With the rise of ride-sharing apps like Uber, many people have become increasingly comfortable getting into a random person’s car. While most rides happen without incident, an unexpected accident occurred for Toronto mom Julia Viscomi. Julia and her boyfriend had called an Uber after their car got a flat tire, bringing along their four children, including their five-year-old daughter. Since they had a lot of items to carry, the couple decided to split the tasks. Her boyfriend handled unloading the tired kids and items, while Julia searched for the garage door opener.
The issue arose when the driver took off too early, before the couple could retrieve their sleeping daughter. When Julia returned to the street, she couldn’t find the Uber. Meanwhile, her other three kids were panicking, wondering if their sibling had been kidnapped. Looking around, they couldn’t spot any car driving away from their home either.
The Toronto mom quickly tried to contact Uber representatives, but they refused to help. They declined to assist her in reaching the driver or even inform the police about the incident, citing policy restrictions.
Thankfully, the missing girl was located an hour later by the police after Julia called them directly. However, Julia was displeased with how Uber handled the situation. While there was no ill intent from the driver, who failed to notice the child was still in the car, the company’s response left much to be desired. To compensate for the incident, Uber provided the boyfriend with a $10 credit.
Despite the incident, an Uber spokesperson still insisted that the company prioritizes passenger safety. They also promised to investigate the matter and explore ways to improve their processes and support systems. Julia wasn’t satisfied with just their word. She intends to seek compensation for the distress caused and to push for the company to revise its policy regarding emergency situations.
Many internet users who heard the news were equally shocked and appalled. “Holy crap, this is unacceptable on so many levels. It seems to me the ‘privacy concerns’ are just an excuse for Uber to avoid dealing with law enforcement,” one Redditor commented.
Others criticized the company for offering a $10 credit as compensation, calling it “obnoxious.” Some users wondered how the driver could fail to notice a sleeping child in the car, only realizing the mistake when police tracked them down. One user remarked, “This is the biggest problem with these types of app-based industries. No regulation. Same issue with food delivery apps or Airbnb.”
