.
What are the potential dangers of riding in a Lyft ride-sharing vehicle?
Most unfortunately, even with these abundantly thorough safety measures in place, you may not be immune to a car accident when riding in a Lyft ride-sharing vehicle. This is because, for one, you cannot control the negligent behavior of other drivers you must share the New Jersey road with. For example, you have made the responsible decision of ordering a car service after drinking alcohol, but another driver on the road might not have.
Or, your usually careful Lyft driver may have made a one-off mistake when you just so happened to be in the vehicle with them. For example, your Lyft driver may have been speeding well above the enforced speed limit in an effort to efficiently complete your ride and accept another one.
Whatever the exact catalyst was for your ride-share accident, you must look into Lyft’s insurance policy for potential compensation. Better yet, you must look into your legal options for the matter (i.e., a potential personal injury claim).
In conclusion, if you believe you need a nudge in the right direction, you should feel comfortable turning to one of the competent Bergen County personal injury attorneys for aid. With that being said, do not hesitate to contact McNerney & McAuliffe.
