Weekly Updates on Ridesharing: Incidents, Autonomous Taxi Malfunctions, and Agreements

In a significant development, Uber Eats has agreed to a settlement of $14,991,841.49 following an incident in Chicago where a rideshare passenger was assaulted and the company was found to have violated the city's Independent Contractor Protections law.

The assault, which took place around 2:30 a.m. in the 800 block of West Superior Street, left a 29-year-old woman in need of medical attention. She was taken to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital for an evaluation.

The violation was related to Uber Eats' Boost promotion, which did not clearly disclose that the Boost multiplier only applied to part of the worker's fare. The investigation also found that Uber Eats paid workers less than the amount shown on pre-work offer cards.

The suspect, driving a gray Toyota Prius, attempted to flee after the assault but struck a pole and was taken into police custody.

The settlement includes back pay, interest, damages, and civil penalties for 16,120 affected workers. The majority of the settlement, more than $13 million, was related to alleged violations of the Independent Contractor Protections law. Uber Eats will also pay $33,680.26 in fines to the city of Seattle for similar violations.

Bryant Greening of Legal Rideshare, a law firm focusing on Uber, Lyft, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries, advises rideshare users to trust their instincts and not get into a car if something feels off. If something goes wrong during a ride, contact the police or a loved one immediately.

The original article can be found on LegalRideshare's website. This incident serves as a reminder for both rideshare companies and passengers to prioritise safety and transparency.