Study shows a link in rise of Lyft and Uber fatal car accidents

For Louisiana residents, there are obvious dangers on the road. They will be aware of them and keep a close watch for these risks when out and about as drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. That includes distracted drivers, drunk drivers, negligent drivers and more. There are other risks people will face and, frequently, they will not even realize that it is impacting their safety. They can cause a car accident with catastrophic injuries just as easily as the above-listed, known issues. The common denominator in any crash is that there can be injuries and fatalities, and those who were impacted must remember their rights to attempt to seek compensation in a lawsuit.

The University of Chicago and Rice University combined on a study that indicates ride-sharing services are playing a role in the increase of fatal car accidents in the past few years. In 2010, the U.S. saw a reduction in deaths in traffic accidents that reached levels of safety not seen since 1949. This was just prior to the widespread expansion of ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft. After that, the fatality numbers began to increase. According to one of the researchers, there was a rise of 2 to 3 percent in fatalities.

The researchers examined National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics for fatalities and compared them to Uber and Lyft statistics in specific cities. They compared that to vehicle miles traveled, known as “VMT.” With the expected rise of VMT, there were also a growing number of fatal auto accidents. As with any study, the in-depth details are key and it is not yet known if there is a significant correlation between the fatalities and Uber and Lyft taking to the roads in a significant way.

The cause is key with any car accident and seeking compensation in a legal filing. For people who have suffered injuries, are faced with medical expenses, lost wages or have lost a loved one, a crash can be life-changing. This research is an indicator that car accidents can happen for reasons that might otherwise not have been considered.