What should have been a routine Lyft shift turned into a physical and financial ordeal for Osahon Aburime, a Lyft driver in North Carolina.
Aburime said a crash while he was on the way to pick up a passenger left him injured, unable to keep working, and still struggling to recover insurance money.
Here's what to know
According to Business Insider, Aburime said he had earned about $80 that day before the wreck. He said another vehicle suddenly appeared ahead of him as he was heading to a pickup.
"All of a sudden, I just saw this car in front of me, so I stepped on my brakes," he said. "We just ran into each other."
Since the crash, Aburime said he has relied on a cane and was unable to successfully return to ride-hailing work.
"I said, 'Let me see if I can continue to drive to make money for my family,'" he said. "But it just got to a point now I can't even bend down."
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His case illustrates a common problem in gig work: drivers may be told insurance is available, yet as independent contractors they can face fewer protections than regular employees.
A Lyft spokesperson said: "Safety is fundamental to Lyft and it is our goal to make every ride safe, comfortable and reliable. We maintain auto liability insurance that meets local and state regulations."
More background
The accident left Aburime without the Chevy Malibu he had been driving and took away an important source of income.
According to Business Insider, Lyft usually brought in about $1,700 a month for Aburime before the crash, helping support his family alongside his wife's pay from an eye clinic.
Aburime said that once he could no longer drive for the app, the financial pressure escalated quickly. He fell behind on his minivan loan, and the vehicle was eventually repossessed.
He has also been seeking payment from Mobilitas, the company that provides ride-hailing insurance for Lyft. Records that Business Insider reviewed show his claim was denied.
The outlet said a letter from North Carolina's insurance department described errors in that denial, including the wrong time of the crash, and suggested Aburime was not en route to pick up a passenger — an assertion he rejects.
The company fixed some of those details, but it still refused the claim.
What can be done?
Aburime said he asked the North Carolina Department of Insurance for assistance and was told to find a lawyer — something he said he cannot afford.
"I don't think any company should treat the people who work with them like this," Aburime said, according to Business Insider. "These rideshare companies tell you that you are covered if something like this happens."
Where can I learn more?
These articles look at insurance cancellations, Uber's EV plans, and other road safety problems drivers are dealing with.
• Tesla owners said unexpected notice from insurance company canceled coverage despite clean driving records.
• Uber said its shift to EVs is reshaping options for drivers and riders.
• Drivers on U.S. roads asked how that thing is legal as oversized trucks spread.
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