I was using Lyft to get to the airport. This was a quick business trip while Bonnie stayed home. If I expect to do a lot of walking at my destination, I usually take my walker — and Bonnie and I both use it. This time, though, I was alone and wasn’t expecting a lot of walking, so I left it at home.
Sitting in the back seat, I saw a sign telling me the driver has mostly received perfect (5 out of 5) ratings and that my comfort and safety were his highest concern. And, of course, tips are greatly appreciated. I didn’t mind the sign. The driver is running a business and doing what he can to improve his profits. If his sign accomplishes that, good for him.
As I exited the car at the airport, before I was completely out of the back seat, the Lyft driver started to pull away. It was a compact car and I’m six feet tall, and it takes me a while to exit in that situation. The right rear tire clipped my right heel. When it happened, I didn’t know if I was injured or not — but I was angry that the driver didn’t wait until I was completely out of the car. I look my age, more or less, and it’s not breaking news that seniors are slower and sometimes clumsier at doing things than younger people are.
The driver stopped immediately. I yelled at him and he kind of looked at me and shrugged. I might have slammed the door a bit more forcefully than I usually do and went into the terminal. I didn’t notice any pain as I walked.
I figured this was a one-off mistake on his part and that he didn’t mean to injure me. There had been minimal conversation in the car and nothing for him to get mad at me about. I surmised that if I reported this, he would suffer consequences. Having a “black mark” on your record is never a good thing.
I debated with myself whether or not to report it. Was his error big enough to warrant him getting a black mark? Rightly or wrongly, I decided it was. Had he immediately jumped out of his seat to make sure I was okay, and apologized profusely along the way, I might have decided differently. But his indifferent “s@%t happens” shrug struck me the wrong way. He seemed to be in a rush to get to his next fare and my welfare was my own problem.
Although I didn’t seem to be injured immediately, if some lingering pain showed up, I wanted a record of the incident.
I didn’t have a lot of time before my flight took off, so I waited until I started to get texts when I was near my destination airport before I did anything. Lyft sent its standard: “Did you enjoy your ride? Rate Antonio’s performance from one to five. How much of a tip do you want to leave Antonio?”
There was a space to write an extended comment, so I wrote that he started to drive away before I was totally out of the car and his tire clipped my foot.
Lyft offered me the chance to chat via text with one of their reps to get this problem resolved. I could have spoken to a live person had I wanted to, but I was still on a full plane and would be for a few more minutes, so I opted for the text chat.
I explained what had happened. I inferred that the rep was female, although I could be wrong. She asked me if I was injured? “I’m not sure,” I replied. “I’m not in pain now, but right now I’m still on the plane. I’ll know more after I walk to baggage claim, and I’ll know even more tomorrow.”
She told me she had contacted the driver and he and I would be separated from him in the system — presumably meaning he would never be my driver again. I don’t know if what other repercussions, if any, Antonio faced.
She kept pressing me to declare myself okay — and I kept demurring. “I need more time.” She gave me a deadline to keep texting or the claim would be declared resolved, I waited until a minute before the deadline and said I still needed more time.
By now, a different rep had been assigned to the case and needed time to orient herself with the situation. That agent never got back to me.
The next day I received a text message from a lawyer representing Lyft. Apparently, a claim had been opened, and she was there to find out the status of my injuries — and whether or not I was going to sue.
I decided to wait for a few days to see if any lingering pain existed. So I temporized with, “I’m consulting a lawyer about this. I will give him your contact number and the claim number.”
As I write this, it is a week after the incident, and I have no physical pain whatsoever from the incident. “No harm no foul,” as announcers are fond of saying in basketball.
Except there was a foul. Antonio drove away too hastily and I could have been hurt – or worse. The fact that I wasn’t was fortunate.
But since I’m not injured, I’m not going to sue either Antonio or Lyft. That sounds like way too much hassle and since I wasn’t hurt badly, a judge (or jury) wouldn’t likely award me very much, if anything. I could fake injury, of course, but that’s not my style at this time of my life. Back when I was “hurting for money,” possibly I would have used some trickery in order to get some cash, I’m not sure, but not today.
