Braintree, MA personal injury attorney Michael Conley discusses the challenges faced in Uber/Lyft accident cases. He explains that the primary challenge currently involves Uber and Lyft, as both companies deny that they qualify as common carriers. This creates a threshold legal dispute in each case: the argument is that they are common carriers, transporting passengers for hire, similar to a taxi company, and therefore owe specific obligations to their passengers.

This issue becomes particularly significant in cases involving driver assaults, as reported in the media. In such scenarios, a taxi company would typically be held responsible for its driver’s actions, whereas other companies might not be, depending on the legal relationship between the carrier and the passenger.

Consequently, the determination of common carrier status has become a central battleground in Uber and Lyft litigation.