Taxi drivers in California can make enough money to provide their families with a good life, as can rideshare drivers. It is a fast-paced industry that is growing quickly across the nation as more people choose not to own personal vehicles. The earning capacity of such employment is seductive, but these drivers must understand that they may not have full protection when workplace accidents occur.
When you think of a workplace accident involving a taxi or rideshare driver, you probably envision a vehicle crash. This is certainly one of the most common injury risks these drivers face, but we want you to know that drivers can suffer injuries in other ways as well. For example, drivers can suffer from repetitive stress injuries because they make the same movements over and over throughout their work shifts.
Additionally, the risk of injuries caused by violence is extremely high in the business of transporting people. The media provides many stories and videos of Uber and Lyft drivers suffering attacks from their passengers. Taxi drivers can also suffer from violent attacks. While these may not look like typical workplace accidents, they qualify as such under the laws surrounding workers’ compensation.
Ride-sharing drivers generally do not qualify for workers’ compensation because they are currently classified as independent contractors rather than employees. However, most taxi businesses are required by law to provide coverage for their workers. Unfortunately, some of these companies ignore the law, which leaves their employees vulnerable to financial hardships when an injury occurs.
We encourage all cab drivers to ask their superiors if they will receive workers’ compensation benefits in the wake of a workplace accident. If an accident or injury does occur and workers are left without benefits, a workers’ compensation attorney can help.
Please continue exploring our web pages if you would like to learn more about your rights in the wake of workplace accidents.
