Since becoming popular in the early 2010s, ride-sharing services like Uber have basically integrated themselves fully into our daily lives and language (how often do you hear“taxi” anymore?).

However, with the speed at which Uber was adopted, legal troubles began as passengers often found themselves in troubling circumstances they were unprepared to navigate. From accidents to privacy concerns, Uber lawsuits have covered quite an impressive amount of ground in their 15 years of operation.

This article covers passenger rights, common legal issues, and the steps to take if you find yourself needing an Uber lawsuit claim.

The Rise of Uber and Its Legal Challenges

Since its inception, Uber has revolutionized the way we hail taxis and ride shares. However, this disruption to the industry seems to have undercut some of the previous legal battles and infrastructure around taxis that made them reliable and safe. Thus, there have been Uber lawsuits ranging from disputes over driver classification to passenger safety concerns as the company has scrambled to find its traction.

Passenger Rights in the World of Ride-Sharing

As an Uber passenger, you’re entitled to certain rights protected by law. These rights include:

1. The right to a safe ride
2. Protection from discrimination based on race, gender, or disability
3. Privacy of your personal information
4. Accessibility services for passengers with disabilities
5. Fair and transparent pricing

 

These rights are protected even if you did not know about them beforehand. Among them, Uber has a duty to ensure its drivers are properly vetted and that vehicles meet safety standards. The company is also obligated to protect your personal information and use it only for specified purposes.

Now that you’re aware of these rights, you’ll be better able to know when you might need to seek legal recourse in situations with the company. However, it’s good to know a bit more detail, which we turn to next.

Common Legal Issues in Uber Rides

1. Accidents and Liability

The first common Uber lawsuit we’ll be looking at is vehicle accidents. When there’s an accident involving an Uber ride, liability can get complex. It can involve the driver, other drivers, Uber as a company, or any combination of these parties.

If you find yourself in an accident involving an Uber, your priority is your health and safety. Seek medical attention, even if you don’t seem seriously injured at first. At the very least, you’ll get a medical report that documents what happened to you. But in the worst case, adrenaline can mask the pain of your injuries, making them unapparent until after the fact.

Once you’re established your own safety, you or someone you trust nearby should document the scene of the accident thoroughly with photos. Gather information about each driver, then talk to any witnesses and get their information. Report the incident through the Uber app as soon as you can. 

After this, it’s often wise to seek auto insurance legal advice to best decide on next steps.

2. Driver Misconduct

Another significant area of concern is driver misconduct. While the vast majority of Uber rides occur without incident, there have been reported cases ranging from verbal harassment to more serious offenses. Of all Uber’s issues, this might be the one that has reached the headlines the most often and led to some of the most worrying legal cases involving the company.

If you experience any form of misconduct during your ride, first, prioritize your immediate safety. Ask to pull over if at all possible, otherwise navigate the situation calmly until it is possible to do so. Once you’re in a safe place, report the incident to Uber immediately through the app. It’s important to document all details of the incident while they’re fresh in your memory. For serious offenses, consider filing a police report. In such cases, consulting with a legal professional is recommended. 

3. Privacy Concerns

Finally, one area that differs from most standard auto accident cases is privacy. Privacy concerns are a category of Uber lawsuits that has to do with the information they have on the app. Uber collects a significant amount of data from its users, including location information, payment details, and usage patterns. These can be sold or used for purposes that a user did not intend, leading to potential lawsuits.

If you believe your privacy has been breached, take the following steps:

1. Review Uber’s privacy policy.
2. Request to see what data Uber has collected about you.
3. If you suspect a breach, report it to Uber and relevant authorities.
4. Consider joining or initiating an Uber class action lawsuit if the breach affects many users.
5. Consult with a privacy law expert to understand your rights and potential next steps.

Pursuing a Claim Against Uber

Now that we’ve covered the three major areas where one might want to pursue legal action against Uber, we can move on to how to approach the actual process. 

1. Start by documenting everything. Depending on the incident, this could mean pictures, different persons’ information, medical reports, privacy concerns, and all correspondence with both Uber and any other individuals involved. 
2. Report the incident to Uber. Uber has an in-app reporting system you can use to send all the relevant information. This can be complicated, as you may be pursuing legal action against Uber themselves, but more often you’ll have the company on your side to work together with their driver to figure out the incident. 
3. Consult your attorney. If you are going to pursue a claim, the next important step is to contact an attorney. For an excellent auto insurance attorney in California, you can consider us at Natanzi Law Group.

Class Action Lawsuits and Uber

In some instances, individuals with similar claims against Uber have joined together in Uber class action lawsuit proceedings. In these cases, you may not have to secure your own representation, but rather work with the attorneys already on the case. Uber class action lawsuits of the past have involved a range of issues, including driver classification and compensation, discrimination, misleading safety claims, and a lack of transparency in their surge pricing model. 

Class action lawsuits can be an effective way for individuals to seek justice when their individual claims might be too small to pursue separately. If you believe you’re part of a larger group affected by Uber’s practices, it may be worth looking into whether you’d be interested in pursuing a class action suit together.

Staying Informed

As ride-sharing services continue to evolve and change with the times, so too will the legal issues surrounding them.

Whether you’re dealing with an accident, addressing a privacy concern, or considering joining a class action lawsuit, better understanding Uber lawsuits will let you make a more informed decision.

If you’re ever unsure of your rights or how to proceed, seeking auto insurance legal advice can provide the guidance you need to protect your rights and interests.