Ride apps can be an enormous convenience in Tennessee and across the United States. For people who need a ride, the ability to press a button on their cellphone and be picked up can enhance safety and provide them with the means to get back and forth with few worries. This is especially useful when a person is planning for a night out and does not want to take the inherent risks of driving after drinking or while using a cellphone.
Still, car accidents can happen in many different circumstances and a new study shows that pedestrian-car accident statistics have remained the same with ride-sharing apps viewed as a culprit. These apps came to prominence in 2010 and in the past 10 years, they have been used approximately 11 billion times. On a positive note, there has been a reduction in drunk driving accidents. However, there has not been a commensurate decrease in accidents in general.
Researchers from Columbia University oversaw the study. It was found that there was a worrisome rise in pedestrians and motorists being hurt at locations where ride-sharing vehicles made pickups and dropped passengers off. It is believed that distraction is a reason for this spike. With pedestrians immersed in their cellphones when they are walking and drivers using their devices to find passengers and use GPS, it is a potentially lethal combination.
The study focused on New York City and assessed 373 million rides between 2017 and 2018. It centered its research on the locations of pickups and drop offs and how many calls were made by passengers. The ride sharing apps were connected to a rise in accidents with injuries. Drivers and pedestrians are advised show greater vigilance, especially when using devices and in high-risk locations.
Using ride-sharing apps is meant to enhance safety, but this study shows there is unexpected danger associated with them. After an accident, injuries and fatalities can result. In the current environment, distraction is a prominent cause of many auto accidents and that has extended to people who are not even driving. To recover compensation after a crash, the case should be investigated to determine how it happened. A legal firm experienced in personal injury claims might then move forward with a case for medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and more.
