Ridesharing services offer convenience, but that should never come at the expense of feeling safe. Every person has a right to preserve their own personal safety. In the case of feeling unsafe with a Lyft driver, that passenger has a right to cancel their trip at any point in time they do not feel safe. They also have a right to report the actions of their driver to Lyft and the police as deemed necessary.
Trusting your instincts and exercising these rights might even help you avoid an accident, preventing the need for a Lyft accident attorney in San Francisco. To help you feel safer and reduce your chances of an unpleasant ride, you can use any or all of the following actions when your Lyft driver gives off bad vibes.
Use Your Senses to Make Specific Observations
Your first step is to quickly qualify what it is that is making you feel uncomfortable. While no one should have to defend their personal safety decisions to others, making specific observations about the driver’s appearance and behavior can help Lyft, police and others understand what gave you red flags.
For instance, if the driver made specific menacing statements or had visible modifications to their car like a blacked out divider, then others would naturally agree that your fear was justified. Most women in particular have a long history of dealing with men who put them in situations that cause them dread, so recalling these similarities between your current driver and past experience can help others connect the dots.
Make particular note if the driver appears to be blatantly violating the law or Lyft’s safety policies. Lyft does not allow weapons of any kind in a vehicle that is actively carrying and seeking out passengers, for instance. They also have a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol. California laws also enable you to report specific crimes, such as sexual battery for any unwanted touching.
Cancel Your Trip
If your driver gives off red flags as they arrive to pick you up, or they say or do something during your trip that makes you fearful, you have a right to cancel your trip at any time. Note that Lyft may attempt to charge you a $5 or more cancellation fee if the driver has already arrived, and they will likely charge you for the trip distance you have travelled before cancellation. You can speak with their customer service reps to often have these fees waived.
If your vehicle is in motion, ask for the driver to immediately stop at the next safe drop-off point.
Report Your Driver
Lyft should know if one of their drivers is breaking the law, violating their policies or making passengers uncomfortable. You can report them to Lyft. You should also dial 911 anytime you feel threatened or in an emergency situation, such as if your driver is taking you somewhere clearly not on the way to your destination and they refuse to listen to your pleas to stop or turn around.
Note that you can leave a three star review or below to ensure that you never get matched with the driver again.
Protect Your Privacy
If you wish to protect your personal information from Lyft drivers for any reason, you can have them meet you somewhere that is not your work or home address, and you can also have them drop you off within a block of your actual destination. You can decline to reveal personal information about yourself during the ride, such as where you work and what businesses like to visit.
What to Do if You Are Injured by a Lyft Driver
If your Lyft driver makes injures you, either through an accident or through a physical person-to-person attack, note you have a right to compensation through a civil claim. If you have been in a vehicle accident, stay at the scene and report the details of the accident to the police, including your injuries.
If you have been attacked or verbally threatened, flee the scene and dial 911 as soon as possible.
In either event, try to recall specific events as clearly as possible, and give these details to a law enforcement officer. You can then work with a San Francisco Lyft accident attorney who can help you seek out the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Leave a Reply