March 1, 2023
Car Accidents
Ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft are extremely popular for travelers these days. The ridesharing services have made it easy for anyone to earn extra cash by driving around passengers, and it has increased access to passengers for affordable and timely travel. However, these services can still have serious problems. According to an Uber accident lawyer from our friends at the Eskesen Law Firm, if you feel unsafe with your ridesharing service, then you should follow these tips:
Verify the Driver
Uber provides you with a picture of the driver, color of the vehicle, make and model of the car, and even the license plate number of the vehicle that is going to pick you up. If even a single one of these details does not match the information you were provided, then you should not get into that car. If you feel unsafe, call 911. If you are in a safe place but still worried about your safety — although you are not in immediate danger — you can reach out to the ridesharing service for help.
Avoid Personal Questions
If you are traveling alone, it is best not to answer personal questions with information that will help a stranger identify you. For example, if a driver asks what you do for work, you can say your position, but it is best not to mention the company name or location. You can always shut down personal questions by saying you would prefer to ride in silence. If your driver becomes pushy, it is probably best to end the ride there. Ask them to pull over and let you out.
Use Safety Measures
Even if you are traveling in a group, your driver may still make you feel uncomfortable. If this is the case, let them know that you are expected somewhere at a certain time. You can also phone a friend — or even pretend to call someone — so that your driver believes you are talking with someone else. You can also tell your driver that you have shared your location with other people who are keeping track of your whereabouts. Before you even enter the car, it is a good practice to take a photo of the vehicle and license plate, and if they do not mind, the driver. Send this information to a loved one for safe keeping in case of emergency.
Track the Drive
There have actually been a few cases where drivers attempted to kidnap passengers — or keep them in the car until they paid more money — by not taking passengers to their originally intended destination. If you are not familiar with the area, pull up a map on your phone and follow along with your route to ensure that you are going where you are supposed to be going. If at any point and time your driver strays from the path they should be taking, speak up and let them know you are keeping track of the route.
Contact a Lawyer
If your rideshare driver drives recklessly, attempts to contact you after the ride is over in an inappropriate manner, or if verbal — or even physical — abuse occurred during your ride, contact a lawyer near you for help immediately.
