Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Uber Driver Faces Lawsuit for Fire Hydrant Injury

A private taxi driver operating for Uber is being sued by a San Francisco woman who was severely injured as the result of an accident involving the driver.

by Staff
August 14, 2013
2 min to read


Operating as an Uber “partner,” a private taxi driver is being sued by a San Francisco woman who was severely injured by a fire hydrant geyser, according to a lawsuit filed in the California Superior Court in San Francisco. Uber is a mobile-application-based company that connects customers with luxury vehicle drivers.

The plaintiff, Claire Farhbach, was a bystander in the incident. According to the lawsuit, Farhbach was walking down the street when Uber driver Djamol Gafurov’s black town car collided with another car, and one of the cars hit a fire hydrant. The fire hydrant geyser hit Farhbach and caused body lacerations, a fracture in her lower leg and multiple herniated discs, according to the lawsuit.

Ad Loading...

Last month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued new regulations for transportation network companies like Uber. According to the CPUC proposal, these network companies need to maintain liability insurance policies that provide a minimum of $1 million per incident.

According to Uber’s legal terms, Uber drivers are not employees of the car-sharing company.

However, Gafurov isn’t employed by a limo company. He is self-employed and registered with the CPUC as the “Limo Car Service Corporation.”

The San Francisco Airport Commission and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency issued statements to the California Public Utilities Commission asserting that transportation network companies such as Uber “have a negative effect on public safety because of a lack of regulatory oversight.”

More Rental Operations

Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Speaker John Healy on stage with a podium, screen, and red curtains in the background.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Cross-Pressures, Evolving Trends Drive 2026 Rental Car Industry

A combination of cautious economic behavior, shifts in the rental vehicle market, and technological influences are shaping car rental operator decisions.

Read More →
Award winner on stage with presenters in front of yellow curtain.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Government Affairs Executive Wins Leading Rental Car Industry Award

Robert Muhs started in the car rental industry with Avis Budget Group two years before the first International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The rental car team at the Green Motion franchise office near the Maputo International Airport in Mozambique.

Green Motion Expands Its African Presence with Mozambique Launch

This new rental car outlet reflects the growing demand for reliable transportation and the emphasis on sustainable travel across the continent.

Read More →
Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...