Uber and Lyft Drivers that Drive Erratic or Put You In Danger

Is it possible that while someone was “on the job,” they decide to partake in erratic or even dangerous behavior? More than a handful of people now have stories of Uber, and Lyft rides gone wrong. From street racing to kidnapping and nearly everything in between. Uber or Lyft drivers are subject to the same frustrations that we are, but when they take it to a level or road rage, they put others in danger.

If you’ve been injured in an Uber of Lyft accident, contact an experienced Uber wreck attorney in Beaumont, TX right away.

The Responsibilities of Uber and Lyft Drivers

Uber has a process to vet their drivers before they actually allow anyone on the road as a driver. They go through a background check that looks for violent crime, driving violations, impaired driving history, and more. Unfortunately, one key element here is that they can only check for convictions and traffic incidences, which were reported to the Texas DPS. If the incidents weren’t reported to the Texas DPS, then there wouldn’t be points on their license or the state’s conviction based charges.

Basically, if you fought a ticket and won, then that won’t be on there. If a driver was charged with driving under the influence, but the cop doesn’t show up, and the case is dismissed, then that won’t be on their record either.

Uber and Lyft collectively do quite a bit to ensure that they’re hiring safe drivers. But that doesn’t mean that every driver is on the level that you would get from a taxi driver or professional driver through a private service.

What Happens When Uber or Lyft Drivers Don’t Stick to the Standard Rules

When drivers deviate from the safety expectations of the rideshare service, they are often left without a job after the fact. Uber or Lyft may choose not to extend their policy coverage to that driver, but the passengers should still receive compensation.

In recent cases, there has been clear criminal action as well with Uber or Lyft supporting the investigation and participating fully. For example, a recent Uber passenger live-streamed an event of her Uber driver participating in a high-speed chase. But, they weren’t running from the police, the driver had entered a state of road rage. After being rear-ended or possibly only tailgated, the driver pursued the vehicle chasing them down with erratic driving maneuvers.

In that situation, the Virginia driver was charged with kidnapping as the passenger made it clear that she and her children needed to exit the vehicle. She repeats multiple times that the driving is unsafe and not appropriate. So will Texas handle it the same way?

We can’t speak to the full extent of what Texas police might do. However, there are strict laws on driver conduct in Texas. You should expect the police to intervene in situations that clearly put your safety at risk.

Can Your Uber Ride Result in a Crash?

Uber crashes do happen, although they happen at much lower rates than people imagine. What happens is that the police take a report, Uber collects all the data related to the crash and then their policy kick in. The Uber $1 million policy is now well-known, but it only covers the extent of damages necessary.

If your ride results in a crash, as a passenger, you have options to report unsafe conditions from your side of the app. The driver will also need to report the crash through their side of the app. It doesn’t matter if the wreck was the driver’s fault or not. As a passenger, you’re protected.

What Happens if That Driver Was At Fault?

Now, if the driver was at-fault, you can still pursue the compensation that you need, but often it can become more complicated then it should be. You may need to show proof of your involvement, which means that you should screenshot your Uber ride every time you order and end an Uber order.

Additionally, if the driver was at fault, they may hesitate to report the incident or ask that you don’t report it. You should always report these crashes and ensure that you’re on the right path with local law enforcement. As a passenger, if the driver hasn’t filed a police report, you can.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Texas Help Your Case

When you’re recovering from a traumatic and terrifying wreck with an Uber driver, you need some help. Filing a claim with Uber or Lyft is relatively easy, but calculating the value of your claim is not. A car crash injury attorney in Texas would go through the value of your damages, including pain and suffering, to understand what you should be able to recover as a passenger.