Victims of car accidents can have their lives turned upside down in an instant, and all too often, acts of negligence or legal wrongdoing are a cause of the victim’s injuries.
In terms of rideshare accidents, the issue of background checks is one that arises frequently when discussing the harms riders can face. This is true whether the harms are criminal in nature (more than 100 Uber drivers have been accused of sexual assault or abuse, for example, according to CNN) or civil acts of negligence that cause car accidents.
Far too often, drivers improperly pass background checks to drive for ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber. And, since drivers can often commit infractions that warrant removal from rideshare services after their last background check was conducted, many drivers continue to provide rideshare service for these companies after committing serious criminal and civil infractions. In Boston alone, for example, more than 8,000 drivers for ride-hailing companies were taken off the road after failing a 2017 Massachusetts background check that investigated things like the following:
- Violent crimes
- Sexual offenses
- License suspensions
- Drunk driving
- Reckless driving
Background check failures such as these can and do jeopardize the safety of rideshare passengers and their loved ones.
Rideshare Companies Can Be Limited by State Law to Conduct Extensive Background Checks
In fairness to Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies, some state laws only allow rideshare companies to check the past seven years of a rideshare driver applicant’s history. This, in part, helps explain why the Massachusetts government’s more thorough review found so many drivers who should not have been on the road.
As such, this is a helpful reminder that a fresh look at laws in light of tech innovations like ridesharing is always an important component of maximizing public safety.
Even so, it does not take much searching online to discover many cases that involved unsafe and unqualified rideshare drivers who compromised public safety and caused serious accidents.
If a Failed Background Check Led to Your Accident and Injuries, You Deserve Justice and Compensation
If drivers who should have failed their background check pass through undetected by a rideshare company and cause your accident, know that you and your loved ones deserve justice. The liability and legal investigations surrounding accidents involving a failed background check can grow increasingly complex, which is why you need a dedicated rideshare accident lawyer who will be with you every step of the way.
At The Ledger Law Firm, we have earned a national reputation for providing caring and compassionate legal representation that delivers real results, helping accident victims recover millions in compensation.
Our team will put national resources to work for your legal case, determining who is responsible for your accident and any red flags that should have been noticed and prevented your rideshare driver from working for rideshare companies.
Contact us online today for a free case evaluation to discuss the facts of your rideshare accident with a rideshare accident attorney at Ledger Law.
