Every day, distracted drivers kill and injure people in the United States. Any driver who takes their eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel, or concentration away from driving safely is distracted and can cause a devastating accident. Uber and Lyft drivers are no exception. 
How Rideshare Drivers Get Distracted
Uber and Lyft drivers can get distracted the same way other drivers do. For example, any driver can be distracted by cell phones, other electronic devices, eating, drinking, talking to passengers, reading directions, listening to music, and daydreaming.
However, rideshare drivers also face some unique distractions such as:
- The rideshare app. Uber requires drivers to respond to driver alerts within 15 seconds. The failure to respond to an alert can result in lost fares or other consequences. Thus, Uber drivers face pressure to respond to driver alerts even while driving.
- GPS. Passengers often ask rideshare drivers to take them to or from places that the rideshare driver has never been before. This requires Uber and Lyft drivers to use GPS often.
- New passengers. Passengers may want to talk to the driver which takes the driver’s attention off of driving safely.
Who Pays for a Distracted Uber or Lyft Driver’s Accident?
Rideshare passengers should not pay for their own car accident injuries. However, if you want someone else to pay for your medical costs, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, pain, suffering, and other damages, you need to prove who is liable for your rideshare crash. Some options include:
- The rideshare company. When an Uber or Lyft driver is working, the rideshare company’s insurance policy is in effect and should cover passengers who are hurt in an accident.
- The Uber or Lyft driver. If the rideshare driver was not working for the rideshare company at the time of the crash, the driver’s personal auto insurance may cover your accident damages.
- Another driver. Sometimes, rideshare drivers do everything right and an accident still occurs because of another driver’s negligence. In these cases, the other driver’s insurer should pay for your accident damages.
Don’t let these choices overwhelm you. Instead, contact an experienced Florida panhandle rideshare accident lawyer for a free and confidential consultation. Attorney Coy Browning will thoroughly investigate your accident and fight for your recovery from the right insurers or take your case to court to get you the compensation you deserve. Learn more by calling us or starting an online chat with us today.
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