Uber and Lyft are becoming a popular alternative to calling a local cab company. As many of us utilize this service to safely transport ourselves and our family members to the airport, special events, and other locations, we may not even consider the fact that the vehicle we are trusting to take us where we want to go is anything but safe.
Recently Nashville, Tennessee’s channel 5 teamed up with Carfax, in order to check out the vehicles that were being used for rideshare pickups at a local airport.
The findings indicated that some vehicles had open recalls for the following issues:
- Defective seatbelts
- Exploding airbags
- Braking and stopping issues
- Fuel leaks
Even more disturbing than the nature of the above recalls is the fact that most of the drivers were not aware that their vehicle had been issued a recall or did not seem to care.
Unfortunately, the findings in Nashville are indicative of a nationwide problem, and Carfax reports that more than 57 million recalled vehicles are currently in use across the nation. This means that one out of every five vehicles on the road is putting drivers and their passengers at risk of a car accident, and potentially serious injury.
Vehicle Recalls
A recall is issued when a manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that any component of a vehicle fails to meet minimum safety standards. Manufactures are required to notify vehicle owners in writing, and depending on the nature of the recall, will offer customers one of the following:
- Repair the vehicle
- Provide a replacement
- Repurchase the vehicle
- Refund the customer
Although Uber and Lyft require a vehicle inspection to make sure that things like the headlights, windshield wipers, and horns are in working order, they do not require drivers to fix recall issues. However, after a reservation is made, the rideshare company will send customers the tag number of the vehicle.
Get Recall Issues Repaired
Whether making plans for a ride, looking for a used car, or simply sharing the roadway with these recalled cars, it is important to keep in mind that vehicles with unfixed recalls put millions of drivers in danger each year.
Keep your family, your passengers, and others on the roadway safe by checking to see if your car has been the subject of a recall, and then call your dealer to schedule an appointment if you learn that it has been.
Delaware County Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Represent Those Injured in Rideshare Accidents
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident you need the dedicated services an experienced Delaware County car accident lawyer at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. Call 610-565-3701 today to schedule an appointment or contact us online. With offices in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area, including Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.