California public utilities code 5434
The Uber driver only carried the $15,000.00/$30,000.00 statutory minimum. Uber claimed that it was not liable because it was merely an “application” and not a transportation provider, and that the driver was solely liable so that the Lius were limited to that driver’s personal insurance. As I had been writing about the dangers of these new companies, Uber, Lyft and Sidecar, and the fact that they possessed no insurance, in my weekly San Francisco Examiner column, “Know Your Rights,” the Liu Family contacted me, and I filed the first wrongful death action in the nation against this industry. On New Year’s Eve, 2013, 7-year-old Sophia Liu was killed, and her mother and brother seriously injured by a driver who was logged on to the Uber app. My goal is to provide these answers to benefit all of our clients and to unmask the dishonesty of these mega corporations and the sleight of hand they engage in by trying to limit their liability to the statutory minimums set forth in the Public Utilities Code (“PUC”).įirst, a bit of background on how we got here.
#California public utilities code 5434 drivers#
With the recent passage by voters of Proposition 22, in November of 2020, which classified drivers as “Independent Contractors,” a closer look at the implications of Proposition 22 is necessary.
I am asked whether delivery services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub and other app-based delivery services have insurance requirements and coverage in the event that their drivers cause injury while engaged in deliveries. I am often contacted with questions concerning Uber and Lyft, their insurance requirements, and issues related to proving vicarious liability.