Whether you feel safer in a rideshare than you do in a taxi, or you feel safer in a taxi than a rideshare, it is important to know what factors could affect your likelihood of being involved in a car accident. Keep reading to find out about one potentially huge issue that could be putting you in danger every time you get into an Uber or Lyft.
An Announcement from the Center for Auto Safety
The Center for Auto Safety has announced that it sent letters to various CEOs of rideshare companies. In these letters, the CAS insisted that these rideshare companies have any recall vehicles removed from their platforms. The CAS is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that says that rideshare companies could get rid of these vehicles with nothing more than the push of a button.
They point in particular that these rideshare companies claim not to be in the business of providing taxis or driving services but in the “technology industry.” If that is true, CAS argues, then there is no reason that these potentially dangerous vehicles cannot be easily removed from their databases.
Are Recalled Vehicles Really That Dangerous?
Yes. Recalled vehicles that have not been repaired can potentially injure or kill passengers, drivers, bike riders, and even pedestrians. Takata airbag inflators alone, which have long been known to be defective, have led to at last 24 deaths in the world. A GM ignition switch, also a well-known issue, resulted in around 170 deaths just in the United States.
In addition to these types of huge recalls, there have also been smaller recalls for many different safety features in vehicles. From airbags that are not deploying to vehicles that could catch fire, recalls are to be taken seriously as they can save lives.
How Serious of an Issue is This in Rideshare Vehicles?
While it is easy to see that recalled vehicles are an issue, the question may be: Does this really affect many rideshare vehicles? According to a study from Consumer Reports, yes, it is an issue. They found in May 2019 that one in six vehicles operating on Uber and/or Lyft within NYC or Seattle had at least one safety recall that has not been addressed.
What to Do if You Have Been Injured in a Rideshare Vehicle
If you are injured in a rideshare vehicle then you should contact a personal injury attorney. Even if the insurance company of the driver offers you a settlement, do not take it without talking to an attorney. It is easy to do so: Just contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. We can go over the basics and give you our legal opinion on how you can proceed.
