Motor Vehicle Accidents: An Uber Problem on New Years and Other Holidays

Everyone knows that New Year’s Eve is a dangerous night to be driving, but people aren’t always aware how dangerous other holidays can be. This past Halloween was particularly dangerous, as it landed on a Friday night, a night already associated with partying, drinking, and driving.

Shane Holland and his friends did the right thing. After a night of partying they called for a cab, not wanting to risk their health or the safety of anyone else by drunk driving. Living near Sacramento, California, they had access to Ubers, a new type of taxi system where people use their own cars to transport others around town. Uber offers a variety of drivers, ranging from anyone with a license to certified chauffeurs.

It was a rainy Halloween night, and the Uber driver lost control of his Toyota Camry, striking a tree, causing one death and multiple injuries. The Camry was struck by multiple cars before help arrived. An investigation is currently underway, though none of the drivers have yet been charged.

There are a lot of questions yet to be answered, particularly around the safety of the entire Uber system. But one thing that isn’t in question is the importance of being particularly safe when driving on holidays, particularly wintry ones. Possible causes of accidents include:

• Icy or snowy roads
• Drunk drivers leaving or driving to parties
• People speeding in a hurry to get home for the holidays
• Increased rates of depression leading to unsafe behaviors

If you or someone you love has been injured in a holiday accident, it is important that you hold the responsible person to account for their actions. Please contact an attorney to help you investigate the cause of the crash, and determine whether or not unsafe behaviors including speeding or drunk driving contributed to the crash.