Ridesharing in Nashville, Tennessee
In recent years, ridesharing has become a widespread and increasingly popular option for commuters and residents in Nashville, offering thousands of rides every year to those in need. Nashville is a major attraction for tourists throughout the country and services like Uber and Lyft offer reliable transportation for out-of-towners and residents alike. The demand for these services is higher than ever, especially around Broadway, Nissan Stadium, and major music venues throughout the city.
In Nashville, sporting events, concerts, and those enjoying the town’s nightlife account for a large percentage of Uber and Lyft’s daily rides, though many people rely on ridesharing for daily tasks and chores as well. Passengers traveling to and from the Nashville International Airport have also been responsible for a large surge in Uber and Lyft’s presence in the city. The affordability and almost instantaneous arrival times from Uber and Lyft have made taxis nearly obsolete and offer an interesting alternative to rental cars as well.
While these services generally offer a convenient and affordable way to navigate the city, their increased presence has led to greater congestion and more accidents.
Common Causes of Nashville Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare accidents are really no different than the average
car accident. They often take place for many of the same reasons that an everyday car crash would, though there are some unique challenges specific to the rideshare industry as well. Some of the most common causes of rideshare accidents in Nashville and throughout the state of Tennessee include:
Distracted Driving
It is no secret that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of auto accidents in Nashville. Drivers who engage in negligent behavior like texting and driving, eating or
drinking behind the wheel, or simply spacing out while driving increase the risk of an accident substantially. Many Uber and Lyft drivers have the same distracted driving tendencies as other drivers on the road, though they are also influenced by other job-related distractions as well. For rideshare drivers, additional distractions may include:
- Following GPS directions
- Accepting or declining new rides during the trip
- Using their cell phones to communicate with their passengers
- Engaging in conversation with passengers inside the vehicle.
Glenn Injury Law has been representing injured victims of Nashville auto accidents for years and we have seen our fair share of collisions caused by distracted driving in one form or another. If you have suffered an injury in a rideshare accident caused by distracted driving, whether it was your driver or another driver on the road, our firm can help you recover compensation and seek justice.
Reckless Driving
With rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, drivers earn money for every ride they give. This often encourages drivers to complete their trips faster by speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and blowing through intersections without stopping. Reckless behavior like this behind the wheel can lead to serious accidents and severe injuries. Some common examples of reckless driving that rideshare drivers often exhibit in Nashville include:
- Speeding
- Disobeying traffic signs
- Following too closely to other vehicles (tailgating)
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Unexpected lane changes
- Road rage
- Driving under the influence
When it comes to reckless driving, the team at Glenn Injury Law has just about seen it all. We take pride in helping victims of reckless driving accidents in Nashville seek compensation and recover from their injuries. Our team also proudly represents victims of
DUI accidents, offering compassionate and determined legal support when irresponsible drivers put others lives in danger.
Fatigue
Many rideshare drivers work long hours or rely on Uber and Lyft as secondary employment as a way to earn extra income. Working late into the night after a full day of work can be exhausting and cause drivers to have slowed reaction time or even doze off behind the wheel. When an Uber or Lyft driver’s decision-making is impaired, the likelihood of an accident is greatly increased. Driving long distances late at night in the dark can result in serious accidents.
Inexperienced Drivers
In the state of Tennessee, you must be at least 25 years old to sign up as a driver for Uber or Lyft. However, both of these companies generally only require one previous year of driving experience. Drivers who don’t have sufficient experience navigating the city or are unfamiliar with the roads they are traveling can easily cause an accident.
Uber and Lyft do not offer proper training for their employees and expect them to be able to handle any situation they may encounter. It is a lot of responsibility for an Uber or Lyft driver to carry a car full of passengers without experience driving in congested traffic at high speeds. A lack of training and experience can be a contributing factor in rideshare accidents.
Poor Weather Conditions
Adverse weather is also a common problem among rideshare drivers, regardless of experience. Many passengers rely on services like Uber and Lyft to commute during poor weather like rain and snowstorms. Snow, rain, and ice lead to slippery roads, reduced traction, and impaired visibility on the road.
These are just a few examples of some of the different factors that may come into play during a Nashville rideshare accident. There are a number of different ways in which an auto accident can occur, including rowdy passengers, maintenance issues, mechanical failures, and more. Regardless of the cause, our team is prepared to help victims recover compensation when a driver’s negligence causes them injury. Call Glenn Injury Law today for a free, confidential consultation.
Common Injuries in Nashville Rideshare Accidents
Depending on the severity of the accident, passengers in rideshare collisions may experience a wide range of injuries. From minor sprains and whiplash to broken bones and traumatic brain injuries, our team has witnessed just about every type of injury possible after a car accident. Even a seemingly minor injury can lead to costly medical bills, missed time at work, and a disruption in your daily life. After a rideshare accident, victims often suffer injuries such as:
- Whiplash: Especially common in rear-end collisions, passengers often experience whiplash after a sudden and forceful impact that causes them to jerk their neck rapidly back and forth. Whiplash puts serious strain on your muscles and can lead to stiffness in the neck as well as severe headaches.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): TBIs are common after serious accidents, whether from the force of the collision itself or from the passengers hitting their head on a steering wheel, door, or window inside of the vehicle. If either your Uber or Lyft driver or another driver was acting recklessly behind the wheel and caused a high-speed collision, our team can help you recover compensation for your brain injuries and more.
- Broken or fractured bones: Rideshare accidents that involve significant impact can also cause bones to break or fracture during an accident. Victims may suffer from broken arms, wrists, legs, ankles, ribs, and more depending on the severity of the impact.
