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A woman in Las Vegas made the mistake of getting a ride with the wrong Uber driver. She was “shot and severely injured” during what should have been a routine taxi trip. She’s suing the company, the driver and the shooter. Based on what she told the police, her suit is likely to be a successful one. The shooting allegedly happened because her driver started flashing “gang signs.”
Uber hired wrong driver
Calling an Uber might be a whole lot cheaper than a standard taxi company but the ride share industry is also totally unregulated. That means you basically take your life in your hands any time you climb in the vehicle with a total stranger.
One who needs extra cash but doesn’t have many solid skills other than a basic ability to move a vehicle down the road. Tamojanae Barlow learned that lesson the hard way. On Tuesday, April 11, she filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court.
Ms. Barlow alleges that she was “a passenger in a vehicle being driven by John Eyraud, who was driving for Uber on August 15, when Eyraud started flashing gang signs at another driver.” He even commented about it, bragging that his “hands were ‘registered weapons.‘”
News item about #uber and #LasVegas: https://t.co/kQUPN89aM6 ("Uber passenger was shot after driver flashed gang signs, lawsuit says – Las Vegas Review-Journal")
— Reggie Purdue (@vegas_uber) April 14, 2023
They turned out to be as dangerous as advertised. According to the complaint, “the other driver, Robert Sult Jr., then stepped out of his vehicle and shot into Eyraud’s vehicle, striking and injuring Barlow.”
As related by her lawyer, Robert Murdock, she ended up with injuries to her arm and body, along with “the shock of being shot at in the middle of the night while being a passenger in an Uber.”
The driver is accused of putting her life in danger. As spelled out in the lawsuit, “Eyraud breached his duty to protect the plaintiff” by carelessly antagonizing dangerous gang rivals.
Hired an unqualified individual
The ride-sharing company is taking heat in the legal complaint for breaching their duty to protect passengers from harm.
“Uber breached its duties to the plaintiff when it ‘hired, contracted and/or retained unqualified individuals they knew or should have known presented a risk of harm to their passengers.‘” She’s hoping to recover “at least $90,000 in damages.”
It didn’t take long for an Uber spokesperson to respond, admitting that the “reported details of this incident are terrifying.” They note, “while we can’t comment on pending litigation, we are deeply committed to the safety of riders and drivers.” Their platform is remarkably popular and they want to keep it that way.
News item about #uber and #LasVegas: https://t.co/f5llrjErkd ("Wounded Las Vegas Uber Passenger Sues Rideshare Company, Driver, Assailant")
— Reggie Purdue (@vegas_uber) April 14, 2023
The spokesman added that they’re following this case closely but also have other safety measures already in place.
According to the company, Uber has several “safety features” including “an emergency button for riders and drivers, ‘live help‘ from safety agents and GPS tracking of every trip.” None of those would have helped Ms. Barlow.
According to criminal court records, “Sult pleaded guilty to felony charges of battery with use of a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm at or into an occupied vehicle last month.” He’s up for sentencing May 10.
