Worst. Uber. Trip. EVER. (Also: Be careful what you wish for.)

[thistlechaser]

I had a two day work conference/training event/team building thing to go to up in San Francisco. The company was paying for hotel rooms for three days/two nights for everyone, but people who couldn't stay away that long (people with kids or pets or whatever) could travel back and forth instead.

I really, really didn't want to go to it. It'd be boring and long and lots of other reasons.

Since I can't leave my cat alone for three days, I elected to Uber back and forth each day.

I called my car, and for some reason it got canceled? I don't know if I canceled it by mistake or the driver did... he was right on the same road with me, then I got the popup window to rate the ride. Whatever. I ordered another Uber.

The second one was odd. I don't know if this had anything to do with anything, but he took almost five minutes to move at all, then he drove passed my road and way down the other way, stopping in a Starbucks (was he getting coffee? he could have turned around much sooner than that...). Anyway, he finally got to me and off we went.

A few minutes into the ride, and we got into an accident. We were going up a highway, so at normal highway speeds, and apparently there was an accident in front of us. Someone hit it, we hit them, someone (or two someones) hit us from behind. I was reading at the time, so I'm not completely sure what happened.

Luckily I had my seatbelt on. My Kindle went flying. (For much of the time, I was more worried about getting it back than anything else. It flew into the front seat somewhere, and I didn't want his car to be towed before I could find it.)

It took a long time standing on the side of the road for the cops to come (So Many Cops), then a few firetrucks, then some medics.

Thankfully one of the cops gave me a ride home (home-ish), because otherwise I'd be stuck there on the highway. He pulled over someone while I was in the back, and it was close enough to my apartment complex that I could walk, so I thanked him and left.

I never rode in the back of a cop car before! It was pretty interesting, so much to see. The cop was chatty as hell, too.

So anyway, once I got home, I went straight to my doctor. She was able to see me right away, sent me for X-rays, gave me painkillers. I'm not feeling too awful yet, but she said tomorrow I'm going to feel much worse. "Wish I would die" was her words to describe what my pain level will probably be.

So... I don't have to go to the conference today or tomorrow, but a darned high price for getting out of it. She said I'll probably be hurting bad for two full weeks, and perhaps beyond that.

Plus side: I could have been hurt a lot worse. It could have been my car. (Poor Uber driver!)

I haven't been sent a receipt from Uber yet, so I really hope they're not going to try to charge me for the trip.

I feel a little guilty for giving the driver one star, but man, the 'rate this ride' popup showed up on my phone while I was still standing on the side of the road. Maybe the accident wasn't his fault (I don't know), but I hit one star without thinking. Though I suppose if there's a reason to give one star, an accident is a good one...

It's funny to think what could have been. If that first Uber had showed up, I never would have gotten into an accident to begin with and this Uber driver would still have his car.

Edit: No issue on the being charged issue. They just sent me an email:

We received a message that you were involved in an accident on a recent trip. Your safety is deeply important to us and we wanted to check to see if you’re okay. We’re also following up with your driver.
Due to this experience, I’ve fully refunded your fare for this trip, which will apply to your original payment method in 3-5 business days. You'll also receive an updated receipt via email.

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Oh, ouch! :((( I hope you feel OK / hope it won't be as bad as the doctor said :(

I've been hearing more and more about accidents involving Uber / Lyft lately. I assume it's just because people are using those services more, but it is sort of disconcerting.

If your company is paying for it, Uber is probably more convenient and faster (at least in theory!) but if you're going downtown SF (for some other event), Caltrain's probably a decent option for you too? (I think you live fairly close to a station? Though it might've been the old apartment I'm thinking of.)

Which is not to say that you couldn't run into similar stuff on a train -- there was a fatality on the tracks on Tuesday during rush hour and it took me an extra hour to get home -- but mostly it's a pretty good option for Peninsula to SF when you don't want to park in the City.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my company was going to pay for it (which, I suppose, I shouldn't worry about getting charged for the trip then, but still! It's the point...). The hotel we were going to was on Embarcadero, across from the Ferry Market building (I had been intending to slip out at lunchtime and see what that was like). Supposedly Pier 39 was only ~10 minutes away, too.

My previous apartment was a short walk to the train, yeah. I still miss hearing the train noises! My current apartment is right next to an elementary school, which also supplies nice background noises.

And thanks. I hope not to feel that bad, though I sure am already getting stiff. I suspect at some point it's going to be a challenge to bend my knee.

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

UGH, that is awful! I drove Lyft for awhile and I swear it was never bad!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of you during this, how much of a problem it would cause for you if it had happened with your car.

I felt really bad for the driver. He didn't speak English, so I think he was confused. Luckily one of the police officers spoke Mandarin (my best guess as to the language).

