Hong Kong woman sues Uber over 2018 accident that left one dead and four injured
- In a filing, the woman’s lawyers argue that the ride-hailing giant is ‘vicariously liable’ for the collision, in which the Uber driver was killed
- The plaintiff was a passenger in a taxi that was hit head on by the Uber vehicle
Plaintiff Leung Hoi-ni has also named the administrator of the estate of the Uber driver killed in the collision, Rusty Hui Ki-wai, as a defendant alongside Uber Hong Kong, Uber Asia and Rasier Operations BV in her claim for damages filed to the High Court last Friday.
But her lawyers did not state the sum of damages sought, except to say that they were for “personal injuries, loss, damage, expense and interest arising out of [Hui’s] negligent driving as an Uber driver”, for which the three companies are “vicariously liable”.
Uber rides in Hong Kong are still unregulated by the government, and the service is considered illegal unless the driver has a hire car permit, as required under the law.
The fatal accident, which also left four injured, was the first in the city to involve a vehicle actively operating for Uber, sparking a debate about whether – and to what extent – the company would compensate those affected in such situations.