- Spinal cord injuries: A spinal cord injury is one of the most traumatic and serious injuries that one may experience as a victim in a Nashville auto accident. These injuries can drastically affect a victim’s life, often resulting in permanent damage that affects mobility and function. Car accidents and motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries throughout the state of Tennessee.
- Internal injuries: Passengers in a rideshare accident may also experience internal injuries, such as organ damage, collapsed lungs, or internal bleeding. These injuries are usually not apparent right away, so seeking medical attention after a serious accident is highly recommended, even if you don’t notice any immediate issues.
Car accidents are traumatic enough events already, and being injured often adds an extra layer of complexity and stress to the situation. Not only can these injuries take a serious toll on a passenger’s physical health and safety, but they can also have a significant emotional and psychological impact on the victims. Many victims who suffer serious injuries in a Nashville auto accident are hesitant to get back on the road, often experiencing issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.
If you have been hurt in an Uber or Lyft accident in Nashville, the personal injury team at Glenn Injury Law is here to help you recover damages for your physical and emotional pain. Call us today for a free consultation and allow Craig Glenn and the team at Glenn Injury Law to help you explore your legal options and figure out the next steps.
Determining Liability in a Nashville Rideshare Accident
At Glenn Injury Law, we have plenty of experience helping our injured clients identify a responsible party after a rideshare accident. There are a few different parties who may be liable or at least share responsibility for an accident, and determining the liable party can be more complicated than the average car crash. This underscores the importance of hiring an experienced and skilled attorney like Craig Glenn to establish liability for your injuries.
Unlike personal vehicles, rideshare drivers are covered by unique insurance policies that depend on their status at the time of the collision. After a Nashville rideshare accident, liability may fall on multiple parties, including:
- Uber or Lyft drivers: If it is found that the driver was acting negligently at the time of the accident, whether by driving distracted or speeding, they can be held liable.
- Uber or Lyft’s insurance: Rideshare companies generally provide up to $1 million in liability coverage under certain circumstances. Rideshare insurance policies are typically broken down into three categories:
- Offline: If a driver is involved in an accident without being logged into their Uber or Lyft app, their personal insurance applies.
- Waiting for a ride request: If the driver was involved in an accident while online, though not during a ride, Uber/Lyft will provide limited liability coverage.
- During a trip: If a ride has been accepted and an accident occurs during the trip, Uber and Lyft will provide up to $1 million in liability coverage.
- Another driver: Not all rideshare accidents are caused by an Uber or Lyft driver. At the end of the day, rideshare vehicles are no different than any other car on the road. If another driver caused the accident, their insurance will likely be responsible for the resulting damages.
In rare instances, a mechanical failure in the car can lead to a rideshare accident, in which case the manufacturer or maintenance company can be held liable. Other third parties, such as
cyclists or
pedestrians, can also be held liable if their negligence or recklessness caused an accident.
Our team can help injured passengers seek compensation after an accident by obtaining crucial evidence such as surveillance footage, dash cam footage, police reports, witness statements, and more. Understanding the different insurance policies and when they apply after an accident can be tricky, but with the help of an experienced attorney like Craig Glenn, you can rest assured knowing that your case is in good hands. Glenn Injury Law works tirelessly to help our clients secure the maximum compensation after suffering an injury in a Nashville rideshare accident.
What Damages Are Available After a Nashville Rideshare Accident?
At Glenn Injury Law, we recognize the impact that a rideshare can have on you and your family’s life. Severe accidents can lead to serious, debilitating injuries and psychological trauma. After a Nashville rideshare accident, the team at Glenn Injury Law is prepared to step in and help our clients recover both economic and noneconomic losses, including:
- Medical bills: Expenses like emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and more can add up quickly. Our team helps injured clients recover compensation for these services as well as any necessary ongoing medical treatments.
- Lost wages: Injuries from auto accidents can often be significant enough to keep residents in Nashville from returning to work for an extended period. If a rideshare accident has caused you to miss work and affected your ability to earn an income, our team can help you recover compensation for past and future earnings you may have lost.
- Pain and suffering: As we mentioned earlier, victims of rideshare accidents often experience long-term feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as PTSD. Serious accidents often leave victims fearful of driving and returning to the road.
- Reduced quality of life: Significant injuries can greatly impact a victim’s life. Debilitating injuries like TBIs and spinal cord injuries can affect mobility, speech, and cognitive function, requiring lifelong medical care and attention. If an auto accident has left you hurt and unable to enjoy life the way you did before the accident, our team is here to help.
If the driver or individual responsible for your accident and injuries was acting particularly negligent or reckless, our team is also available to help clients pursue punitive damages aimed at punishing the liable party for their careless actions. If you have lost a loved one in a Nashville rideshare or auto accident, our team is also here to help you pursue a
wrongful death claim.
At Glenn Injury Law, we have helped clients recover compensation for
catastrophic injuries for years. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don’t pay unless we are able to secure you a favorable outcome. We offer compassion and communicative legal support to our clients, providing the personalized care and attention that many other firms cannot. For more information about what damages may be available after your Nashville rideshare accident, call us today and schedule a free consultation.
Contact Glenn Injury Law After a Nashville Rideshare Accident
If you have been injured in a Nashville rideshare accident, you need a dedicated attorney who keeps you informed and involved every step of the way. When you partner with Glenn Injury Law, you have direct access to lead attorney Craig Glenn so you know exactly where your case stands.
At Glenn Injury Law, it’s not about reaching a quick settlement; it’s about making a positive difference in our client’s lives and in our community. We are here to help those who need it most. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Call us today to schedule your free and confidential consultation and see why injured victims in Nashville have trusted Glenn Injury Law time and again to handle their cases with confidence and precision.
