Tag Archives: Uber

More Nails Hammered Into Uber, Sidecar, And Lyft’s Coffin!

Uber, Sidecar, and Lyft have been facing the music all these days, from unskilled drivers causing pedestrian deaths to controversial insurance policies. These companies have been facing a large number of problems and that is all due to the framework they have been functioning upon. The moneymaking profit-generating model had to backfire sometime and so it did.

The Ordinance

Since the introduction of a new Chicago ordinance which termed a lot of Uber’s activities illegal, the company’s shutdown has become imminent if they don’t start adhering to some laws. Mayor Rahm Emanuel released an ordinance for Uber, which included the following points:

  • Ride sharing companies (Uber, Sidecar and Lyft) can’t own vehicles neither can they help drivers buy vehicles.
  • Dispatching taxis by Uber is not allowed anymore.
  • Advertising on vehicles isn’t allowed anymore (guess Uber will have to shave that moustache off their cars).
  • No drop-offs or pickups from the airport.
  • Pricing can’t be done based on time or pricing.
  • Mandatory symbols to identify the ride sharing company.
  • The city transportation department is going to conduct GPS tracking of all Uber vehicles 24-7 throughout the year.

It is good to see that authorities realized that Uber and other ridesharing companies needed some regulation and law enforcement. They needed to be reminded that there are certain Taxi and Limousine laws they need to follow which they had been breaking so bluntly earlier.

The Twisted Insurance Policies

This wasn’t enough, what is even disappointing is Uber and Lyft’s insurance regulations, which are so twisted and made to ensure the company’s safety from all angles. People should realize that the one million dollar insurance policy is merely an excess line coverage general liability policy. An excess line policy is actually a secondary policy and it can only be activated after the primary line policy is activated.

  • The policy doesn’t pay damages for any Uber car even if it is financed by Uber
  • The policy doesn’t pay for any medical or hospital bills for Uber drivers, who are bluntly termed as ‘independent contractors’
  • On-the-job-injuries aren’t covered in the private health insurance

That is sly of Uber and Lyft to create such policies, which do not even cover the driver’s medical bills, this poses as a danger for not only the drivers but the public as well. In case an Uber car gets in to an accident, the passengers are all on their own, which means neither are they provided the three basic C’s (Care, Custody and Control) and they will probably end being held as an equal part of the incident.

With all the twisted policies, the people who drive for Uber are being used as well, as they are paid really small amounts of cuts to what the companies earn. Also, they have to be on their own in case of any accident.

Looks like every policy these companies ever made is backfiring now. In Seattle as well, Uber, Sidecar and Lyft were operating illegally as they weren’t even regulated. Added to that they were causing many problems to the taxi drivers who were already working there, until recently they raised their voices and authorities are expected to take corrective measures.

Killing 6 year old girls, assaulting passengers, putting passengers at risk and then designing policies which still ensure the company’s safety, don’t really identify the doings of a ride sharing company any one would like using. It is time these companies face the law!

Avoiding Liability While Skimping On Service Quality: Controversies Behind Companies You Might Have Travelled With!

Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar have been the centre of controversy recently, and a number of incidents have been reported which highlight the lack of responsibility these companies exhibit. Here are just a few of the numerous stories reported by the news:

Uber Driver Kills 6 Year Old Girl

Syed Muzaffar, 57 year old Uber driver was driving down the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve. Muzaffar was taking a fast right turn when he struck the victims, Sophia Liu, 6 years old, her mother, and brother. The accident took place at about 8 p.m. on a Tuesday on the Polk and Ellis Street.

Avoiding Liability While Skimping On Service Quality: Controversies Behind Companies You Might Have Travelled With!Upon impact, Sophia Liu died on the spot whereas her mother and brother survived the accident with injuries.

What is really irresponsible on Uber’s behalf is that they deny taking responsibility of the accident and conveniently said that the driver wasn’t on duty and he wasn’t carrying any passengers, which is why he wasn’t actually working for them at that time.

A legal expert, Steven Clark also said in an interview that Uber’s whole organizational structure is designed to avoid liabilities in such situations.

News source: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Uber-Driver-Arrested-in-San-Francisco-Crash-That-Killed-Girl-238491691.html

Beating Up Passengers For Burping

An Arlington resident Seth Bender ordered an Uber car and got in to the car with a friend. Shortly after entering the car, Mr. Bender burped and excused himself. This is where the driver, Hamza Abu Shariah lost it, he started ranting and yelling about how he hated Americans. He also made anti-homosexual comments, but unfortunately that wasn’t all, after Mr. Bender got off from the car; the driver continued yelling and slapped the passenger.

Uber refused to take any responsibility for the situation and deactivated this driver’s account.

News source: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2013/03/08/uber-driver-allegedly-assaults-customer-for-burping/

Controversial Surge in Pricing

On New Year’s Eve, one of the busiest nights of the city, Uber decided to launch a notification which said that charges would be normal till 8.pm. after which they will continue rising throughout the night.

The most expensive time was between 12:15 and 2:30am in the evening when everybody is looking for a ride home. Such a price hike may not be illegal, but it is highly unethical and gives one an idea of how app-based companies operate.

News source: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Ubers-Surge-Pricing-on-New-Years-Eve-238267491.html

What Is Going On Behind This Company?

Although Uber took actions regarding the accidents and customer complaints by deactivating the driver’s accounts, is it enough? They also specified that they aren’t responsible in such cases as the drivers aren’t actually their employees. Would you ever consider travelling with a company that doesn’t take any kind of responsibility for the service it offers?

It is quite obvious that Uber and other companies like Sidecar and Lyft are money making organizations and customers are the last thing they care about.

Uber is also known to raise its prices all of a sudden in seasons when Avoiding Liability While Skimping On Service Quality: Controversies Behind Companies You Might Have Travelled With!people require their services the most. On New Year’s Eve and particularly during snowstorms, these companies are seen raising their prices abnormally high. Such practices need to be regulated but these companies often find a loophole and get away with it. Their existence is primarily dependent on staying one step ahead of the law.

At Safe Rides, this isn’t how we function. As a non-profit charity organization, our customer’s safety is our priority. Plus our connections with reputable Limo companies help us ensure that you get the most professional and reliable drivers.

If you want to book a ride visit our website www.saferides.org.