Is Driving for Uber or Lyft Safe?
Uber and Lyft services have made life easier for millions of Americans. Every day, people commute to work in an Uber car or do their daily errands using Lyft. These services are both popular and useful. Obviously, Uber and Lyft attract a lot of potential employees. They pay well, and employees can work when they want and use their own cars. But many wonder – is it safe driving for Uber or Lyft?
Uber Safety Policies Protect Drivers and Passengers
Uber’s website makes it clear that the company makes every effort to ensure their customer’s safety. It screens potential drivers with a driving test and an extensive background check.
Anonymous ratings and driver profiles allow customers to get to know their drivers before they even arrive. The driver profiles contain a photo and pertinent information about the vehicle.
A code of conduct dictates how drivers and customers should act during the ride. The code covers all the basics, from safety steps to non-discrimination and non-aggressive behavior. When you get into an Uber, whether you’re driving or riding, the company assures safety.
Are Uber and Lyft Safety Policies Enough?
Lyft has a similar safety policy. Both companies have generous insurance policies to protect passengers and drivers. Both companies screen employees thoroughly before bringing them on board. And both companies use anonymous rating systems to monitor their employees. They monitor their customers, too; Uber and Lyft drivers can give feedback about their riders. If a customer was inappropriate or rowdy during the ride, you can bet he or she will have a harder time getting a driver next time.
In theory, Uber and Lyft seem to have a firm grasp on the safety of drivers as well as customers. From vehicle checks, to insurance, to constant monitoring, working as a driver seems like a safe and lucrative job. But are drivers really as safe as a first glance would suggest?
Female Drivers at Risk
Understandably, many people wonder about the safety of working as an Uber or Lyft driver – especially women. In fact, many women turn away from the opportunity. Only 14% of Uber drivers are women. Both Uber and Lyft have cashless transactions, meaning the drivers don’t have to worry about being robbed for their nightly earnings.
But still, assaults happen. One woman who drove for Uber reported being sexually harassed by an intoxicated passenger. The driver immediately reported the passenger and got several automated responses. She was finally contacted by Uber a week later. The passenger was ultimately banned from using Uber, but the process took more than a week and multiple communications.
Some argue that because Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t technically employees (they’re contract workers), they aren’t treated with as much respect as they’d like. Unfortunately, stories of sexual assault, ranging from mild to wildly inappropriate, are common for females drivers. There aren’t any insurance policies protecting against harassment, so what are your choices?
Assaults Can Happen to Anyone
Females aren’t the only people who worry about their safety, either. A California man was attacked by his male passenger, and it was captured with a dashboard camera. The passenger is permanently banned from using Uber and the driver is currently suing the passenger in a civil lawsuit. Uber drivers injured in an accident can seek compensation through insurance, but victims of assault must file a lawsuit against the individual.
Contact a San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer
Liljegren Law Group is prepared to handle cases where Uber or Lyft drivers have been assaulted or otherwise injured while on the job. Our goal is to get you fair compensation while bringing the incidents that can occur as a driver to light. Driver safety should be a priority. Contact Liljegren Law Group today to learn more.
Sources:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/04/09/female-uber-lyft-drivers/