Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have changed the perspective of traveling, especially in a city like Las Vegas. As hassle-free and available as they are, their presence on the road increases the likelihood of accidents. This new dynamic of transportation often leads to complications that must be sorted out with utmost caution by both drivers and passengers.
It’s critical to seek the advice of experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyers in Las Vegas, should you get into an accident.
Understanding what increases the risk is crucial to being safe and making better decisions. Here are some of the key aspects of rideshare driving that make accidents frequent in Las Vegas.
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High Traffic Volume
This vibrant nightlife, tourist attractions, and bustling entertainment districts make Las Vegas a city with heavy traffic. A rideshare driver has to navigate through congested streets, usually during peak hours and at times during big events. Chances of collision significantly heightened when so many cars are pushing their way onto the road. Besides, the tourists who are not used to driving in the city can further heighten the chances of accidents by driving erratically.
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Frequent Pickups and Drop-offs
Drivers in ridesharing sometimes make more stops within heavy traffic areas to collect and drop off their passengers. Such an action creates a sudden deceleration or stop that may catch the drivers behind by surprise and can eventually cause a rear-end or side-swipe accident. When the passengers exit the car in heavy flow conditions, they are not attentive to the ambient environment and may increase the chances of pedestrian accidents.
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Alcohol Consumption and Late-Night Driving
The nightlife in Vegas is so alive, and for that reason, there are just so many bars and clubs around. People take rideshare services, especially in the late hours of the night or in the early morning, sometimes after consuming alcohol. In turn, drivers who regularly drive at that time are exposed to passengers who have drunk to a point of impairment, leading to disputes or hazardous conditions. Besides, driving at night in itself can be challenging because the visibility outside is poor, and perhaps the behavior of the drivers is more aggressive.
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Distracted Driving
Like all drivers, rideshare drivers can be subject to distractions, especially in managing the apps related to navigation and requests for rides. Constantly checking their phone, either for a new request, route navigation, or communication with a passenger, can take one’s attention off the road. Distracted driving is a major cause in many accidents, and being in a fast-based environment like Las Vegas may elevate the constant alerts and notifications into fast decisions.
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Inexperienced Drivers
Most of these drivers are new to the driving profession or hardly have experience in heavy city traffic. It is often from inexperience that poor judgment and inadequate responses are made during difficult on-road situations. Less-experienced drivers will drive more unsafely-for example, not maintaining a safe distance and not responding well to others-which increases the likelihood of accidents.
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Poor Weather Conditions
Despite being tagged as sunny, Las Vegas is also prone to sudden rainfall and flash floods. Drivers who are involved in rideshare accidents often are not that experienced or ready to handle such sudden changes in weather. Bad weather can be unexpected both for the drivers and passengers, thus increasing the chances of an accident.
