Confirming what ride sharing services have been purporting for some time, research out of Temple University has recently affirmed that services like Uber are sparking a decline in fatal drunk driving accidents in some major U.S. cities.
A big benefit to ride sharing services has been their role in decreasing deadly drunk driving accidents, a Denver car accident lawyer explains.
In particular, lead researchers Brad Greenwood and Sunil Wattal focused their analyses on data from California. What they found was that, since ride sharing services have been available in major California cities, there has been 3.6 to 5.6 drop in the incidence of deadly drunk driving accidents in the state.
Based on these findings, they predicted that, if ride sharing services were more widely available in the U.S., at least 500 lives could be saved each year, and $1.3 billion in economic losses could be prevented.
As Greenwood and Wattal wrote in their study:
Although the results of this investigation cannot speak to public welfare losses which may result from improper vehicle handling or safety on the part of consumers (although our results do not indicate an effect on sober deaths)… they provide important insights into the potential benefits of the sharing economy and inform licensed livery services of the necessary steps which need to be taken to compete with firms like Uber.
Here are a few examples with data to show that rideshare apps decrease the drunk driving rate:
A study from Temple University showed a reduction in drunk driving deaths of between 3.6% and 5.6% between from 2009 to 2014. This study was focused on studying California cites that allowed Uber to operate.
Once Uber was allowed to enter in Seattle, they self-reported a 10% decrease in DUI arrests.
Why Taxis Don’t Have the Same Impact on Drunk Driving, Researchers Say
Greenwood and Wattal’s findings are certainly interesting, and they have raised some questions about whether other transportation services – particularly taxi cabs – are having the same effect on drunk driving accidents. They are not, researchers have said.
In fact, although ride sharing and taxis basically provide the same service to customers (rides for cash), taxis do not prevent impaired motorists from getting behind the wheel as much as ride sharing services do because of their limited availability.
In other words, the fact that there are less cabs available at any given point (usually as a result of municipal taxi cab regulations) means that impaired motorists who may choose cabs end up getting into their vehicles and driving when cabs just aren’t available. In contrast, ride sharing services are not bound by regulations limiting the number of drivers they have available to provide rides, making it a far more convenient – and useful – option for drunk people who need to get home.
Contact a Denver Car Accident Lawyer at Bell & Pollock, P.C.
Have you been hurt in a drunk driving accident – or in any type of traffic accident? If so, it’s time to contact an experienced Denver car accident lawyer at Bell & Pollock, P.C.
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CASE: Client was injured by a drunk driver. As a result of the motor vehicle accident, client was rendered a quadriplegic and needed a life care plan.
Outcome: $9,600,000
CASE: Against Insurance company for failure to pay for property damage after a gas and fire explosion.
Outcome: $1,600,000
CASE: Medical malpractice for failure to diagnose a descending aorta aneurism, resulting in death.
Outcome: $1,300,000
CASE: Neck and back injuries from car accident. Client had ongoing symptoms and needed injections for attempted remediation of pain.
Settled for $485,000
CASE: Client was injured in a 2 vehicle collision. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, concussion and multiple injuries to the neck.
Outcome: $6,000,000
CASE: Client was in her car and was T-Boned by a commercial vehicle. Her cerebral spinal fluid leaked and she suffered a concussion and traumatic brain injury with neck and lumbar (low back) injuries. Her neck injury caused radiating pain, numbness and tingling in her arms.
Outcome: $3,400,000
CASE: Client was driving on a rural road when another car crossed the center line and caused a head-on collision in the snow and ice. Client did physical work for a living. Both knees were injured, along with a neck injury.
Outcome: $2,300,000
CASE: Client was driving on South Parker road when another vehicle rapidly changed lanes and rear-ended the client. That vehicle was cited for careless driving. The collision caused a concussion with traumatic brain Injury. Client missed time from work and had a positive correlation between brain scan and neuropsychological test results.
Outcome: $950,000
CASE: Client was rear ended by a dump truck, was then knocked forward and hit another vehicle. Client had a concussion with traumatic brain injury. Client underwent a brain scan which showed hypoperfusion, correlated with her concussion symptoms. Client suffered neck injuries and injuries to her low back.
Outcome: $650,000
CASE: Client was rear-ended. The mechanism of injury from the forces in the collision caused her neck injury and at the same time, damaged her organs inside her throat. Client had swallowing and choking issues.
Outcome: $1,250,000
CASE: Client was in a motor vehicle accident. Both injections in the neck rendered some temporary relief. The Injections were transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Surgery was recommended on the lumbar (low back). The low back was injured by the forces in the collisions.
Outcome: $933,000
CASE: The client was driving in her car and was rear-ended thereby causing injuries to her lower back and neck. Client also suffered a concussion. Client had to undergo facet injections multiple times, through multiple procedures. Client also had cognitive issues which required cognitive training and therapy.
Outcome: $400,000
CASE: Client was entering a highway from an on ramp and was rear-ended by a commercial van. Client tested positive for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and failed conservative treatment. Client underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgey, which involved removal of the first rib to attempt to relieve pressure in the thoracic outlet. Client also suffered a back injury.
Outcome: $750,000
CASE: Client was injured by a drunk driver, who crossed the center line of the road. Client underwent multiple surgeries and could not work. Client was late 40s and needed a modified life care plan.
Outcome: $750,000
CASE: Client was rear ended by a tow truck driver who was a diabetic. The diabetic at fault party was a non-compliant diabetic and claimed he had a syncope episode, and was “blacked out”. Client had a preexisting back condition known and the forces from the collision aggravated, or made worse, the preexisting back condition in addition to, causing neck injuries.
Outcome: $350,000
CASE: Client was a passenger in a car where the driver fell asleep on a country road in the early morning hours. The car rolled multiple times. Client had eye injuries, facial injuries and neck and knee injuries.
Outcome: $850,000
CASE: Client was on the job, driving her own car, when she was rear-ended. She suffered a concussion with traumatic brain injury and pursued Workers Compensation Claim.
Outcome: $150,000
CASE: Client slipped and fell on snow and ice in Central City. He suffered back injuries, that did not require injections.
Outcome: $125,000
CASE: Client slipped and fell on snow and ice on a sidewalk in front of a business. She had to have knee surgery and multiple injections in her back.
Outcome: $175,000
CASE: Client was visiting a friend who was renting a house. Client tripped on untreated, dangerous section of deck and injured his back.
Outcome: $150,000
CASE:Client was rear ended and needed fusion spinal surgery. Insurance proceeds were limited.
Outcome: $125,000
CASE:Client was rear-ended and had to have rotator cuff surgery. Insurance proceeds were limited.
Settled for $65,000
CASE:Client was at Denver International Aiport traveling through Denver, slipped and fell and broke her ankle.
Settled for $118,750
CASE:Client was exposed to mold in a multi-family dwelling that was caused by leaking water.
Settled for $125,000
CASE:Motorcycle accident, reconstructive surgery, post-traumatic stress disorder, neurological injuries
Settled for $1,275,000
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