Ridesharing in Las Vegas, Nevada
From anywhere, you can hail a ride with just a tap of your phone. Both Uber and Lyft are ridesharing or ride-hailing applications available on any smartphone device. The app connects users (or riders) with nearby screened, contracted drivers who offer rides in their vehicles to and from any local destinations.
Ridesharing has become a massive market in just 12 years since Uber launched in 2010. In the final quarter of 2021 alone, Uber earned $5.87 billion. Meanwhile, Lyft, Uber’s top competitor, reported Q4 2021 revenue of $969.9 million — an increase of 70 percent year-over-year.
Some of the many reasons people prefer using ridesharing apps over driving themselves are:
- Sober rides: Uber and Lyft offer an easy “designated driver” solution for those riders needing transportation after drinking.
- Zero parking hassle: Finding a parking spot — especially in a bustling city like Las Vegas — can feel impossible, or at least make you late for your next event. With easy pick-up and drop-off, Uber and Lyft eliminate the issue of finding a parking spot.
- No stranded vehicle: For one-way trips or runs to McCarran, a ridesharing service keeps your vehicle from being stranded or left in a parking lot for an extended time.
For all these reasons and more, ridesharing seems like the perfect solution for many Nevadans. And Uber’s statistics agree: in 2020, Uber completed 18.7 million trips per day, on average. However, though ridesharing companies designed the service to be a convenient and safe transportation option, that’s not always the case.
Is ridesharing safe?
Let’s take a closer look at Uber and Lyft’s self-reported safety statistics.
Lyft reported that between 2017 and 2019, 105 people died in fatal vehicle crashes involving a Lyft car. In Uber’s first US Safety Report issued in 2019, Uber notes that 58 Uber-related car accident fatalities occurred in 2018 alone. 96% of Uber-related fatal car accidents included another vehicle or a pedestrian or cyclist. 25% of these accidents occur in areas where the speed limit is 30-35 while less than 5% occur in areas where the speed limit is 70 or higher. About 90% of the accidents occur in urban areas.
Aside from fatal car accidents, Uber and Lyft do not publicly report how many car accidents occurred in connection with their services. Based on numbers gathered from the Association for Safe International Road Travel, we can assume that ridesharing statistics generally follow the same trends as car accidents among the general public. In that case, the total number of car accidents involving ridesharing vehicles is likely exponentially higher than the number of fatal accidents they reported.
Getting into an Uber or Lyft, like any vehicle, comes with risk.
(Car accidents aren’t the only safety issues for Uber: from 2017-2018, Uber reported 19 fatal physical assaults. In that same time period, Uber shows 5,900 sexual assault incidents were reported within the 5 most serious categories in the Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Taxonomy.)
What causes ridesharing accidents?
Car accidents involving ridesharing drivers or passengers happen for a number of reasons. Causes may include:
- Negligent or distracted drivers
- Drivers who are texting or using their phone
- Impaired drivers
- Road rage
- Rush hour
- Unsafe vehicles
- Roadway obstacles
- Speeding
What to Do Immediately After You Experience an Uber or Lyft Accident
Like any car accident, there are certain steps you should take after an accident happens with an Uber or Lyft vehicle. Whether you were a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle or were in a vehicle that was struck by an Uber or Lyft, review this article to learn the steps you should take to protect yourself and your legal rights.
Most importantly, remember to seek medical attention immediately. While you may feel okay after the accident, it’s always a good idea to have a thorough exam by a licensed medical provider. Remember: adrenaline or a state of shock could be temporarily masking symptoms that reveal less obvious injuries.
Receive the Financial Help You Deserve After a Rideshare Accident
Ridesharing accidents can leave you in pain — and buried under a rising pile of bills for surgeries, prescription medications, hospital stays, car repairs, physical therapy, and more.
Here are just a few of the issues our clients face after a car accident:
- You have medical appointments and rehabilitation for injuries such as whiplash, broken bones, spinal injuries, and more.
- You face permanent injuries or disabilities.
- You may have mental and emotional distress such as new anxiety associated with vehicles, or even PTSD that requires therapy and medication to treat.
- You suffer a significant loss of enjoyment or quality of life.
- Your mental and physical suffering could result in lost time at work — meaning you lose considerable wages or even your job itself.
After you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, recovering full and fair compensation can alleviate the financial burden of recovery. This process of financial recovery is exactly why our team of lawyers is here.
How a Las Vegas Uber or Lyft Accident Lawyer Can Make Sure You’re Not Ignored
The legal team at Henness and Haight are experienced Las Vegas car accident attorneys. We’ve helped many Las Vegas residents after a traumatizing car accident by being their trusted advocate and tireless legal representative. We fight for you, using the laws that are in place to protect you.
We feel confident standing up to the driver(s) at fault for your accident, the corporations that employ them, and their insurance companies to make sure your voice and story are heard.
We draw from over 25 years of experience fighting for car accident victims like you. With each case, we:
- Use our experience with large corporations to hold them accountable
- Guide you through the entire legal process, helping you understand your options at each step
- Gather the strongest evidence that shows the fault of the negligent party
- Help you determine the value of your less tangible damages
- Protect you from owing more money down the road by recovering compensation for future expenses, too
- Don’t charge you anything until we win a settlement for you — that’s our promise of “no win, no fee”
Choose Henness & Haight, The Experienced Rideshare Accident Lawyers
If you’ve just walked away from a car accident involving an Uber or Lyft, or have lost a loved one due to a ridesharing accident, help is here. Learn more about our Las Vegas car accident attorneys and see some of our case results, or contact us for a completely free, no-obligation consultation. You have rights and we’ll help you protect them.
Call us now at (702) 805-HELP.
Ridesharing Accident FAQ’s
Related Blog Posts
3 FAQs During Car Accident Injury Consultations
As one of Las Vegas, Nevada's top car accident injury law firms, we've seen all kinds of auto cases.
How Much is My Car Accident Case Worth
One of the first things people want to determine when talking to Las Vegas accident attorneys is how much their
Watch What You Say After a Car Accident: Here’s Why
Watch What You Say After a Car Accident: Here's Why The words you say directly after a car accident can