Rideshare companies offer a very similar service to what established taxi companies provide. People in need of on-demand transportation can request a ride. A licensed driver picks them up at a specific location and transports them to their intended destination for a fee.
Tourists, people who have had too much to drink and those unfamiliar with an area may find that paid transportation services are a convenient option. They can safely and quickly travel for a reasonable fee. However, paid on-demand transportation comes with a degree of risk.
Passengers could end up hurt by criminal incidents or collisions. Are rideshare services or taxis generally the safer option?
Taxi companies have more infrastructure
Taxi companies typically perform background checks on their employees and may work with the same drivers for years. On the other hand, rideshare companies do not technically hire their drivers. The drivers are independent contractors who may only work part-time for the company.
In fact, they may only work with certain rideshare drivers for a few weeks or months before they move on to a different opportunity. While rideshare companies do perform background checks, it is easy to overlook people with problematic histories or questionable driving practices when no one from the company directly interacts with that person on a regular basis.
Additionally, the state of the vehicle can be a cause for concern in a rideshare scenario. Taxi companies typically invest heavily in fleet maintenance. After all, the organization is liable if the brakes go out on a taxi and a crash occurs. Rideshare drivers use their own vehicles and may not be as fastidious about maintenance and repairs as taxi companies might be.
Overall, crashes, criminal activity and maintenance issues may be slightly more serious concerns for those using rideshare apps as opposed to traditional taxi services. People may end up assaulted or injured in a crash when all they wanted was a ride to their hotel.
Those dealing with the aftermath of a rideshare incident may need help looking into their options for compensation. Discussing a rideshare crash or other problematic experience with an attorney can help people look into insurance coverage and the possibility of a personal injury lawsuit.