Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have had a huge impact on LA and its people. From the traffic impact to the environmental impact, more and more people are using these services and working for these services.
While it is still unclear what the ultimate long term impact of rideshare companies will be, it is undeniable that these companies have dramatically changed how we move around the city, how we plan trips, and even it’s impact on the environment.
The Uber and Lyft Promise
Uber and Lyft were created with the promise of improving all of our lives by saving us money and making driving easier. Los Angeles is a car town and having one is a necessity. But between the cost of insurance, gas, and the cost of the car itself — not to mention the time spent driving and the stress of traffic — driving in Los Angeles can be more pain than pleasure.
That’s where rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft come in to play. By taking care of everything in the journey, these apps can relieve many of the stressors when it comes to driving in LA. You no longer have to worry about where to park or pay exorbitant parking fees. And if you need to change plans and go across town, there’s no need to worry about whether or not you have enough gas to get there.
Uber and Lyft promise to get cars off the road by reducing the number of cars that are on the road. This is supposed to reduce traffic, pollution and best of all save you money. But, how have these rideshare apps impacted Los Angeles? And despite the safest driver’s efforts inevitably accidents happen and a Lyft accident attorney or Uber accident attorney will be needed.
Uber and Lyft Traffic Impact on Los Angeles
Traffic is bad in Los Angeles, and it is getting worse, but a new study examined the actual impact of Uber and Lyft drivers on the roads of six US cities, including in Los Angeles. The researchers showed that Uber and Lyft are contributing to the congestion in the areas they studied.
However before you blame rideshare apps for all the traffic, consider that the numbers found that the impact of Lyft and Uber on overall traffic wasn’t as drastic, with them only logging 160 million to 184.9 million miles driven compared to the approximate 11.8 billion miles that all motorists in the LA area drove int he same period.
“approximately 2-3 percent of the vehicle miles traveled in Los Angeles is done by Uber and Lyft drivers”
This means that only approximately 2-3 percent of the vehicle miles traveled in Los Angeles is done by Uber and Lyft drivers. The true culprit in the traffic is us, not so much the ridesharing apps. Traffic is a paradox, freeing up or adding new road space doesn’t reduce congestion; it just creates more driving. The only way to reduce traffic yourself is to avoid going out when the roads are already congested.
Still, two to three percent of traffic means that the likelihood of being involved in a rideshare accident and needing an Uber accident attorney, or a Lyft accident attorney is more likely than you think.
Emission numbers since Uber and Lyft
Let’s take a look at the impact of Uber and Lyft on emission numbers since they started. Transportation is the leading source of carbon pollution in the nation, and Uber and Lyft are part of that pollution problem.
A bill in the California State Senate would mandate that starting in 2023 20% of the miles traveled by ridesharing cars would be in zero-emission vehicles, then rise to 50% by 2026 and then by 2030 100% of vehicles purchased, leased, or contracted by the services would need to be zero-emission vehicles.
These laws will have a major impact on not only Uber and Lyft networks but only National Electric Vehicle Market. Uber and Lyft have more than 200,000 drivers on their platform some California making it a huge potential market. However, the problem lies in the fact that Uber and Lyft don’t own most of the cars that are used in their service.
So California has aggressively adopted discounted leases and purchase programs for drivers. Lyft has voiced concern about it saying that the majority of the drivers are part-time and use Lyft to supplement their income. however both Uber and Lyft are eager to move from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric ones.
Accidents Involving Drivers and How an Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Can Help
The big question is what to do when involved in an accident as an Uber or Lyft driver or as a passenger using one of the rideshare services.
You may have medical expenses that need to be covered, or you might be out of work because of your injuries or your suffering from pain. You want to take your case to an experienced Uber and Lyft accident attorney. Uber and Lyft websites aren’t very clear and lack instructions on what to do in case of an accident. They instruct the drivers to call 911 and to make sure their passengers are okay. Additionally, they do have a trust and safety team which reaches out to passengers in the event of an accident. They provide the passenger with insurance information and attempt to manage the crisis.
Taking your case to an Uber and Lyft accident attorney can mean that you can focus solely on your recovery while they focus on making sure that you are fairly compensated for your damages. Make sure that you get as much information as you can about the accident taking note of the location time of day and road conditions. If you’re were a passenger you should get the information for your driver as well as any other drivers involved in the crash.
If you are a driver, Uber and Lyft have an insurance policy, but you should be sure to know what your insurance provides when driving one of the rideshare services.
Be sure that your policy includes using your vehicle to provide rideshare services otherwise you may be responsible for damages. If you have any questions reach out to contact an experienced Uber accident attorney and Lyft accident attorney. Call The Shirvanian and Law Firm at 818-835-5396 to schedule a consultation today.
