Should Uber and Lyft drivers be subject to the same special insurance and liability rules that taxicabs operate under?

There are a number of differences between taxicab drivers and the services Lyft and Uber drivers provide to different communities. In some places like New York and Boston, taxicabs are much more popular, but in cities like Los Angeles, Lyft's and Ubers attain much more attention because of how efficient and accessible they are. Despite the varying popularity of these companies, they’re all still used in one way or another, but, only one of these industries provides sufficient coverage. After a substantial amount of research on the different insurance policies and special liability protocols taxi drivers receive, I’ve concluded that Uber and Lyft drivers should be required to function under all of the same special protection taxi drivers must.

To begin, taxicab’s are much more inefficient, inaccessible, and are less popular than “smartphone transportation” like Uber and Lyft. Uber forces drivers to have their photograph, license plate, and full name available to all passengers, unlike taxi drivers, who are anonymous. The lack of Uber's anonymity makes for a more personal ride-share and allows safety to be a top priority. Therefore, if Lyft and Uber can do the same job and be safe through vigorous background checks and qualified drivers, like taxi's, why shouldn't they be able to receive compensation through sufficient insurance coverage, like taxi's do? I believe that because taxi drivers drive company cars and are still protected from harsh accident fees, the same protection should cover Uber and Lyft drivers because their vehicles are actually owned by those driving the cars and not the companies. Uber drivers have more to lose, meaning more money wasted, yet, they do a taxi's job twice as well.

Works Cited

Ajmal, Syed Irfan. “Ridesharing Vs.Taxi - The Duel of the Century.” Ridester.com, Ridester.com, 30 Oct. 2017, www.ridester.com/ridesharing-vs-taxi/.

“Attorney Las Vegas | Nevada Taxicab Liability Rules.” Cogburn Law Offices, 25 Aug. 2017, https://cogburnlaw.com/blog/overview-taxicab-liability/

Cecil, Adam. “The Insurance Secret That Uber Doesn't Want You to Know.” Policygenius Magazine, Policygenius Magazine, 23 Apr. 2018, www.policygenius.com/blog/insurance-secret-uber-doesnt-want-know/.