Ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber have taken the nation by storm. Thousands upon thousands of people rely on these services in lieu of taxi cabs every day to get to work, go on dates, and even to do their grocery shopping. But as people begin to view these services as a great thing for economy and entrepreneurship, there are concerns about the safety of getting into these cars.
Is your teenager safe taking an Uber to get around town every day? Do the current laws do enough to protect them? Learn about how the current laws regulating ridesharing services may not represent the safest option for your kids, and how an Uber accident attorney can help.
Laws Regulating Ridesharing Services
California requires that all workers who might encounter or be left alone with children to undergo extensive criminal background checks and clearances, including fingerprinting. However, these laws do not extend to ridesharing services and the Public Utilities Commission counts on companies to enforce their own rules to keep kids safe.
Unfortunately, companies that offer such services don’t bother to enforce the rules and ignore them every single day. Many teens find themselves in very uncomfortable situations with drivers who make unwelcome advances towards them. Even worse, these companies prioritize their drivers over the safety of their passengers.
Difficulty Enforcing Laws
When a driver makes unwelcome advances towards a passenger in an Uber, the company will not release the name or information to that driver, even to law enforcement, without a formal subpoena. Unfortunately, when the allegations are of a misdemeanor nature, it’s almost impossible to get a search warrant. This leaves a lot of teens out in the cold.
Uber also uses their drivers’ status as independent contractors to avoid lawsuits. They also point out that their guidelines require customers to be at least 18 to ride alone, and those who violate those guidelines can lose access to the company. Uber’s main competition, Lyft, has the same guidelines in place.
Ignoring the Rules
Unfortunately, too many drivers from these services simply ignore the rules of their own employers. Many Bay Area drivers willfully break the rules and allow underage kids in their cars. These kids and their unknowing parents allow the use of rideshare services as substitute school buses to get teens to and from classes. While some drivers deny underage requests, others actively accept them, and the companies have been accused of turning a blind eye to the problem.
Uber Accident Attorneys and Protecting Kids
Currently, there is a push for more stringent regulations regarding these services, but it only takes one incident to ruin a child for life. As it stands, the best strategy is to not allow your child in a ridesharing car unless you are with them.
However, if your child does encounter a situation like this, they are entitled and have the right to pursue legal recompense for what they’ve suffered. In this case, you want a qualified and experienced Uber accident attorney in your corner.
If your child has been the victim of unwanted advances, aggression or injury due to an irresponsible Uber driver in San Francisco, Gruber Law can help. Give us a call for a free consultation about your case today.