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Golden Uber and Lyft Accidents

Golden is one of the oldest cities in Colorado and was the original capital of the Colorado Territory in 1862. Since then, Golden has continued to grow while keeping a lot of its old west charm. It sits at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, providing for easy access to hiking, skiing, and outdoor recreation. However, with all the tourists and drivers from other areas passing through, accidents are all too common. 

Many residents and visitors opt for a rideshare to get around Golden to avoid parking for busy events or enable them to get home safely after having a few drinks. Lyft and Uber are convenient options but they can still be involved in a traffic accident, injuring the driver, passenger, or pedestrians

If you were injured in an accident while using Uber or Lyft in Golden, talk to a rideshare accident lawyer about your rights. The attorneys at accidentdenver.com can work to get you the maximum compensation after an injury accident in Golden, Denver, Boulder, or anywhere in Colorado. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Golden Lyft and Uber Rides

As an old mining town, Golden was not laid out with public transportation options in mind. However, there are options for getting around without a car. The West Rail Line connects Golden to Denver Union Station, with a station at the Jefferson County Government Center. There are also a  number of bike lanes and trails around Golden. However, for people who do not want to drive, bike, or take public transit, Lyft and Uber offer another option. 

Historic Downtown Golden or the Coors Brewery

Historic downtown Golden offers a number of shopping, dining, and drinking options for residents and visitors. The compact area makes it easy to walk around, stopping off to sample some drinks at a brewery or distillery, or have drinks with dinner. After a few drinks, visitors may not be in a position to drive home. Tourists who are not used to Colorado's high altitudes may underestimate the effects of having just a couple of drinks. Uber or Lyft can provide visitors with a trip safely.

The MillerCoors brewery is the largest single-site brewery in the world. Hundreds of thousands of tourists go through the Coors brewery tour every year, which ends in the tasting room, allowing visitors to sample a number of beers. After drinking the small beer samples, many visitors like to continue their visit by stopping by a bar or restaurant in Golden. Visitors can use Lyft or Uber to visit the brewery and get home without worrying about a DUI.

Rideshare Trip to the Airport 

On a good day, a drive to Denver International Airport from Golden may only take a little over half an hour. With bad traffic, it may take an hour. There are limited SkyRide buses from Golden and most public transit options require a transfer at Union Station. Rideshare trips can get travelers to and from the airport when they don't want to pay for parking or when they can't get a ride. A Lyft or Uber ride between Golden and the airport may cost around $100-$120 round trip, which can be less than a week in the economy parking lot. 

Causes of Lyft and Uber Accidents in Golden

Accidents are generally caused by driver error. Rideshare drivers can make the same mistakes or careless driving decisions, just like other drivers. However, certain types of accidents may be more common for Lyft and Uber. This includes distracted driving because drivers have to use the rideshare app to:

  • Accept a fare, 
  • Navigate to the pick-up point, 
  • Start the ride, 
  • Follow the map directions, and
  • End the ride. 

Any time a driver's attention is taken up by looking at their phone or typing something into the app, it takes the driver's attention away from the road. When looking for a place to stop to pick up or drop off a passenger, Lyft and Uber drivers may end up blocking bike lanes or interfering with traffic. Driving through busy pedestrian areas, rideshare drivers may not notice or yield to pedestrians or cyclists, increasing the risk of an accident. 

Emergency Care After a Rideshare Accident in Golden

If you are injured in a rideshare accident in Golden, or anyone else is injured, call 9-1-1. Even if there is some chance of an injury, you should consider getting medical care. Head, neck, and back injuries may not seem very serious after the accident but can get worse over time if they are not treated. For emergency medical care in Golden, ER hospitals and urgent care may include: 

Reporting a Rideshare Accident in Golden

Drivers in Colorado are required to report any accident, even a minor fender bender. If the accident was more serious, if anyone was injured, a driver is suspected of driving under the influence, or if the vehicle is disabled, the driver may be required to report the accident to the police. If the police or law enforcement respond, they will write an accident report which the driver can later request a copy of.  For a rideshare accident in and around Golden, the responding agencies may include:

For rideshare accidents, the Lyft driver or Uber driver, may also have to report the accident to their insurance company, and Lyft or Uber. The status of the Lyft or Uber driver at the time of the accident can have a big impact on recovery because different insurance coverage applies depending on the rideshare status. 

  • Offline Status: The Uber driver has not turned on the app or is not actively looking for rides. The driver's personal insurance coverage applies, a minimum of $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident; $50,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident; and $15,000 for property damage in any one accident (25/50/15). 
  • Online Status: The Uber has activated the app and is actively looking for rides but a ride has not been accepted. Increased coverage limits apply, at 50/100/30.
  • Prearranged Ride Status: The Uber driver accepts a trip, is en route to pick up the accepted ride, the rider enters the vehicle, on the trip, drops off the rider, and completes the ride. Uber's maximum coverage policy applies, with a limit of $1 million in 3rd-party liability.

Injured After a Lyft or Uber Ride in Golden

If you were injured in an Uber accident or a Lyft crash in Golden, contact accidentdenver.com. Our experienced rideshare accident attorneys will fight to get the maximum compensation available for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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