Being deactivated or locked out of the Uber app can happen for a number of reasons. Most of the reasons are based on the company’s terms and services, but there may be additional requirements that are based on local laws and preferences. Possible causes of deactivation by Uber include:

• Low ratings: drivers are rated by customers on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Uber determines whether you are above the minimum score by taking the average of the last 500 rides (or all the trips if there are less than 500). So, you can lose your driving privileges with Uber if you fall below this number. However, Uber is supposed to send you a warning ahead of time and give you a chance to improve your score.
• Acceptance rate: You always have the option of declining rides, but doing so consistently can cause you to be logged out of the app. You should always log out of the app once you no longer wish to accept rides in order to avoid any confusion and create longer wait times for customers to find available drivers.
• Cancellation rate: Too many cancellations will impact your rating, which is likely to result in deactivation. Simply put, if your cancellation rate is more than the average driver in your city or region, Uber can lock you out of your account.
• Being in an accident: Accidents are certainly a possibility when you are on the road, but Uber must investigate the event and give you the chance to present your side of the story. You will be deactivated during the investigation as a precautionary measure. However, your account should be reactivated once it’s determined that you are not at fault. If Uber refuses to reactivate your account, you may need to work with an attorney, who can help you prove a case of wrongful deactivation.

Aside to your driver stats and car accidents, your actions as a driver can have a direct impact on whether you can continue to drive for Uber. Conduct that can cause immediate deactivation include:

• Using inappropriate / offensive language around a customer
• Acts of physical or sexual assault
• Attempting to contact the passenger once the trip is completed
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Committing a criminal act while driving for Uber
• Failure to pass background checks
• Stealing the company’s intellectual property
• Slander or defamation that hurts Uber’s brand
• Soliciting fares or payments outside of the Uber app
• Cheating the system with fraudulent activity like increasing trip times and creating fake accounts
• Signing up for Uber using false information
• Discrimination against riders based on religion, race, sexual orientation, disability, and other protected traits.

These are serious violations, and Uber is within their right to kick you off their platform. However, the company must send warnings and notices prior to deactivating you and give you the chance to prove your innocence. If Uber will not give you the opportunity to prove your case or fails to consider evidence that clears you of wrongdoing, you may have the right to file a claim for monetary damages.

Uber drivers are classified as independent contractors, which is different than being an employee. Thus, you are not provided certain rights and privileges that come with traditional employment, like being paid the minimum wage and enrollment in a healthcare plan. However, working as an independent contractor does not mean that you do not have any rights, and the company can treat you however they want. There are terms that detail how and why a driver can be deactivated and what you can do to appeal a deactivation. If your deactivation by Uber was unlawful, legal options may be available to you, which we can discuss during a free, private consultation.

If you are eligible for a wrongful deactivation case against Uber, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation. Our attorneys can help you recover any income that was denied to you as the result of a wrongful deactivation. However, Uber may not be the only party you can go after, based on the reason for your deactivation.

If, for example, you were injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else, you can file an insurance claim for any injuries and damage to your vehicle. Accidents can also happen due to a failure to maintain the roadways and other conditions that indicate negligence by another party. An Uber deactivation attorney at our law firm can help you file a personal injury lawsuit and obtain the full value of your losses.

For more information on suing for Uber accidents and other subjects that are relevant to your deactivation by Uber, don’t hesitate to call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

All monetary claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which is the window of time you have for a legal action against the party at fault. If your claim is based on breach of a written contract, you normally have 4 years to file a claim, starting from when the contract was broken. The deadline, however, is different if you are seeking damages from a personal injury claim. In that case, you must file a lawsuit within 2 years of when you were harmed, though exceptions can be made under limited circumstances. If you would like to confirm the amount of time you have for a wrongful deactivation claim or lawsuit, please take some time to speak with our legal team.

Losing a source of income is devastating, whether you drive for Uber on a full or part-time basis. If you were deactivated without legal justification, our lawyers can help you get justice. We can also assist you with insurance claims and lawsuits if a third party, like a reckless driver, caused you harm and suffering.

At DTLA Law Group, we don’t believe in charging victims for the cost of legal representation. Thus, we only collect payment if you receive compensation from a successful Uber deactivation case. If we do not secure a settlement or favorable jury verdict, there is a Zero Fee Guarantee to ensure that you owe us $0.

To explore your rights and legal options, contact our law firm and talk to an Uber deactivation lawyer as soon as possible.