Uber Driver Assault Lawyer

You might be wondering how an Uber assault lawyer can help you. If so, our Uber sexual assault lawyers have prepared the following information to answer the most commonly asked questions by victims of an Uber and Lyft sexual assault.

If you have been the victim of sexual assault or sexual harassment by an Uber or Lyft driver, our rideshare assault lawyers understand what you are going through and are here to help you.

When Ridesharing Goes Wrong

It was supposed to be just a fun night out with friends. But one woman had no idea that the most treacherous part of her evening would occur when she made a decision that most would consider responsible—to take an Uber ride. It wasn’t long before the inebriated San Diego woman was violated by the driver. And once the passenger escaped and police checked the driver’s laptop, they found even more incriminating evidence of his sexual misconduct. Unfortunately, this is far from the only case in which a rideshare driver has sexually assaulted a rideshare services passenger.

Crunching the Numbers

When it comes to the exact number of passengers in the United States who have become the victim of sexual assault in recent years, these figures aren’t released to the public. They are not published in Uber’s safety report.

However, in the past five years, we know that over 100 Uber drivers have been accused of abuse or assault. Unfortunately, these numbers do not take into account the other rideshare companies out there, such as a Lyft driver. At the end of the day, the only way for us to investigate roughly how many claims there are is to count court filings of sexual assault claims and sexual assault cases. And many of these are delayed, so it’s practically impossible to determine the real number of sexual assaults that have occurred.

Once you factor in the data that the majority of sexual assaults in general—about 65%—tend to go unreported at all to law enforcement, there’s a sobering realization that hopping into a rideshare vehicle could have disastrous consequences if you’re not careful—or even if you are.

There’s no doubt that rideshare companies have changed the way we think about transportation in this country. They offer us convenience, but they don’t always offer safety. While there are many excellent, trustworthy drivers out there, there are also some that are bad actors.

Uber drivers are independent contractors that have not been subject to thorough background checks of their criminal history or past criminal charges. And every time you hop into a rideshare car, you’re essentially picking a lottery number and hoping that you’ve been paired with one of the many decent drivers.

The Best Way To Protect Yourself As An Uber Passenger

Fortunately, there are some ways to minimize the risk of becoming the victim of a sexual assault (or even a physical assault). First, you’ll want to make sure that, when you go out, you’re not drinking so much that you’re in a blackout. Unfortunately, many of these unwanted sexual contact cases have occurred when the customer is very impaired. By not drinking so much, you can reduce your chances of being assaulted.

Next, do not sit in the front seat. For many drivers, this breeds a potentially dangerous feeling of familiarity. Keep things professional and sit in the back. If you can, avoid personal conversations and do not reveal your relationship status. You do not want the driver to know if you live alone.

Although it can be difficult to plan strategically, try not to be alone in a rideshare vehicle after you’ve been drinking. Use the buddy system and have a sleepover with one of your friends so that no one is left alone with a driver at night. Other tips include not calling drivers for rides personally, not letting the driver walk you to your doorstep, and keeping loved ones apprised of your progress home. If necessary, phone a friend (or send text messages) and keep them on the phone with you until you’ve arrived safely at your destination.

What to Do If You Are The Victim of Sexual Assault

If you have been assaulted by an Uber driver, it’s crucial that you immediately report the crime to police once you’re in a safe and secure area. Call 911 and follow their instructions to file a police report. Report to the hospital so that evidence can be collected. In your heightened state, it may be difficult to do all of these things, but remember that they are absolutely crucial to your health, well-being, and the safety of the community.

You’ll also want to write down every single detail you can recall about the driver and the assault itself. Your next step will be to contact the rideshare company to notify them that you’ve been assaulted. This will effectively suspend the driver’s account, so they won’t be able to victimize others. It will also set the stage for a successful sexual assault case.

Next, it is time to call an experienced sexual assault lawyer to walk you through your legal options, should you wish to pursue legal action and pursue financial compensation for the assault.

A sexual assault attorney knows that sexual assault victims and sexual assault survivors have already been traumatized, and do not need to experience further emotional distress. You will find this type of personal injury lawyer to be a helpful and calming advocate for your well-being. As their client, they are there to guard you from any further abuse you might experience from the legal process. They are there to guard your best-interests. They are there to empower survivors of sexual assault to experience justice. Sexual abuse attorneys know how to handle sensitive information in a way that is compassionate and helpful to victims.

Why Should I Hire an Uber Driver Assault Lawyer?

If you have been assaulted, chances are that there may be some negligence on the part of Uber. Perhaps the company didn’t conduct a background check that was thorough enough. Perhaps other riders have complained about the driver’s behavior. You won’t know the answer to many of these questions until your Uber driver assault lawyer is able to look at the case more closely. What they find may be shocking. By reaching out to an attorney who can help you, you’ve made the first step toward recovery.

Bouncing back after being violated in this way can be extremely difficult. You’ll want to have all the resources that you possibly can, starting with reaching out to a compassionate and experienced Uber sexual assault attorney.

Sexual assault lawyers can help you to pursue what is rightfully yours in the case of such an attack. It’s possible that you may need medical care, as well as therapy, after such a devastating incident. Once an Uber assault attorney analyzes your case, they should be able to determine whether moving forward to sue Uber would be advantageous for you.

After experiencing such a difficult trauma, you might feel nervous to talk to someone about the experience. But know that a simple initial discussion with an attorney can transform your situation, helping you to move forward with repairing and rebuilding your life. It may not be easy at first, but you’re worth it. Contact the experienced attorneys at Rizio Lipinsky Heiting Heiting Heiting Law Firm for your free consultation.

Call us at 888-292-8888, or feel free to use our contact form. Either way, this free legal consultation is a 100% confidential consultation.