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Regan Zambri Long’s award-winning rideshare accident lawyers understand how getting into an Uber or Lyft vehicle in Washington, DC can put your safety at risk. With almost 200 years of combined experience representing motor vehicle accident victims, our board-certified attorneys ensure injured passengers receive justice and fair compensation, recovering multi-million-dollar results such as a $14 million settlement for motor vehicle accident victims.
Best Lawyers has named three of our partners Lawyer of the Year, and Lawdragon named all six partners to the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list in recognition of their trial excellence and client advocacy. Additionally, we have more than 100 5 star Google reviews. If you turn to us for help after a ridesharing accident, you can expect valuable support throughout the process. Our attorneys coordinate medical billing, work with leading accident reconstruction and medical experts, and manage insurance negotiations. We do this to ensure we build the strongest case for the best outcome possible.
Contact Regan Zambri Long today for a free consultation if you’ve been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident in Washington, DC, and one of our lawyers will call you back. We’re available 24/7, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.
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Both Uber and Lyft drivers provide millions of rides daily, offering a robust alternative to traditional taxi services. Launched in 2009, Uber currently has around 7 million drivers around the world. How many of these are located in the U.S. isn’t clear, as the company hasn’t divulged this information. Some estimates put the number of drivers in the U.S. at 1.5 million. Lyft, founded in 2012, is primarily active in the United States with more than 1 million drivers.
While both ridesharing companies perform background checks and driving record reviews before accepting individuals as drivers, this is no guarantee that their drivers won’t make mistakes or be negligent when on the road. Unfortunately, driver negligence or other factors will result in motor vehicle accidents.
Data for non-fatal accidents involving Uber and Lyft remains undisclosed, as these companies do not publicly share all accident statistics.
Uber released safety reports in 2019, 2021, and 2023. The earlier reports reveal there were 208 fatalities in Uber-related accidents in the US in 2017–2020. The Uber-related motor vehicle fatality rate for 2017 was 0.59 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. It was 0.57 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in 2018. According to the most recent report, there were 153 fatalities in Uber-related accidents or 0.87 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in the US in 2021-2022.
Lyft’s safety report from 2021 showed 105 fatalities from 2017–2019. The Lyft-related motor vehicle fatality rate for 2017 was .78 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled. It was .72 in 2018; and .79 in 2019. The Lyft safety report from 2024 indicated there were 111 fatalities from 2020 to 2022, representing a 14% in rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
When comparing these numbers, Lyft reported fewer yearly fatalities than Uber, but Uber had a lower fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled. As a comparison, according to 2021 data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatality rate in DC was 1.26 deaths per 100 million miles traveled and 1.37 deaths per million miles traveled in the United States. 2023 data shows the fatality rate remained 1.26 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in DC and decreased to 1.26 deaths per million miles traveled in the US.
According to a Study by the University of Chicago and Rice University, cities where Uber and Lyft operate have seen a roughly 3% increase in traffic-related fatalities including pedestrians each year since their introduction. It’s worth noting that a 2021 working paper written by University of California Berkely published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found Uber had reduced total US traffic fatalities by 4%. Still, without direct comparative data between Uber and Lyft, it’s challenging to definitively state which service is safer based on this data point.
Both Uber and Lyft have similar policies about other factors that contribute to their riders’ safety.
Both Uber and Lyft potential drivers must be 25 years old and have licensed driving experience over 1 year.
The vehicle should undergo regular vehicle maintenance and possess adequate safety features. Both rideshare services require their independent contractors to drive a late model car accommodating four or more passengers with seat belts.
Both services require drivers to maintain a clean driving record obeying speed limits and traffic signs.
Both services acknowledge that passengers also have a role in ensuring their safety and encourage riders to wear seat belts and avoid distracting the driver. Both companies required the wearing of masks of drivers and passengers during the pandemic.
Uber’s Selection Criteria: Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license, an eligible vehicle that meets Uber’s standards, and pass a background check, which probes for any criminal history and serious traffic violations.
Lyft’s Selection Criteria: To become a Lyft driver, applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and own a car that meets Lyft’s age and condition requirements. They must also have a clean driving record and successfully pass a background check.
To further compare these two rideshare services, let’s delve deeper into the vetting process for Uber and Lyft drivers. Both services:
The Lyft and Uber safety features in the apps include:
In their 2019 Safety Report, Uber reported 5,981 sexual assaults in 2017 and 2018 from 2.3 billion trips. According to the 2023 safety report, Uber reported 2,717 sexual assaults in 2021 and 2022, which is a 22% decrease since the previous report period. Released in 2021, the Community Safety Report from Lyft reports 2,351 sexual assaults in 2017 and 2018 from 975 million trips. Lyft’s 2024 safety report indicates there were 2,651 instances of the five most serious categories of sexual assault between 2020 and 2022.
Following these reports, Uber and Lyft implemented added safety precautions including a discreet panic feature for passengers to notify the company and police during emergencies. Additionally, Uber launched the Industry Sharing Safety Program, enabling rideshare companies to exchange information on drivers involved in harassment, sexual assault, or sexual offenses.
Both Uber and Lyft have similar fatality rates, which are better than the population as a whole. They also have similar passenger safety policies and app features. Based on this comparison, rideshare safety primarily depends on the individual Uber driver or Lyft driver rather than on the safety records of the companies themselves. It is important for riders to keep this in mind and be sure to utilize these safety tips.
Here are some safety measures you can take to assuage your safety concerns and ensure a safe and pleasant journey with either an Uber or Lyft driver:
We know that, despite the efforts of Uber, Lyft, and other companies, using rideshare services comes with the risk of being involved in an accident. If you or a loved one is injured in a rideshare motor vehicle accident, you may have options for compensation for your injuries, pain, suffering, medical expenses, and loss of income.
Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC rideshare accident lawyers have recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for victims, such as:
Senior partner and board-certified trial attorney Salvatore Zambri focuses on motor vehicle accident claims. He has been recognized consistently as one of DC’s best attorneys by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers and is the National Board Representative for the DC chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The $15 million settlement mentioned above is one of Salvatore’s many successful claims. Partner Christopher Regan is Co-Chair of the New Lawyers Division of the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the American Association for Justice, the Maryland Association for Justice, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Among Christopher’s successful motor vehicle accident cases was the leading local case on Uber’s and Lyft’s responsibility when their drivers are at fault.
At Regan Zambri Long, we are committed to ensuring you and other victims of rideshare accidents receive the justice you deserve. However, it’s essential that you act quickly, as you only have three years from the date of the accident to bring forth a personal injury case and two years to bring a wrongful death claim in Washington, DC. If you were injured in an Uber or hurt in a Lyft, call 202-946-5322 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation with our rideshare accident lawyers.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.