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, I would have been devastated. And with how many car accidents I get it, it's almost surprising it didn't happen!

I am so much happier with my current side job. Safe at home.

[resonant.livejournal.com]

They refunded your fee? At least that's better than Spirit Airlines.

Passengers on Flight 1549 not only didn't get refunded after crashing in the Hudson, they got charged an extra $90 in fees.

https://consumerist.com/2009/01/19/spirit-airlines-tries-to-charge-cancellation-fees-on-passengers-it-put-on-flight-1549/

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Woooooow. Well I guess Uber learned from things like that!

We hadn't gotten very far, the ride would have probably cost $5 or so, but it's the point of it!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Sorry for that!
Hope you're OK!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I seem to be better today, though far from perfect. Still, better than I expected!

[wizardelfgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm glado to hear you're alright, though it sucks that you'll be in pain for so long! I've never been in serious accidents so I've only been in pain for 2 days tops, I can't imagine 2 weeks!

The uber driver must have let them know about the accident. If they had charged you, there's an option in the help section where you could have informed them about it if it had been necessary. While it bugs me (a lot!) that you can't actually speak to a person, they do respond quickly to emails or messages through the app.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Luckily today I'm feeling better. Not 100%, but probably better than yesterday. I think (luckily!) the doctor will hopefully end up being wrong.

I suspect the Uber driver must have. I bet they get some kind of training about what to do when in an accident.

[kelen.livejournal.com]

I will never order an Uber after learning about their practices. (Not unless there are no other options. Sometimes beggars...)

Uber drivers have no training at all. You watch a short video and are considered qualified.

Uber does absolutely no background checks on their drivers. (They have found murders behind the wheel.)

Uber completely takes advantage of their drivers, who earn very little. (They could earn good money when it first started, but not now.)

Just search the issues yourself. It's VERY scary who you could be getting into an Uber with. At least with cab companies, they do background checks, and a couple weeks of actual training. They are tracked. Less chance for you to be attacked in one, much less die to an accident.

Glad you are okay! That sounds absolutely awful.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Wow, I hadn't known about that, thanks! "Everyone" uses them, so I just figured they were okay. I'm surprised to hear that they get no training at all!

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Ouch! What a way to get out of the conference. Hopefully you will not be hurting as bad as the doctor's dire warnings. Perhaps a massage or a visit to the chiro would help?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I suspect that she's going to end up being wrong (phew!). I'm feeling better today than I had been yesterday. Not perfect, but better. Luck me!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Ugh that sucks on so many levels. hope today wasn't too painful but yikes. Like you said, it could have been a lot worse.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Today actually wasn't bad at all! I took no painkillers at all, not even over the counter, so I suspect I'm even better than I was yesterday. A happy surprise!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Oh good! I wonder if your doctor thought it must have been bad because you dropped your kindle into the front seat LOL. Maybe she thought the impact was harder. So great that you're okay though!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Agreed! Or she was playing it safe. Or I just got lucky!

I'm sooooo glad I recovered my Kindle. I'd be lost without it! Even if I replaced it, that would be days without it while I waited for it to be delivered.

And me too, thanks! :D

[adam-0oo.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that is crazy! I am really glad you are okay!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Me too. Thanks!

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

Wow that sounds like it was a frightening experience. I am glad you are okay- it could have be so much worse. My husband frequently uses uber they respond quicker than a cab to get him to the airport. I will look more into i after reading some of the comments on here!

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

I think it must be different in diff countries- where are you, Kelen? We looked it up. Here in the states, uber seems to screen applicants fairly well:

The Uber background check looks at these records
County courthouse records for every county of residence for the last 7 years
Federal courthouse records going back 7 years
The multi-state criminal database going back 7 years
Motor Vehicle Records
Social Security Trace
National Sex Offender Registry
Uber background check and driving record check criteria
Your background must meet these conditions:

A minimum of 1 year U.S. licensing history (if under 23 years old, must have at least 3 years licensing history)
A clean Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) with no more than 3 incidents in the past 3 years
No DUIs and no reckless driving
California Uber drivers must not have a DUI in the last 10 years.
A clean criminal background check with no felonies or misdemeanors involving theft, violence or drugs in a given time frame
No speeding violations for driving 20 mph or greater over the speed limit in the past 3 years.
Uber does not perform a credit check

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That's good information to know! I was surprised that my driver doesn't speak English at all. The insurance people and Uber are having trouble getting his side of the story, since they have to use a translator. I learned today that they found him at fault, though I'm not sure how much is because they can't communicate with him...

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

Maybe they don't make you take a driving test, but I guess they assume if you have a lisence and clean driving record, you know how to drive safely.