Everyone agrees: The impetus for this legislation was the death of six-year-old pedestrian Sofia Liu killed by an uberX driver. Uber refused to accept responsibility for the child’s death on the grounds that the driver was not carrying a passenger at the time. This bill passed the state assembly by a vote of 71-0. Uber says the proposed plan is a backroom deal by insurers and trial lawyers seeking to boost profit.
Good grief.
In the Bloomberg piece Uber states the “vast majority” of personal insurance policies cover the period when a ‘ridesharing’ driver has the app on and is waiting for requests. Bullshit. Nearly all private insurance policies exclude individuals driving professionally. This is precisely what a third of all American states have been warning their consumers.
Finally, Uber says the proposal to require ‘ridesharing’ companies provide “primary” insurance “allows insurance companies to escape their liability for services they’ve already charged ratepayers.” Seriously, the chutzpah boggles. Uber encourages private drivers to use their private vehicles to ferry passengers for profit (which private insurance doesn’t allow). In this way, Uber systematically encourages fraud by thousands of drivers in hundreds of cities daily. Yet, here the company tries to blame insurers for not covering commercial activity.
Increasingly, Uber’s lies grow in boldness and obviousness.