14 DAY TRIAL // Uber could have another lawsuit to add to its portfolio, in light of recent news that several people plan to take legal action against the ride-sharing app for discriminating against blind people.
Among the plaintiffs, there is also the organization National Federation of the Blind of California, which accused Uber of discrimination against the blind for not allowing guide dogs inside the taxi, International Business times reports.
The people who filed the lawsuit recounted several different instances when they had to deal with the humiliating attitude from Uber drivers, who blatantly refused to give them a ride because they were accompanied by service dogs.
There is even a shocking confession of a person who claims that one Uber driver had locked his dog in the trunk of the taxi without him noticing and that when he had realized what the taxi driver had done, he refused to let him get off the car.
Uber denies the accusations
When confronted about this issue which could seriously affect the development of the company, a spokesperson declared for USA Today that “the Uber app is built to expand access to transportation options for all, including users with visual impairments and other disabilities."
Therefore, since the company is denying allegations according to which their regulations forbid the offering of services to those who need assistance animals, then the lawsuit will most likely have to be redirected towards each driver who did not act accordingly. Given that there are more than 40 registered cases so far, the trial could take a rather unpleasant turn.
Irrespective of the outcome of the lawsuit, Uber’s reputation has once again been stained, and if this continues, Uber might actually have to face some severe backlash from its users.
In view of recent events which made headlines with Uber under fire after accusations of assaulting or harassing riders during their taxi drive, the company is in danger of losing its credibility and head towards a rapid downfall.