Court Clears Uber Driver in Birmingham Motorbike Death Case

A Birmingham Uber driver has been found not guilty of causing the death of a speeding motorcyclist who crashed into his vehicle. The jury at Birmingham Crown Court took less than 90 minutes to clear Mohammed Iqbal, 67, of causing death by careless driving. However, he was found guilty of careless driving and received a fine and penalty points.

Similar incidents involving Uber drivers and road collisions have drawn attention to safety concerns, such as a recent case where police sought an Uber driver witness to a serious collision in Exhall.

The Collision and Trial Details

The crash happened on August 19, 2022, on Station Road in Stechford. Damian Demkowski, 33, was riding at speeds between 55mph and 74mph in a 30mph zone when he hit the rear of Iqbal’s Skoda Octavia. The court heard that Iqbal had failed to give way while pulling out from Yardley Fields Road onto Station Road.

The prosecution argued Iqbal's inattention caused the crash, but the defence pointed out that Demkowski’s excessive speed played a major role.

Court Verdict and Sentencing

The jury ruled that while Iqbal drove carelessly, he was not legally responsible for the death. He was convicted of careless driving, a non-imprisonable offence.

Judge Heidi Kubik KC stated:

"I know there are members of Mr Demkowski's family present, and I have read a victim impact statement.

"The jury’s verdict means I sentence Mr Iqbal only for his driving error. He is not legally responsible for the death, so the offence is treated differently."

Iqbal, of St. Benedicts Road, Small Heath, was fined £250, received four penalty points, and ordered to pay £600 in costs. He had no previous convictions and held a clean licence.

Prosecutor Will Dudley confirmed that careless driving is usually dealt with in a magistrates’ court, carrying an unlimited fine but no mandatory driving ban.

Judge Kubik further told Iqbal:

"I accept you had no intention of causing harm. This was a moment of inattention—you did not look properly before pulling into the northbound lane, leading to a collision.

"You are not held legally responsible for the death, and I am not sentencing you for that."