The Cost of Convenience: Delivery and Rideshare Accidents
You have probably seen a parade of Amazon delivery trucks traversing North Military Trail in Boca Raton or Uber Eats drivers dropping off lunch to workers in Delray Beach and Coral Springs corporate office parks. Residents of Boynton Beach and Deerfield Beach conveniently and regularly receive packages at their homes. With the influx of e-commerce delivery services and rideshare vehicles on the road, there are significantly more opportunities to be involved in an accident.
Increases in car accidents are largely being caused by surging road congestion. Delivery services, such as Uber Eats, GrubHub, Postmates, UPS, FedEx, and DoorDash, along with rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, increase traffic and road usage, and research suggests these services directly add to traffic accidents.
Delivery and rideshare drivers are often distracted by the apps used by their companies to arrange pickups and deliveries. As a result, delivery drivers are more than twice as likely as other drivers to engage in any distracting activity. They are nearly four times as likely to regularly use smartphone apps while driving, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
A World Economic Forum report estimates there will be over one-third more delivery vehicles on the roads by 2030. Researchers at Rice University and the University of Chicago School of Business looked at data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and CrashStats and found an uptick in fatal car crashes after Uber and Lyft launched in a city. There has been a 3% annual increase in vehicular deaths linked to the prevalence of rideshare services, which translates to approximately 987 additional roadway deaths each year attributed to the presence of rideshare services.
Passengers, pedestrians, and drivers injured by a rideshare or delivery service may pursue compensation for their injuries, including through the rideshare or delivery company’s insurance as well as other sources. Every accident has circumstances that make it unique, and personal injury claims involving rideshare and delivery services present different obligations and liability issues, which is why it’s important to get the advice of an attorney for how to best move forward.
Put our experience and track record of success to work for you. We protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries and other damages. Kobren Law personal injury attorneys assist accident victims in pursuing compensation to ensure a full medical and financial recovery. Contact our knowledgeable and compassionate Florida personal injury law firm online or call us at 561-361-8677. We are available to speak with you 24/7 about your potential avenues for recovery.
