Some of the most frequent workers you see around the Big Apple are visible on every street corner and traffic light. Taxi cabs are one of the most common ways to travel around New York City whether you want to get to some place quicker or safer. It seems like an accessible industry for those who want to make a living by driving around one of the most iconic cities in the nation.
Unfortunately, recent reports suggest otherwise. A dramatic increase in competition around the city has led to many cab and limo drivers struggling both financially and emotionally. If you or a loved one operate in this field, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers ahead and how you can receive potential coverage for it.
More drivers, less money
At the end of last month, a 58-year-old Uber driver jumped in front of a local subway train after drowning in debt for months. The man’s death is the suicide in the New York City taxi industry in 2018, but he was the first app driver. Officials blame the increasing popularity of app driving services such as Lyft and Uber for making the competition with local yellow cabs too stiff.
It is now more difficult for drivers to find passengers as there are more people to get to riders quicker and the slower traffic from the excessive number of cars encourages more residents to walk or take the subway. In August, New York City voted to cap the amount of Uber and Lyft vehicles for one year. While this will ease some of the tension for local yellow cab drivers, it will not do any favors for app drivers that have a building debt just like the one who took his own life.
Mental health assistance may be required
In the same article reporting the Uber driver’s death, the executive director of the compensation group called Black Car Fund announced that they will partner with the Independent Drivers Guild to assist in any mental health issues that drivers have, believing that cab drivers need more mental health assistance.
While New York does offer workers’ compensation for mental distress, it can be very hard to acquire. You would need to convince the court of any mental trauma you receive on the job from traumatic events, physical injuries or strenuous work conditions. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you build your case for the court so you can take off some of the stress for your challenging job.
