FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOTHER OF YOUNG GIRL KILLED BY UBER DRIVER GRATEFUL FOR JUSTICE
On August 2, 2018, former Uber driver Syed Abid Muzaffar was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter by a jury of 12 San Francisco citizens in the death of Sofia Liu. Muzaffar, while driving his vehicle on the evening of December 31, 2015 at the intersection of Polk and Ellis streets in San Francisco, turned right hitting Sofia, her mother and her brother who were crossing legally in a pedestrian crosswalk, crushing Sofia to death with his vehicle. Muzaffar was working as an Uber driver at the time of the incident.
Sofia’s death was the first of what now has become many deaths by the fault of Uber drivers.
According to the Liu family’s attorney, Christopher Dolan, “There have been hundreds if not thousands of deaths caused by Uber drivers since they exploded onto the scene in July of 2010.”
Since that time, unfortunately, Chris Dolan and Dolan Law Firm have been called upon on numerous occasions to represent other victims who have been harmed or killed by Lyft and Uber drivers.
Dolan, on behalf of the Liu family, filed the first wrongful death lawsuit against Uber, claiming that the application based transportation model creates a heightened risk based upon driver distractions.
Dolan claimed that Muzaffar was looking at his Uber app at the time of the accident.
At the time of Sofia Liu’s death, Uber did not provide any insurance to pay for the harms caused by its drivers. Sofia’s family, working together with Dolan’s law firm and the Consumer Attorneys of California were instrumental in getting AB-2293, sponsored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, passed. The bill requires that Uber, Lyft, and other carriers provide $1 Million of insurance coverage for each of their operators. This first of its kind California law became the national standard. Dolan said, “Out of Sofia Liu’s tragic death, tremendous change has resulted which now benefits every American.”
When reached today and asked about her reaction to the guilty verdict, Huan Hua Kuan, Sofia’s mother said, “He did the crime. I’m glad the jury held him responsible and that justice will be done. I miss my daughter every day and nothing will bring her back.”
Dolan said, “This is just another chapter in holding those associated with the Uber/Lyft business model accountable and it should send a loud and clear message not only to Lyft and Uber drivers but to every driver. Don’t text and drive or look at your mobile device while driving as there will be severe financial and criminal repercussions. It is sad that a beautiful child had to die to get this point across.”
Additional inquiries can be addressed to the Liu family’s attorney, Christopher Dolan who can be reached by phone at 415-279-2604 or by email to chris@dolanlawfirm.com.
