My client and I appeared in an interview for ABC’s Good Morning America regarding the beating he took from a former Taco Bell executive during an UBER ride. There are several issues that concern UBER drivers that have been brought into specific relief by this series of events.
My client picked up a man who was obviously intoxicated. He would not provide a specific address, and gave vague directions such as “head up the PCH and I’ll tell you where to turn.” The event turned ugly when my client could not obtain cohesive answers and told him the ride was over. The ensuing vicious attack was captured on his dash-cam and has been the subject of several news reports and internet posts.
UBER drivers are not trained for these types of confrontations, and many are completely defenseless when confronted by an irate customer. My client was unprepared for the attack and has never experienced anything like it in his life. It is very fortunate that he had pepper spray, and that the dash cam captured the event. Discussions with my client have brought out several issues UBER drivers are forced to confront. Passengers are supposed to provide a specific address so that the UBER driver may enter it into a GPS and receive the shortest route to the destination. On many occasions, the passengers are obviously under the influence and cannot or will not provide an address. Some pass out, many others are unable to effectively guide the UBER driver.
This leads to serious issues for the UBER driver. It may take much longer both in terms of time and distance travelled to work through these challenges and arrive at a destination. UBER refuses to pay the drivers accordingly, and when passengers challenge the fare the UBER driver is often unable to provide information or dispute the deeply discounted fees.
One tactic many UBER drivers have turned to is a dash-cam. In our case, the dash-cam provided valuable information and evidence to protect my client. UBER drivers must give consideration to how they will manage combative or inebriated customers who are unable or unwilling to provide a specific address.
Another challenge for UBER drivers is the minimum age limit for passengers – they must be 18 years or older. This protects UBER drivers from assertions of molestation or other claims of wrong doing. Unfortunately many parents attempt to use UBER to have their children taken to school, or to have them picked up from an after-school practice. These can be wasted trips, and potentially hazardous situations for an UBER driver, especially if they do not have a dash camera or other protections.