Consumer Alert
This warning is issued to California voters regarding a proposed Uber-backed ballot initiative that could limit the rights of people injured by negligent or reckless conduct.
What This Alert Is About
Uber is once again asking the public to trust it with safety, accountability, and the future of transportation.
At the same time, Uber is circulating a ballot measure in California that would significantly reduce the rights of people injured in accidents to recover full medical costs and to hire an attorney on a contingency fee basis.
That combination should concern every voter.
What Happened Before
There is real video footage of an Uber self-driving vehicle killing a pedestrian in Arizona. This was not a hypothetical risk or a near miss. A person lost their life.
That incident is a reminder that new technology, especially autonomous vehicles, carries real and serious dangers when deployed without proper safeguards and accountability.
What Uber Is Planning Now
Uber has made clear that it plans to bring back self-driving cars and robo-taxis, beginning in the Bay Area in 2026 and expanding from there.
At the same time, the company is asking voters to sign a petition that would weaken legal protections for people harmed by negligent or reckless behavior.
The timing is not accidental.
What the Ballot Measure Would Do
If passed, Uber’s proposed ballot measure would:
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Limit the ability of injured people to recover full medical costs
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Make it harder for accident victims to hire attorneys on a contingency fee basis
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Reduce legal accountability for corporations and reckless drivers
In plain terms, it would shift risk away from powerful companies and onto the people they injure.
Why This Matters
Access to medical care and access to the courts are not technical details. They are core protections that exist to hold corporations accountable when people are hurt.
This measure is being marketed as reform. In reality, it would function as a shield for corporations preparing to deploy risky technology while limiting the public’s ability to seek justice when something goes wrong.
Consumer advocates have rightly warned that this kind of measure creates a future where companies can act recklessly with reduced consequences.
That is why many are calling it what it is: a license to kill.
A Short Explainer on What’s at Stake
Consumer Watchdog has released a short explainer video outlining the risks posed by Uber’s proposed ballot measure and why it matters for California voters.
The video explains how Uber is preparing to bring back self-driving cars and robo-taxis while simultaneously supporting a ballot initiative that would limit the rights of people injured by negligent or reckless conduct.
Watch the explainer video here
This explainer provides essential context for understanding how this ballot measure could affect your access to medical recovery and legal representation if you or a loved one is harmed.
What Voters Should Do
If you are asked to sign this petition:
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Stop
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Do not rely on talking points or clipboards
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Read the official, non-partisan title and summary prepared by the California Attorney General
Once legal rights are signed away, restoring them is extraordinarily difficult.
A Final Word
No company should be allowed to experiment with public safety while simultaneously cutting off the public’s right to accountability.
Don’t sign away your rights.
Don’t sign Uber’s ballot measure.
And don’t confuse innovation with immunity.
This consumer alert is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.