SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Uber, the online ride-sharing service gaining popularity in cities worldwide as an alternative to traditional taxis, valued at $40 billion last week in anticipation of an initial public offering, is facing legal trouble.
San Francisco prosecutors -- finding no evidence of gross negligence -- charged a former Uber driver with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
Syed Muzzafar, 57, struck a family of three in a crosswalk. Six-year-old Sofia Liu was killed in the accident. Her mother, Huan Kuang, and her four-old brother were hurt, but survived.
Muzzafar no longer drives for Uber. The company maintains at the time of the accident he was in between fares and had no reason to be interacting with the UberX app on his device.
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In Chicago, a driver was accused of sexually assaulting a passenger.
The as-of-yet unnamed assailant is under investigation after a female customer reported the rape to the Chicago Police Department.
According to police, no charges have yet been filed but officials have been in contact with Uber and the victim and are continuing to investigate the allegations.
Since its inception, Uber has faced opposition from cab companies upset the industry innovator operates outside the strict regulations which typically govern car services. Despite its immense financial success, the company is facing pushback both at home and abroad.
This week, Portland, Oregon filed a lawsuit against Uber for operating illegally, New Dehli, India banned the service after a passenger accused a driver of rape, and a judge in Spain outlawed Uber from operating in the entire country.
