Recent Court Decision Ruled in Favor of Rideshare Company, Allowing Such Cases to Go to Arbitration
Following a historic decision by New York State’s highest court, New York personal injury attorney and road safety advocate Ira Slavit of Levine & Slavit, PLLC is reminding Uber riders that they cannot sue the company for personal injuries they suffered during the ride, but rather, they must submit their claims to an arbitrator.
In the case of Wu v. Uber Tech Inc., the plaintiff, an Uber customer, sued the rideshare company when she was hit by a car in 2020 after the driver let her off in the middle of a busy New York City street. A year later, she agreed to Uber’s updated “clickwrap,” or online, user agreement, which contained a provision that any personal injury claims are to be handled in private arbitration.
The plaintiff argued that the contract’s language was misleading and confusing, while Uber claimed that, even if she did not understand the agreement, she agreed to its terms. On November 25, 2024, the state’s Court of Appeals ruled 5-2 that the contract was legally binding and, therefore, the rider could not sue.
“This one-of-a-kind decision provides a valuable lesson when it comes to approving online agreements without reading them,” Mr. Slavit says. “Although plaintiffs receive less money through arbitration than through a jury trial, they do receive it more quickly. Be sure to read the contract through and through; if you have trouble understanding the terms of the contract, or if you have been involved in a crash with an Uber driver, please contact an attorney immediately.”
For more information on Levine & Slavit, visit www.newyorkinjuries.com.
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* Photo of Mr. Slavit is attached.
About Levine & Slavit PLLC
Levine & Slavit PLLC is a third-generation personal injury firm serving Long Island and the greater New York City area. Its attorneys handle cases such as auto accidents, slip and fall injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death and products lability. The firm strives to obtain just recovery for its personal injury clients, whether for long-term or short-term needs, and works hard to ensure that its clients are not burdened with costly medical bills as a result of someone else’s action or inaction. For more information, visit www.newyorkinjuries.com.