Lyft, of course, is ultimately responsible, but this was a freak incident that could have just as easily happened to Uber or any cab company. So, I’m still going to utilize Lyft to get back and forth to the airport. But I probably will start saying, “I’m slow” when I exit the back seats of cars.
Ironically, had I taken my walker with me this never would have happened. The driver would have been forced to get the walker out of his trunk (or wherever he had stored it), and by that time I would have been well out of the car.
The right rear tire clipped your right heel? Geez. That is very concerning, whether it turned into more damage or not. He failed at his “highest concern”, the “safety and comfort” of you, his passenger. I’m glad you connected with Lyft and reported this.
I’m also glad you wrote about this because it gives us readers some insight into the process used by Lyft (and maybe Uber also) to address this type of event and move it up, even to the point of having a lawyer contact you with a case humber. Also I’m impressed that their system can “separate” you from ever having to worry that this same driver could show up again.
Whether Antonio gets disciplined is no longer your worry. He acted with disregard for your safety; it is now in the hands of his ’employer’, and you won’t be driven by him again (presumably). You may have saved other riders from a similar event.
thank you again as it was very interesting reading. i do not as of yet have to use any other means of getting around but some day may have to so the info you just gave will store away in what brain power i have left thanks again and take care of your self
Wow that is horrible.
I hate that you had to go through this.
I’m a bit slow getting out as well if it’s a small car.
I had one driver that could see me struggling and asked if I needed help. I was a bit embarrassed.
I usually cross my fingers for an SUV but I don’t choose to pay extra for it.
Glad you weren’t hurt, but that had to be scary. I think your decision to not sue is the wise choice. As someone with a 95-year-old mother who moves alright but not quickly, I know to just take…my…time.
I’m surprised Lyft didn’t offer some sort of compensation. And the driver not making sure you are clear of the vehicle is definitely worth reporting. If nothing else, it makes Antonio aware that his performance for this particular ride was sub par. Antonio should light a candle in church because your injury wasn’t serious.
Protecting the driver’s rating is one thing. But protecting fellow customers is another thing.
The Lyft attorney’s main concern is not getting sued and if they do get sued , limit the judgement. Your concern is correcting the issue, letting others know about it and possibly getting some compensation from Lyft. I’d say your actions were spot on.
It was not a “freak incident.” The driver pulled away before you were clear of the car. Basic safe driving violation. A freak incident would be if the driver had a stroke at the wheel; or another car rear-ended your Uber. Glad you weren’t harmed, and as I said earlier, glad you reported it.
At the very least, they should have discounted or waived the fee entirely…as a retail merchant, that’s what I would do first… People that are ‘pleased’ are less likely to pursue other actions. That was a shameful incident.
Bob, I agree with “O2bnVegas” on this one. It was certainly NOT a “freak incident”. The driver was careless and then shrugged it off. Totally unacceptable. I, too, am very glad that you were not injured. This incident should serve as a cautionary tale to everyone who uses these car services. AND they should not have charged you for this ride. That is the very least they should have done. I hope you gave him the worst possible rating.
I would have reported it also just to cover my potential injury bases. If I was good 72 hours later, I probably also would not have pursued compensation. I think it’s important because you may have saved other passengers from injury. So it’s a good deed overall to have reported it.
I (very) briefly drove for Lyft pre-Covid, so I have some sympathy for rideshare drivers. I didn’t drive at night so I didn’t have to deal with drunks, etc. But even during the day, you wouldn’t believe the number of dirty/rude riders I had to deal with.
But in this situation, the driver’s conduct was completely unacceptable. In my experience, the rideshare companies take safety issues very seriously. I doubt Antonio will be driving (at least not for Lyft) in the future.
Totally unacceptable conduct by the Lyft driver. He should have received a major penalty. Perhaps a 30 day suspension or permanent deactivation. I may have filed suit in this case. It was plain and simple gross negligence, I believe equal to leaving the scene of an accident.