Ridesharing services are increasingly popular for their convenience, but they present several safety risks. An Uber or Lyft accident can cause serious injuries and raise complicated issues of liability. While passengers have no control over their ridesharing driver’s behavior and driving abilities, there are other safety aspects they can consider.
A national survey released in March found that half of U.S. parents skip car or booster seats when traveling in ridesharing vehicles with children eight years old or younger. Even parents who typically use child car seats have trouble using them when taking Uber or Lyft. The study found that “parents may view traveling in rideshare services as different, in terms of risk and legal requirements, than traveling in their family vehicle.”
Dr. Michelle Macy, a pediatric physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and her team surveyed parents across the country. They found that families were less likely to use appropriate car or booster seats for children between the ages of three and eight.
Car accidents are a leading cause of death among children younger than age 10, according to Macy. Traveling without a child safety seat increases the risk of injuries or death in a collision.
Car seat laws vary from state to state. In Illinois, parents are responsible for ensuring children under eight years old are correctly secured in a child safety seat. The law does not specify whether the same requirements apply to ridesharing vehicles like Uber or Lyft.
It is unlikely that parents will be ticketed if their child is not buckled into a car seat or that a ridesharing driver will refuse to transport them. However, the real risk is to the child’s safety. Using an appropriate car seat can help protect children in case of an Uber or Lyft accident.
If you or a family member has been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, contact the experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. We can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable and recover compensation for your injuries.