Woman Died In Thornton Hit-And-Run Car Accident After Getting Out of Uber Along Interstate 25
THORNTON, COLORADO (January 3, 2022) – A woman was killed in a Thornton hit-and-run car accident after exiting Uber on the side of Interstate 25.
Adams County officials are saying that the collision took place not long after Midnight on New Year’s Day. A woman was traveling with a group of friends and reportedly became ill during the ride.
At some point during the trip, the ride was terminated and the Uber driver pulled over to the side of Interstate 25. A woman exited the vehicle shortly before she was hit by a dark truck.
That driver fled the scene but later turned themselves in. A second vehicle hit the woman not long after the first accident.
Police interviewed the driver who remained at the scene. Sadly, the woman who was hit died due to the severity of her injuries.
This collision comes just a few months after a former staff member for ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo died when his Lyft driver order him to exit his vehicle on Delaware’s Coastal Highway.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Thornton Uber Accidents
Hit-and-run collisions are much more common than many people may realize. According to Value Penguin, “The number of Golden State crashes accounted for 17% of the U.S. total, with 2,948 crashes causing 3,056 deaths. Texas and Florida also logged more than 1,000 fatal hit-and-runs (1,965 and 1,739, respectively), with each state’s fatality count rising over the 10 years.” There are many different factors that could contribute to a hit-and-run collision.
- Car accidents are more likely to occur during the early morning and late evening hours when visibility is reduced.
- Staying awake for only 18 hours can reduce a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a BAC of 0.05%.
- A large portion of hit-and-run collisions involve drivers that are speeding or traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions.
It is illegal for any driver to flee the scene of any collision that results in bodily injury or death. Pursuant to CRS 42-4-1603, the driver of any vehicle involved in an injury collision must remain at the scene and exchange their name, address and insurance information with all affected parties. Drivers that flee the scene of car accidents could face criminal and civil liability for their actions. Depending on the facts of any case, Uber could also be liable for a car accident if a rideshare driver dropped off a passenger by the side of a highway.
Under Colorado law, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are considered “common carriers” and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. It is almost never acceptable to drop passengers off by the side of a busy interstate. There are safer alternatives. If an Uber driver feels that they must end a ride, they can exit an interstate and drop their passenger off in a commercial area. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any Uber or Lyft accident.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Trip data from Uber or Lyft should be examined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a car accident is protected by a number of laws. They have the ability to recover damages through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Sadly, though, drivers and rideshare companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any collision. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating An Adams County Uber Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the woman that died in this collision. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family. Dropping off a passenger by the side of a busy interstate is totally unacceptable and should never take place.
Do you need more information about a Thornton Uber accident? Our team of experienced rideshare accident attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation in to a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
