Lyft is just one of the ride-sharing services whose popularity has skyrocketed recently. At any given time, you could be sharing the road with one of the company’s drivers. You may even use this service after a night on the town, when your car is in the shop or when you go to the airport.
Uber and Lyft have both been in the news after drivers got into accidents, and some people have suffered serious injuries as a result. Have you ever wondered how Lyft chooses its drivers?
The basics
Lyft drivers must be at least 21 years old in order to drive for the company and must have a valid and current driver’s license. They must have had that license for at least a year. Each driver must be on a current and valid insurance policy. The vehicle a potential driver wants to use must have a current registration and valid license plates. A driver must also have a cellular connection and not just WiFi. Beyond that, drivers only need to pass background and driving record checks.
The background check
Lyft outsources it criminal background checks but does perform an internal review. If an applicant has any of the following on his or her record, Lyft supposedly denies them the right to drive for the company:
- Drug-related offenses
- Violent crimes
- Felonies
- Sexual offenses
- Some property damage or theft offenses
Some locations also have their own local regulations that drivers must meet in addition to Lyft’s requirements.
The driving record
When Lyft reviews driving records, it looks for the following disqualifiers:
- DUIs within seven years
- Drug-related driving offenses within seven years
- Three or more moving violations within three years
- Major moving violation within three years
- Driving-related convictions within seven years
Once again, Lyft also defers to local authorities when it comes to driving records.
The potential problems
Obviously, one of the primary issues is that many drivers are never “caught” for moving violations, including DUIs. Even though there is no way for Lyft to know whether this is the case for any of its current or potential drivers, it may be something for you to keep in the back of your mind. Just because a person drives for Lyft, it does not mean that they are necessarily a safe driver.
In addition, anyone who has only had a driver’s license for one year may lack the experience to properly react in any given traffic situation. Lyft drivers may still get distracted, lack sleep or may even be impaired while driving. They can get into accidents just as easily as anyone else can.
If you become involved in an accident caused by a Lyft driver, you still have the right to file a personal injury claim. It may take someone with the right experience in these cases to help you successfully pursue the compensation you deserve.