Ride-sharing service Uber will face wrongful-death charges, in a lawsuit concerning the death of a 6-year-old girl who was reportedly killed by one of the company's drivers.
Attorney Christopher Dolan, who represents the family of the deceased, stated on Monday that he intended on filing a lawsuit that alleged Uber's contracted driver was on the Uber app when he hit and killed Sofia Liu.
According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, the driver, 57-year-old Union City, Calif. resident Syed Muzzafar was waiting to submit a ride request.
Although Uber did not give a statement on Monday, the company has said in the past that Muzzafar wasn't on the standard UberX system because there was no passenger with him at the time.
But according to this week's law suit, even if that were the case, the fare-finding program distracted the driver, leading him to strike Lui and injure her 5-year-old brother Anthony, along with her mother, Huan Kuang.
The suit went on to say that the Uber app, which requires drivers be constantly locked in to find ride shares and fare, directly conflicts with California legislation that aims to decrease roadside disturbances.
Vehicle drivers working with Uber "must respond quickly to a user request for service by physically interfacing with the app, thereby leading to distraction," according to the lawsuit.
According to state vehicular laws, drivers are only allowed to use hands-free cell phones while behind the wheel.
The Chronicle reported that the family will sue for negligent hiring and supervision, negligence with a motor vehicle and infliction of emotional distress, in addition to the wrongful death charge.
Liu was killed at around 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve, when she, her mother and brother crossed Polk Street, near San Francisco's Civic Center.
