Uber, Lyft & Safety Recalls
An automobile recall is issued when a manufacturer or the NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. It is up to the owner to take the vehicle in to be serviced or replaced, per recommendations. Unfortunately, many drivers are either not aware of or not concerned by safety recalls and continue to driver their vehicles, putting everyone on the road at risk.
When these automobiles are also used as modes of transportation in ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft, even more innocent lives are put in harms way. And this happens more than you might think. Click here to learn more about your legal rights if you are involved in an auto accident caused by an Uber or Lyft driver.
Recalled Uber Cars in the News
According to a recent report, more than one in six vehicles operated by Uber and Lyft drivers has unrepaired defects covered by outstanding safety recalls. And that's not the only disturbing news about your shared ride — a separate study shows that the interior of the vehicle is likely 35,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Yuck! For its study on safety recalls as they relate to Uber or Lyft cars, Consumer Reports examined almost 94,000 vehicles in New York City and Seattle and found that one out of six Uber and Lyft drivers were operating cars, trucks, or crossovers with outstanding recalls.
For example, millions of automobiles were recently recalled for airbags that could “deploy strangely” by catching fire or shooting out sharp pieces of metal into the vehicle compartment, putting Uber or Lyft passengers at risk of severe injury. A number of other vehicle recalls issued over the last several months involve fire hazards, defective seatbelts, and tire defects. Again, if you have suffered an injury while riding in an Uber or Lyfy vehicle, California law is on your side and you have legal rights.
Just How Dirty are Uber Cars?
For the study, Netquote "took swabs to the main touchpoints in ride-sharing vehicles, taxis and rental cars — door handles, seat belts, and window buttons. The ride-sharing services had an average of 6 million "colony-forming units" of bacteria per square inch on those surfaces, compared to 2 million for rental cars, and just 27,593 for the cabs Netquote tested."
What to Do If Your Driver is Driving a Recalled Car?
Injured victims of auto accidents, including those caused by car defects, have legal rights. You or your loved one might be able to file an auto product liability claim against the automaker and other negligent parties and recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Additionally, you may be able to file a claim against the driver's insurance company or against the ride-sharing app you used. Either way, you need to the experience of a skilled accident lawyer to guide you through this often-complicated process.
For a free, no obligation consultation, contact the experienced Los Angeles attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm today.
