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Uber Pedestrian Accidents in Colorado

The drivers for rideshare companies like Uber are not immune to involvement in collisions. In fact, these accidents have only become more common given the popularity of ridesharing. While most of the focus on these accidents involves collisions between two vehicles, it is important to remember that Uber driver are also frequently responsible for pedestrian accidents as well.

If you were struck by an Uber driver while on foot, you could have a viable legal claim for compensation. Pursuing this claim could lead to substantial financial recovery depending on how severe your injuries are. Let the experienced attorneys with accidentdenver.com review your case and advise you on your options for pursuing compensation right away.

How Uber Pedestrian Accidents Occur

Like with any vehicle accidents, collisions between Uber drivers and pedestrians can occur for many reasons. These accidents often occur in crosswalks or intersections, but they also have the potential to happen anywhere that Uber operates. The causes of these accidents typically involve negligent behavior on the part of the Uber driver. Some examples include:

  • Driving too fast
  • Not stopping at a crosswalk
  • Running a red light
  • Running a stop sign
  • Merging onto a roadway without looking for pedestrians
  • Driving with the headlights off
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Fatigued driving
  • Aggressive driving
  • Bad weather
  • Missing traffic signs

While driver negligence is the primary cause of these accidents, other factors can also play a part. For example, a pedestrian could be partially to blame if they step into the path of an oncoming car outside of a crosswalk. That said, drivers always have the obligation to watch for nearby passengers.

Other factors could have nothing to do with the parties involved in the crash. The accident could result from defective parts, poor road conditions, or improper mechanic repairs. In these cases, the injured pedestrian could pursue legal action against all parties that shared responsibility for the crash.

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

While technology continues to improve the outlook for passengers within a motor vehicle that are involved in a crash, there is little protection available for pedestrians. Due to this exposure, the injuries that result from being struck by a motor vehicle are often devastating.

Compared to a motor vehicle, the human body is especially fragile. Even slow-moving vehicles could cause permanent or fatal injuries if they were to strike a pedestrian. Some injuries common in pedestrian accidents include:

  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
  • Sprained joints and ligaments
  • Severe burns
  • Road rash
  • Cuts and bruises
  • Internal bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Amputation

Most of these injuries can require long-term medical care. In some cases, the results of these injuries can never be cured entirely. The cost of addressing these severe injuries can be significant, especially if continued treatment is required long after the accident.

If you have suffered these injuries due to the negligence of an Uber driver, you could be entitled to compensation. Depending on the facts of your case, you might have access to up to $1 million in liability insurance coverage through Uber's policy. An experienced Colorado Uber pedestrian accident attorney could advise you on how to move forward with a claim.

Data on Ridesharing and the Increase in Pedestrian Injuries

Over the past three decades, the United States has experienced a dramatic decrease in the number of fatalities resulting from vehicle accidents. The number of accident fatalities hit a 60-year low in 2010, but have unfortunately been climbing ever since. This is true not only for fatal auto accidents but also fatal collisions with pedestrians as well.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 2018 marked the highest number of pedestrian accident fatalities since 1990. This represented a 35 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities over the prior decade, which reversed the long trend of declining fatality numbers.

While it is clear that fatalities from pedestrian collisions are on the rise again, those figures do not immediately make it clear whether or not the increased use of ridesharing around the same time affected those numbers. In 2018, researchers from Rice University and the University of Chicago School of Business presented their research on ridehailing and traffic fatalities.

Does ridesharing increase the rate of pedestrian fatalities?

The study on the impact of ridehailing on traffic fatalities is titled The Cost of Convenience. This work, first released in May of 2018, takes an in-depth look at traffic fatalities on a city-by-city basis and compares them to the growth of ridesharing in that municipality. What the research finds is a correlation between the increased use of ridesharing and pedestrian fatalities, albeit a relatively small one.

According to the researchers, cities that allow ridesharing have seen an increase of between two and four percent in fatal pedestrian accidents since the adoption of ridesharing in the city limits. This increase applies evenly throughout the week, during both day and night time.

Part of the increase is the potential for more drivers on the roadways of large cities. According to the data, the addition of ridesharing options in cities that rely heavily on public transportation has seen an increase in vehicle registrations. The researchers speculate this increase is due to the growth of travelers using ridesharing to complement public transportation instead of replacing it. The increase in traffic on the road based on the addition of new rideshare drivers could explain how Uber could be having an impact on the increased rate of fatal pedestrian accidents.

How a Denver Uber Accident Attorney Could Help

Regardless of the studies on Uber's impact on fatal pedestrian accidents, there is no question you could be entitled to compensation if you are struck by one of their drivers in Colorado. Pursuing compensation for a pedestrian accident injury might feel intimidating, but the right legal counsel can simplify the process and assist you every step of the way.

After an accident, it is vital that you seek medical treatment right away. Once you have addressed your medical needs, contact accidentdenver.com online or call 303-642-8888 for a free consultation today.

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