NEED A LAWYER FOR ALTO RIDESHARE ACCIDENTS IN LOS ANGELES?
Watch out! There’s a new rideshare app in town: Alto, coming to 10 more U.S. cities pronto! If you haven’t heard of them, it may be because as of now, people can only ride Alto in cities like Houston, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, and D.C.
They’ve marketed themselves as the more ethical and safe alternative to their contemporaries. With their drivers compensated with benefits and a consistent hourly wage, this rivals other rideshare apps who have been under fire for not compensating their drivers adequately.
But in terms of driving safety, will Aldo’s claim hold up?
A Brief Look At Other Rideshare Driver Apps
When rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft were first introduced around the 2010s, they painted an image of themselves as the cheaper and safer options for commuters; and the public seems to be in agreement with this sentiment. Uber rides cost as cheap as $8 in their early years, which then resulted in them being popular with riders, especially those who didn’t want to take their car for a night out.
Unfortunately for them, the prices have significantly increased since its merry years. Not to mention, the claim that they are safer alternatives have now been debunked by a study done by the University of Chicago.
Prior to the apps’ launch in the United States, traffic fatalities were steadily decreasing. But the service provided by these apps seemed to have the opposite effect in terms of safety. Per the aforementioned study, the emergence of Uber and Lyft among other rideshare apps have been found to account for the increase of 3% of traffic fatalities and accidents per year starting the year 2010, which is around the same year they were introduced to the masses.
The researchers speculate that this significant shift may be attributed to the fact that Uber and Lyft rely on a large number of their drivers to be on the road just in case a rider wants to quickly acquire their services. As a result, more cars are on the road, leading to more potential accidents.
The Potential Problems Of The Alto Car Service
While Alto beats their competitors in that they train their drivers themselves, they fail to specify how they’re fulfilling this endeavor other than that they are tasked to disinfect the car rigorously before every ride. This is meant to serve as an added precaution to combat COVID-19 which, admittedly, is a nice touch on their part.
Regardless, whether their drivers are trained to be safe on the road remains vague: Is Alto a safer alternative to Lyft and Uber because of these added precautions, or are drivers themselves trained and given incentives to operate as safely as possible? If it’s the latter, to what standards are the drivers being upheld?
Moreover, given that the mere presence of rideshare drivers has led to an increase in car accidents (3% per year!), is Alto truly going to be a part of the solution to the burgeoning car accidents in Los Angeles? The answer remains unclear.
And you know what? Perhaps time is the only thing that can illuminate the answer to this mystery.
Until then, here are five safety tips you should follow in the interest of decreasing the chances of Alto Rideshare accidents.
1. Encourage Your Alto Drivers To Drive Safely
While Alto claims to train their drivers themselves to optimize their own riders’ safety, complacency could still set in especially the longer Alto drivers ride for the company, as is the case for the average driver on the road the more comfortable they are behind the wheel.
With this in mind, Alto riders should encourage their respective drivers to drive safely. While it seems redundant, having that reminder for the drivers could be beneficial for your overall Alto experience.
2. Don’t Distract Your Alto Driver
How your driver follows the safety code closely largely influences your Alto rideshare experience. However, how you relate to them affects the way that they drive. If you truly are invested in your safety in this car ride, you should refrain from engaging in behaviors that may distract them from their tasks.
This includes having loud conversations with your friends on the phone, especially if the topic at hand could actually deter your Alto driver from fully concentrating. It’s important for your Alto driver to not be distracted as it could open you up for the possibility of getting catastrophic injuries in the spine or in the brain.
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3. Don’t Engage In Pedestrian Distractions While Waiting For Your Alto Driver
It is important to not engage in distracting behavior during the drive itself. However, it is also important to keep your behavior in check prior to actually getting into the ride. Engaging in distracting behaviors as a pedestrian could also put you at risk to multiple catastrophic injuries that could even lead to your wrongful death.
But such distractions may look different. For example, if you listen to music during the Alto ride, you’re not really considered to be at risk for getting injuries. If you do the same, however, while you wait for your driver, then that’s a different story as you’re actively tuning out from your environment. You won’t hear signals (ie: car horns) that could potentially save your life.
As you wait for your driver, make sure you’re fully present in the moment and aware of your surroundings.
4. Wait For Your Alto Driver In Well Lit Areas
Waiting for your Alto driver in well lit areas is not only practical, but necessary for your safety. For one, it saves both your and the driver’s time as doing so makes you more easy to spot. No more passive-aggressive back and forths with drivers insisting that you are “on the corner,” wherever that could be!
Most importantly, waiting for your Alto driver in well lit areas increases your visibility, which reduces the likelihood of a pedestrian accident. By being more visible to the drivers on the road, they will be incentivized to drive safely so as to not face the consequences of violating their duty of care.
5. Don’t Wait For Your Alto Driver On The Edge Of The Sidewalk
Alto riders put themselves at risk of getting “sideswiped” when they wait for their Alto drivers on the edge of the sidewalk. So if you just so happen to have called your Alto driver already, make sure that you are staying as far away from the edge of the sidewalk as possible.
Call Omega Law Group
Whether Alto’s rideshare service stays true to their promise of safety, being on the road still poses a risk of an accident. We have represented clients who have been afflicted by various personal injuries, including Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Soft Tissue Injury, and many more. Our awards and excellent testimonials are a result of our ability to empathize and attend to the needs of our clients. Here at Omega Law Group, you will come first. If you or a loved one is afflicted with an accident, reach out to our team. Visit our Contact Us page or call us at (310) 504-1852.
