Uber’s “Safety” Loopholes Put Riders and Drivers at Risk
When new leadership took over at Uber in 2017, the company pledged to “Do the right thing. Period.” That promise, paired with slick marketing campaigns and polished Uber safety reports, helped Uber grow into one of the most recognized ridesharing companies in the world.
Today, Uber completes an average of 36 million trips per day, spanning both rides and Uber Eats deliveries. Second quarter results for 2025 show profits have grown 18% since 2024, and are on track to increase by 30% by the end of the year.
The company says it has a strong commitment to safety and support when something goes wrong. However, behind the scenes, safety reports reveal a darker picture. The company has developed strategies to avoid accountability when riders and drivers are injured — leaving victims to face enormous medical bills, lost income, and lasting trauma without fair recourse.
A Bait and Switch Harms New Jersey Couple in Devastating Accident
New Jersey couple Georgia and John McGinty sustained severe injuries when their Uber driver t-boned another car, including spine and rib fractures that continue to impair their ability to function.
But when they sued Uber for damages, their lawsuit against the company was derailed by a contract loophole called forced arbitration. The company claimed that the couple agreed to settle disputes out of court when their daughter accepted the hidden clause in the terms of service.
The couple’s daughter had used Georgia’s Uber Eats account to order pizza one night, unknowingly agreeing to a forced arbitration clause buried in the fine print. An appeals court sided with Uber, ruling that the click-through acceptance meant the McGintys had waived their right to sue — even for catastrophic injuries in a car accident.
“We’re incredulous that the court could interpret things the way that they did — that our daughter’s click through to order a pizza some random night could mean that if we were catastrophically injured in a car accident, that we couldn’t recover for our very serious injuries and the financial harm that was done to us,” said Georgia McGinty.
Promising Safety While Avoiding Accountability
What happened to the McGintys might come as a shock to the millions of Americans who depend on Uber. The truth is that forced or binding arbitration clauses have increased significantly in corporate user agreements as Uber and many other companies seek to compel employees and customers to use their hand-picked arbitrators to settle disputes rather than a court of law.
While Uber promotes safety as its top priority, forced arbitration means that victims lose their constitutional right to a jury trial. Cases are decided behind closed doors, with no public record and no legal precedent, making it harder for future victims to hold the company accountable.
But forced arbitration is not the only way Uber has tried to sidestep accountability when something goes awry. Recently, the company mounted a campaign in several states to lower the minimum amount of insurance required for commercial vehicles. They have spent millions of dollars on advertising, telling customers that insurance requirements are to blame for the rising cost of rides. The campaign’s narrative casts Uber as a victim of “overzealous state insurance requirements” and exploitation by personal injury lawyers and a “shady network of chiropractors, pain management doctors, and third-party lenders.”
What they are not telling people is that the costs of a serious accident involving catastrophic injuries can easily exceed the existing minimums. And if they succeed in lowering those even further, Uber customers and drivers will find out too late that they have been left high and dry after a nasty crash.
Safety Tips for Using Rideshare Services
Rideshare use continues to grow, especially in major metro areas like Phoenix and Tucson. Many residents and visitors choose Uber over driving themselves to avoid DUI risks, parking hassles, or walking alone at night. But cases like the McGintys’ raise questions about whether passengers are as protected as they think.
While you can’t fully eliminate the legal risks tied to Uber’s arbitration policies, you can take steps to improve your physical safety when using rideshare services:
- Request your ride from indoors so you don’t wait outside for long periods
- Use drivers with a high rating
- CANCEL THE RIDE if something feels off
- Ride with friends when possible. If riding alone, always convey that you are meeting someone. It is OK to lie to stay safe.
- Share your trip with someone you trust by using the “share my ride” feature found on many apps
- Confirm the car’s make and model, license plate, and driver match the app
- Sit in the back seat and wear your seatbelt. Never sit in the front seat when riding alone
- Do not share any personal details
- Pay and tip through the app only
- Track your route to ensure accuracy
- If the driver asks to stop for gasoline, you must say no. It stops the car and turns off the app that follows the journey. Unfortunately, it’s a jungle there.
- If you feel unsafe, call 911 immediately
While you can’t fully eliminate the legal risks tied to Uber’s arbitration policies, you can take steps to protect yourself when using rideshare services. If your rideshare driver gets into an accident with you in the car, follow these steps:
1. Check yourself for injuries.
2. Seek medical help if needed.
3. Report the incident through the Uber app.
4. Consider seeking legal help with a compensation claim.
When it comes to the matter of compensation, there are a number of items to consider. First, double-check the coverage you have through your auto insurance, as it may cover you in this scenario. The auto insurance of the other driver may also come into play, depending on who is at fault. Arizona law requires that rideshare companies carry coverage, so Uber’s insurance may cover your injuries if your driver was actively transporting you when the collision happened.
The Bottom Line
Uber has positioned itself as a safe, convenient alternative to other forms of transportation — and for many people, it is. But the gap between Uber’s public promises and its behind-the-scenes tactics is concerning, especially when forced arbitration leaves injured passengers without their day in court.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rideshare accident and wishes to discuss the specifics of your case, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Bache Lynch Goldsmith & Mendoza.