By Harry Kazakian, CEO of USA Express Inc.
In my thirty years in the legal support and investigations industry, I have seen plenty of legislative “reforms” come and go. I remember when they tried to make California a “no-fault” state to effectively kill personal injury claims. We fought that, and we won. I saw Proposition 103 pass, changing how uninsured motorists recover damages.
But what we are seeing right now with Uber’s 2026 California ballot initiative (Initiative #25-0022) is different. It is sneakier, and frankly, it belongs in the gutter.
The Truth Behind the “75% Payout”
Uber is marketing this as the “Protecting Automobile Accident Victims from Attorney Self-Dealing Act.” Their pitch is simple: “Victims should keep 75% of their settlement.” It sounds consumer-friendly until you look at the math.
By forcing attorney fees and all litigation costs (experts, investigators, filing fees) into a 25% cap, Uber is making complex cases economically impossible to pursue.
- The Work Behind the Numbers: People see a settlement check and think the lawyer just takes a cut and walks away. They do not see the months of work spent negotiating medical bills. Attorneys often fight to lower liens from hospitals and providers, sometimes down to 25 cents on the dollar, specifically so the client walks away with more. Uber’s measure would actually punish this work by making those very medical bills come out of the attorney’s limited share.
- The Burden of Proof: The initiative raises the bar to “clear and convincing evidence” for medical necessity. This is a much higher standard than the current “preponderance of evidence,” designed to help insurers deny legitimate claims.
- The Medical Lien Attack: It ties medical recoveries to government rates like Medicare. This effectively kills the “lien” system that allows uninsured victims to get surgery now and pay later.
A Human Perspective: 30 Years on the Front Lines
Over three decades, I have sat in on countless depositions, mediations, and arbitrations. I have seen the “human” side of this business that the billboards do not show. The reality is that the vast majority of personal injury attorneys are not “making big bucks” on every case. They are struggling small business owners who take on massive personal financial risk for their clients.
If they do not win, they do not get paid. In fact, they lose the thousands—sometimes hundreds of thousands—of dollars they advanced for the case. I have personally seen attorneys lower their own percentage to nearly nothing just to make sure their client could cover a surgery or a mortgage after a catastrophic accident. These are zealous advocates, not corporate “self-dealers.” Uber’s narrative attempts to paint them as the villains, but in reality, they are the only thing standing between an injured person and a billion-dollar insurance company.
How the Legal Community is Fighting Back
Uber may have deep pockets, but they have awoken a giant. The legal community is not sitting idly by while their clients’ rights are stripped away. There is a massive, coordinated mobilization happening right now to protect the civil justice system.
The Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) has spearheaded a powerful counter-offensive. Through the Alliance Against Corporate Abuse, over 400 law firms (including USA Express!) and individual practitioners have already come together to build a $55 million war chest. This funding is being used to launch a massive public education campaign to expose the fine print of Uber’s initiative. We are not just playing defense; we are ensuring that when voters head to the polls in 2026, they understand that a vote for this initiative is a vote to give corporations a “get out of jail free” card.
A Dangerous Precedent
What happens in California sets the precedent for the rest of the country. If Uber succeeds here, this model will be exported to every other state. This is a coordinated attempt to tilt the scales of justice permanently. When you cap the resources available to fight a billion-dollar corporation, the corporation wins by default. If an attorney’s fee is capped at a level that does not cover the cost of a deep-dive investigation or expert reconstruction, the truth never makes it to the courtroom.
How You Can Help: Join the Fight for Civil Justice
This is not just a “lawyer fight.” It is a fight for the right to hold the powerful accountable. If this passes, the only people who will be able to afford the courtroom are the ones who already own it.
Why your involvement is critical:
Uber is counting on voter fatigue and confusing language. We need a massive, unified front to educate the public before 2026.
- Educate Your Network: Share the reality that “75% of zero is still zero.” If lawyers cannot afford to take cases, victims get nothing.
- Support the Alliance Against Corporate Abuse: This coalition is our primary line of defense. Whether it is a financial contribution or sharing their resources, every bit of momentum counts.
- Refuse the Signature: Professional signature gatherers are already hitting the streets. If you see a petition for “Attorney Self-Dealing” or “Protecting Accident Victims,” do not sign it. Ask for the initiative number (25-0022) and tell them you support consumer rights, not corporate shields.
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from the CAOC and USA Express. We will continue to provide the tactical data you need to navigate this changing landscape.
We must hit this initiative back to where it belongs. Uber must lose.
