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New Study Links Ridesharing to Traffic Accident Deaths

New Study Links Ridesharing to Traffic Accident DeathsThe enormous growth of ride sharing options like Uber and Lyft has made travel significantly more convenient for Americans. In fact, according to a 2018 Gallup Poll, three in 10 Americans use Lyft or Uber, with a whopping 45 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 using the services. But something that recent research from Columbia University has brought to light is that rideshares are a major source of traffic crashes. And because ridesharing is so popular, it puts a third of us (or more) at risk of getting in a serious crash. I’ll tell you more about the study below and explain when a Northern New Jersey rideshare attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help if you sustain injuries during a rideshare trip.

Uber and Lyft Increase Traffic Accidents

Previous studies focusing on ride sharing accidents have revealed some promising data regarding the safety of ride sharing. In general, researchers have found that drunk driving crash numbers are lower in cities where ride sharing is available. However, when we look more closely at the research we can see that even when drunk driving accidents go down, total crash numbers tend to remain unchanged.

When you think about it, this makes sense: ridesharing adds more vehicles to our roadways, which would naturally lead to an uptick in the number of crashes. The Columbia University study, which focused on New York City rideshares in 2017 and 2018, collected data from 372 million trips and also looked at crash numbers in these areas. For comparison, they gathered similar data for taxis. Finally, they categorized crash injuries by type: those involving motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The results indicated that as ride sharing trips increased, crashes where motorists and pedestrians were injured also rose. Interestingly, taxi trips weren’t correlated to these types of accidents. While there is still more research to be done, the data strongly supports the fact that ride sharing isn’t as safe as we might think. After this type of accident, it can be hard to know what to do. Consulting with an experienced Northern New Jersey rideshare accident attorney is a good way to find out about your rights and whether you have a case. Buttafuoco & Associates has extensive experience with these kinds of cases, and consultations are always free.

What To Do If You Were Injured in a Rideshare Accident

While most of us know what to do after a car accident, with ridesharing crashes things can be a bit more complicated. After an accident, always seek medical help and make sure to keep copies of your medical bills. Track any time you have to take off work for your recovery, as well as all other expenses you incur as a result of the accident.

Keep in mind that after a rideshare accident, you can be compensated for your medical bills and other losses. Your first step after seeking medical help should be to get in touch with a rideshare lawyer in Northern New Jersey who has experience in rideshare claims.

At Buttafuoco & Associates, we have been helping New York and New Jersey citizens take action against negligent rideshare drivers and companies for years. We may be able to help you, too.

Get in touch with us for a free consultation to learn more about your rights and whether you have a case. Call (516) 746-8100.

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