Risks of Ride-Sharing You Didn’t Know About

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have, without a doubt, taken the country by storm. They’ve even put traditional taxi services in serious financial problems. Neither of these services, however, have been without their share of problems, such as Uber’s highly-publicized self-driving car accidents and reports of poor background checks.

A range of risks must be considered when using ride-sharing services, and many people don’t even contemplate those risks before tapping the “call” link on their smartphone screen. Learn about the risks of ride-sharing you didn’t know about, and find out what you can do to stay safe in today’s world of private ride-booking services.

Risks of Ride-Sharing

There’s a saying that 20 years ago, you were told never to meet anyone online, and never to get into a car with a stranger, while now we literally call strangers online for a ride. It’s quite true, and we’ve grown surprisingly trusting of services like this. That puts unwary riders at great risk of things they don’t consider. These risks of ride-sharing include inadequate insurance, poor background checks for drivers and even predators masquerading as ride-share drivers.

Lack of Insurance

It’s astounding how many Uber and Lyft drivers don’t have proper insurance for what they do. As independent contractors, they are technically required to carry business insurance on their vehicles. Normal, private auto insurance doesn’t generally cover business use by personal vehicles, which is what ride-sharing comprises.

This means that if you’re in an Uber or Lyft that is involved in an accident, your driver’s insurance may not cover your injuries. Companies often carry policies that will protect their drivers to a degree, but it’s not the same as having proper insurance coverage.

Licensing and Certification

Over the years, there’s been a wealth of reports of drivers both accosting and being accosted by riders. As a rider, you run the risk of getting into a vehicle with a driver who hasn’t undergone a thorough background check and may have a criminal record or put you at risk.

Uber and Lyft claim that they have taken steps to address this problem, but their drivers don’t need to be certified in the same way that taxi drivers do, and reports of driver harassment and even assault continue. This creates a risk for you.

Phony Drivers

A number of reports have been filed in recent years regarding unscrupulous people pretending to be ride-share drivers for the purpose of assault, robbery and even kidnapping. The risk of getting into the wrong car represents possibly the biggest risk of taking these services.

Protecting Yourself

To protect yourself against the risks of ride-sharing, be careful and ask the right questions. If your driver doesn’t have satisfactory answers, you can refuse the ride. Always check the type of car and the driver’s name and photo in your app against the car and driver you’re entering. Always sit in the back seat, just like you would in a taxi cab. Above all else, always make sure someone knows where you are and where you’re going.

Getting Representation

If you are in an accident or get hurt using a ride-sharing service, the right attorney can help you to get compensated for the harm you’ve suffered. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay area, call the Gruber Law Group for a free consultation on your case with an Uber and Lyft lawyer today.