Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law HB 2382, Washington’s groundbreak legislation to expand death benefits under the state workers compensation system for the families of rideshare drivers who are killed while working.

The legislation, sponsored by Representative Liz Berry and Senator Rebecca Saldaña, expanded existing protections for UBER and LYFT drivers who lose their life on the job. Previously, if a driver was killed on the job while waiting for their next ride, surviving family members would be ineligible for the survivor death benefits afforded to all other workers as part of the Workers’ Compensation program. With the signing of HB 2382, when tragedy strikes, families will now be eligible to receive the survivor benefit regardless of whether they have a passenger in the car or are waiting to receive their next trip.  

Khadija Mohamed, the widow of Mahamadou Kabba, a father of five who was murdered last year while working as a rideshare driver, has led the push to ensure that no family has to endure what she experienced. With Drivers Union assistance, the Kabba family was able to fundraise through a community GoFundMe page and access one-time support through the state’s Crime Victim’s Benefits program. But, because Mahamadou was in between trip requests when he was shot, the family was ineligible for ongoing survivor death benefits.  

“When we were denied survivor death benefits, I didn’t know how we could possibly meet our basic needs,” said Khadija Mohamed. “With today’s passage of HB 2382, drivers can breathe more easily knowing that their families will be protected should tragedy strike.”  

Five rideshare drivers have been murdered in Washington state since 2020, including Abdikadir Gedi Shariif Gedi who was murdered in Edmonds last month.   

“Safe and fair working conditions for all of Washington’s workers has been my legislative North Star”, said Representative Liz Berry, Chair of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. “Victories such as today’s, which support grieving families at a time of immeasurable loss, move us one giant step closer to ensuring that no workers fall through the cracks of our safety net.”   

“No family should be left to fend for themselves when a loved one tragically loses their life on the job,” said State Senator Rebecca Saldaña, Vice-Chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. “The passage of HB 2382 is a win for common sense, ensuring that the families of drivers receive the same support that most of Washington’s workers are able to take for granted.”