New UC Berkeley Law Analysis Confirms Uber Ballot Measure Will Harm Crash Victims, Raise Health Care Costs, and Reduce Access to Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (alex@nejconsult.com)

SACRAMENTO — A new analysis conducted by the Civil Justice Research Initiative at UC Berkeley School of Law finds that Uber’s proposed ballot initiative would

increase health care costs for people injured in car accidents, significantly reduce access to legal representation for victims, and leave many victims unable to recover any damages at all.

The report, “An Analysis of Uber’s 2026 California Ballot Initiative and its Likely Impacts on Californians Injured in Car Accident Cases,” also concludes that the measure is “likely to be misunderstood by voters” and warns that it could “radically restructure” the civil justice system in ways that benefit corporations at the expense of injured Californians. It also finds: “Many victims will likely receive nothing at all if the initiative is passed.”

The analysis had the following key takeaways:

1. “The proposed initiative is confusing and likely to be misunderstood by voters”
2. “The proposed initiative, if passed, is likely to decrease the availability of legal representation in California”
3. “Restrictions on the recovery of medical expenses will likely result in increased health care costs to state and local governments as well as in higher health care costs for injured individuals.”

Additionally, the analysis highlights how — as a practical matter — medical expenses and medical liens would be shifted into the 25% that is supposed to help victims pay for legal representation. This would essentially make it impossible for victims to even bring cases against Uber in the first place.

“This independent research confirms what we’ve been warning all along: Uber’s deceptive initiative is a power grab that will hurt victims,” said Alex Stack, AACA spokesperson. “Uber’s initiative will shift medical costs onto victims and the government, restrict access to basic legal representation, and even limit what medical care you can get after an accident. And it’s all to protect Uber’s profits.”

According to the report, contingency fee arrangements serve as a critical pathway to justice for people who cannot afford to pay for legal representation up front. In effect, the measure would close the courthouse doors for many Californians.

The authors also found that the initiative’s limits on medical expense recovery — tying compensation to Medicare rates and restricting future care costs — would increase unreimbursed medical expenses and shift financial burdens onto patients, insurers, and public programs.

The report further warns that Uber’s initiative could disproportionately harm disadvantaged communities, who are more likely to rely on contingency fee representation and lien-based medical care following an accident.

Click below to access the report. For interview opportunities, contact Alex Stack at alex@nejconsult.com or (603) 320-0398.