A horrific automobile collision has led to a lawsuit against a prominent ride-sharing company and its driver. The complaint was filed by Cesar Augusto Portela Barreto in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on August 21, 2024, naming Uber Technologies, Inc., its subsidiaries Rasier LLC and Rasier-CA LLC, and an individual driver as defendants.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on March 8, 2024, at the intersection of Haight Street and Octavia Street in San Francisco. According to the complaint, Cesar Augusto Portela Barreto was driving his 2009 Toyota Prius when he was struck by a 2023 Tesla driven by Gulshan Rai Gohri. The lawsuit alleges that Gohri ran a red light and collided with Barreto's vehicle with great force. Barreto claims that Gohri was acting within the scope of his employment with Uber at the time of the accident.
Barreto’s complaint outlines several causes of action including negligence, negligence per se, negligent entrustment, and negligent hiring, supervision & retention. The plaintiff asserts that Uber Technologies Inc., along with its subsidiaries Rasier LLC and Rasier-CA LLC (collectively referred to as "Uber Defendants"), failed in their duty to ensure safe operations by their drivers. "Defendant GOHRI therefore carelessly, negligently and with great force collided into Plaintiff's vehicle," reads one part of the complaint.
The plaintiff further argues that Uber Defendants were aware or should have been aware of Gohri's incompetence or unfitness to drive safely but still allowed him to operate under their platform. "The UBER DEFENDANTS...knew or should have known that Defendant GOHRI was incompetent or unfit to drive the subject vehicle," states another section of the document.
Barreto is seeking compensatory damages for property damage to his vehicle, medical expenses for injuries sustained during the collision, loss of earnings due to time off work for recovery, and general damages for pain and suffering. He also demands a jury trial for all issues raised in the lawsuit.
Representing Barreto is Darren Antony from Morgan & Morgan California LLP. The case has been assigned Case No. CGC-24-617427.