Rideshare services like Uber or Lyft have become a normal part of life for many people.

But what happens when something goes wrong on a ride?

Multimedia journalist Jaelynn Grisso shares the safety issues for drivers and riders alike, and what protections Washington currently offers.

As rideshare became more widespread.

Lawmakers began regulating the new industry, but most of those regulations focused on labor, not safety.

In 2023, the state legislature passed a law including specific rights for riders and drivers.

For riders, the law required companies to enforce zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use by drivers.

Prohibited discrimination against a rider on the basis of specific protected classes.

Required vehicles to be no more than 15 years old, and banned charging of additional fees to a rider because of a disability.

The law also established a series of rights for drivers, including setting minimum pay rates per mile, per minute, and per trip.

That means drivers are compensated for both the time and distance they go.

It also mandated that all of the drivers' tips go directly to them.

It also established that drivers had a right to paid sick time, workers' compensation coverage and protection from retaliation.

The law doesn't cover how to handle safety concerns while on a ride other than driver background checks.

That leaves it up to riders and drivers to take the issue up on their own and file an insurance claim, or take it up in court.

Next time, we'll dive into what a state insurance mandate means for rideshare users.

I'm Paris Jackson, thanks for watching The Newsfeed.