Uber is simultaneously trying to weaken legal accountability while expanding autonomous vehicle deployment, despite unresolved safety and transparency concerns. This report highlights how Uber’s attack on legal protections that hold drivers and auto manufacturers accountable in California and other states threatens public safety.
Bad Background Checks Cause Death And Injury: Uber has a history of performing shoddy background checks that have resulted in dangerous drivers hurting and killing innocent pedestrians, passengers and drivers. Many of these cases are hidden behind the curtain of mandatory arbitration, but those that have made it to court show a pattern of a company working to put as many drivers on the road as possible regardless of whether they are safe. This report highlights five high-profile examples of tragic accidents caused by dangerous Uber drivers who had prior traffic and criminal records but were approved by Uber’s background check system (Pg. 8). If Uber’s attempt to limit its liability succeeds, the company will have even less incentive to do better background checks. Multi-state Legal Attack: Uber’s unprecedented push for limited motor vehicle liability laws in California and other states shows the company is trying to avoid legal accountability under the law at the same time as it’s expanding its robotaxis, which are sub-standard for industry norms. The company has partnered with (opens in new tab) over 20 companies and wants to offer rides in 15 cities by the end of 2026, including in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In California, Uber is pushing a ballot measure that will protect negligent drivers and defective car manufacturers in all motor vehicle accident cases. The proposed law limits victims’ medical recovery and access to an attorney. Consumer Watchdog found that Uber in the past few months has also been pushing pro-corporate, anti-consumer tort reform in New York, Indiana, Florida, and Nevada. The tort reform plan is different in every state—showing it is not really billboard lawyers that Uber has a problem with, but accountability for it and its drivers’ actions. Uber Will Prevent Seriously Injured Accident Victims From Finding Attorneys: Uber’s proposed law says victims must keep 75% of the “total recovery,” which seems like 25% goes to pay their attorneys, but that’s not the whole story. When accident victims need treatment, providers treat them with the understanding they will be paid when the case is over. However, these medical bills are not recoverable costs (opens in new tab) under the Uber initiative’s definition of “total recovery” and would come out of the 25% that would fund attorney costs. A $1 million serious injury settlement, for example, could result in medical liens and bills exceeding $250,000, which would leave nothing for the contingency fee attorney. Seriously injured victims would be unable to find contingency fee attorneys to represent them.
