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CU Boulder Lyft and Uber Accidents

Many CU Boulder students like the convenience of ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber. Lyft and Uber are great for getting around Boulder without having to have a car, and when biking or the bus are not practical. However, rideshares can still be involved in motor vehicle accidents, just like any other vehicle. 

When a student, visitor, or faculty is injured in a car accident involving a rideshare vehicle, it is important to know what to do to make sure they get proper medical care and the person responsible for the accident is held accountable. 

After a Rideshare Accident on CU Boulder Campus

If anyone is injured in an accident, the fastest way to get help is to call 9-1-1. When calling 911 from a cell phone, your call will go to the Boulder Police Department dispatch center. If you tell the dispatcher that you are on the CU Boulder campus, your call will be forwarded to the CUPD dispatch. If you call 911 from a landline, it will connect directly to CUPD dispatch. You can also text 9-1-1 anywhere in Boulder County. 

If you are in harm's way, move to safety. Drivers in Colorado are required to report all accidents to law enforcement. If law enforcement do not respond, the parties involved in the accident should exchange information from the other parties and report the accident to the police or online through the DMV. 

Types of Rideshare Accidents in Boulder

There is a lot of activity going on at the University of Colorado Boulder campus day and night. Students are walking, biking, scootering, and skateboarding across campus, sharing the roads with cars and buses. On-campus traffic can peak during graduation, orientation, and during basketball or football games.

Some students may be distracted by their phones or have headphones in that don't let them hear approaching cars. At the same time, some drivers may be driving too fast or texting and driving, presenting a danger for pedestrians and cyclists. Accidents involving a rideshare vehicle or delivery app driver may include: 

In 2019, CUPD issued 817 traffic citations and made 54 DUI arrests for on-campus violations.

According to the 2019 Safe Streets Boulder Report, there are four intersections with more than 100 crashes between 2015 and 2017. This includes a couple of intersections that are right off CU campus, including: 

  • Baseline Road and Broadway
  • Arapahoe Avenue and 28th Street

Pedestrian or Cyclist Accident on Campus by Rideshare Driver

Some of the problems caused by Lyft and Uber vehicles has to do with how they drive when dropping off and picking up passengers. They may not be going fast but the rideshare driver is often distracted, looking for an address, a place to pull over, or searching for the passenger. Many cyclists and pedestrians have experienced close calls with a rideshare driver distracted by their phone. 

Doored Cyclists with Lyft and Uber Passengers

Another problem involves passengers getting out of the Lyft or Uber while the car is blocking a bike lane, putting cyclists in danger of hitting an open car door. Dooring is one of the most common accidents for cyclists in urban areas. A cyclist may be riding along parked cars when a driver or passenger suddenly opens a door. The cyclist may have no time to react and crashes into the door, possibly breaking the window or landing on their head. Many inexperienced Lyft and Uber drivers don't know that it is a violation Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1207 to leave a door open in traffic. 

Emergency Medical Care After a Rideshare Accident at CU Boulder

For anyone who suffers an injury on the CU Boulder campus, the closest 24 hour emergency department is:

If you are not sure if you are seriously injured, you should still consider getting medical attention. Many head, neck, and back injuries may not show symptoms immediately. It may take hours or days later before symptoms of a more serious injury begin to emerge. Early diagnosis and treatment of head and spinal injuries can improve the outcome. 

Injured After a Lyft or Uber Ride in Boulder?

If you are injured in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, as the passenger, drivers, or pedestrian, you may be left with expensive medical bills and pain. The person responsible for the accident should have to pay for the costs of your injuries, including medical treatment, loss of income, and other damages. If you were injured in a Lyft or Uber accident, contact accidentdenver.com. Our experienced Boulder auto accident attorneys will fight to get the maximum compensation available for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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