Nearly a year ago in March 2018, a woman in Tempe, AZ was killed in a crash involving a self-driving Uber vehicle. The woman’s family has recently filed a $10 million claim against the City of Tempe.

When Elaine Herzberg was hit and killed by the self-driving car, which was a Volvo sport-utility vehicle, she was walking outside of a crosswalk on Mill Avenue. Her husband and daughter, who are being represented by Skousen, Gulbrandsen & Patience, are claiming the city created a dangerous situation by paving the median where pedestrians were not supposed to walk. The lawsuit is seeking $5 million in compensation for each of the surviving family members.

Rideshare companies like Uber provide users with a convenient service for a decent price. Most Uber vehicles are well maintenanced and cleaned and the drivers are courteous and safe behind the wheel. But what happens when an Uber driver isn’t safe? You may feel like you just have to move on from the experience and hope it doesn’t happen again, but this is not the case. Uber provides its customers with a way to report unsafe drivers, in hopes of getting those individuals off the road.

An Uber driver, Danyal Cheema, in Long Island was charged with second-degree manslaughter in early November 2018 after a 15-year-old boy fell from the roof of the driver’s vehicle while car surfing in September.

Newsday reported that on September 23, 2018, Ryan Mullen, who was a student at St. Anthony’s High School and from Cold Spring Harbor, along with two 16-year-old friends, attended several parties in the Cold Spring Harbor area prior to requesting an Uber. According to the prosecutor, it is believed the teenagers had been drinking. They are in the process of determining where the alcohol came from.

Rideshare apps like Uber provide people with options to getting around an area they don’t know and when they’re without a car. However, Uber has had its issues in the past, with 103 of their drivers accused of sexual assault or abuse. In addition to this, they’re also working on how to quicken emergency responses in the event of an accident. Uber is implementing several new safety features that will help improve overall safety and reduce the number of accidents.

To be an Uber driver, one must be the minimum eligible age to drive, have a valid US license, have one year of driving experience as a licensed driver, although those under 23 years old must have three years of experience, and have an eligible car with four doors. They also need to submit proof of residency, insurance, send a profile photo, and answer questions about criminal history and their driving record.

Uber has faced criticism for their hiring process and that it’s not thorough. The company is taking steps to make their rideshare service more thorough and to provide more information to users.

The laws pertaining to rideshare services and auto accidents are continuously evolving, as this is a relatively new area of law. As a result, it can be confusing to navigate this legal field in the event of a wreck. If you’ve been hit by an Uber vehicle as a pedestrian, you may be wondering about your legal rights and options. Our Uber accident lawyers can investigate your case and answer any questions you may have.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

When you head outside on foot, whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or simply taking a walk, you may find yourself vulnerable to the traffic buzzing nearby. Pedestrians are at risk of being struck by a vehicle in a number of different situations, most of which are caused by driver negligence. The accident rates may be even higher than you realize.