Uber just settled two massive class-action lawsuits—to the tune of $28.5 million—concerning the language it uses to describe its safety practices.
Two cases, Philliben v. Uber Technologies and Mena v. Uber Technologies, filed in federal court in California, found that the the ride-sharing app misled consumers about how safe their service was, advertising with phrases like, “safest on the road,” or “industry-leading background checks.” As has become evident with stories like the uproar in Austin, TX over background checks for Uber drivers or the countless horror stories about criminal Uber drivers reported on what seems like a daily basis, “safest on the road” was a little bit more than an exaggeration.
If you took an Uber anywhere in the United States from January 1, 2013 onward, you’re more likely than not eligible for some of that $28.5 million. But before you get your hopes up, so are approximately 25 million other Americans or America-bound Uber passengers. That works out to something like $0.82 per person, if everyone claims their cut.
We’re just wondering what’s next for Uber. “Safest you can get without being a Google self-driving car”? “Safety second, convenience first”?
