Drowsy Ride Sharing Drivers Causing Car Accidents and Injuries to Passengers

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we protect the interests of our clients in and around Wilmington, Newark, and Seaford who have been injured in a crash caused by an Uber, Lyft or other ridesharing driver. If you have sustained an injury in a car crash while using a ride-share service, please contact us.

Passengers who use ridesharing apps such as Uber or Lyft have no idea how long their driver has been driving when they get into the car that arrives to pick them up. Rideshare drivers are just your average person who is working a side hustle to earn some extra cash and not a professional driver, and there are no regulations to limit the number of hours they can drive. If a driver is pushing themselves to make more money, Uber does not place a limit on how many hours their drivers may drive. The Lyft app limits drivers to 14 hours and does not let them back on the app for six hours to allow them to get some rest. There is also no regulation that keeps a person from driving for both ridesharing services.

Many people think that if they take a break and have a cup of coffee they should be good to put in another work day driving after they get home from their day job, but what exactly are the dangers any driver faces when they get behind the wheel and drive despite not having gotten enough sleep, or from sheer exhaustion?

The perils of drowsy driving

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep while driving in the past 30 days. The NHTS estimates that drowsy driving was to blame for 72,000 crashes and 800 deaths in 2013. Drowsy driving makes drivers less able to pay attention on the road, slows their reaction time and affects the driver’s ability to make good decisions. (CDC)

Why do Uber and Lyft drivers push themselves to drive so many hours?

Many drivers put in 16 hours or more because the pay is low, or because of enticing incentives and bonuses for completing a given number of rides within a specified time frame. In a story on USAToday.com, Uber is quoted as saying that just 7% of their drivers work more than 50 hours per week, and more than half of their drivers work less than 10 hours each week.

What to do if you encounter a rideshare driver who looks exhausted? Van Winkle’s blog suggests that you give the driver a low rating and to add a note in the comments section about why you are giving them the low rating.

If you are looking for strong legal advocacy after you have been injured in a car crash, you are welcome to call 302-888-2900 or complete our contact form to make a free appointment with an experienced car accident lawyer. At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we have conveniently located offices in Wilmington, Newark and Seaford.