Lyft Driver Assault Lawyer

You are visiting an unfamiliar city, and you need a ride back to your hotel at night. The easiest and most convenient choice is to call a rideshare, so you connect with a driver on your smartphone app. When he shows up, you climb in without a doubt, but by the time he stops in a dark place on the outskirts of town, you are getting scared. He drags you out of the car, throws you on the ground and brutally attacks you. Then he gets in the car and squeals away, leaving you bleeding and stranded.

The Scope of the Problem

Lyft, one of the top rideshare services in the U.S. and Canada, is available in more than 650 major cities in North America, as of 2019. However, since 2015 there have been dozens of complaints from passengers who said they were assaulted by Lyft drivers, according to a CNN exposé.

These incidents are not limited to U.S. cities. Riders in the U.K, Canada, Mexico, India, Australia, China, and other countries have made similar claims of being attacked by rideshare drivers. The types of violence riders have experienced include:

• Rape
• Beating
• Gunshots
• Child molestation
• Unlawful restraint
• Stabbing
• Theft
• Hit and run
• Injuries in accidents

Although not all of these complaints from customers led to convictions, many victims have sought and received compensation for the damages they sustained. If you have experienced such an incident, the best strategy for obtaining the compensation you are entitled to is hiring a Lyft driver assault lawyer.

Example Scenarios of Rideshare Assaults

In California, a man posing as a rideshare driver picked up women on several occasions from nightclubs or restaurants in West Hollywood, Alhambra, and Beverly Hills. He drove them to secluded spots and sexually assaulted them.

A Seattle woman decided to call for a ride rather than drive after having a few drinks. The driver took her home, got out of the care and attempted to attack her on her doorstep. She managed to get safely inside and locked the door. Her security camera recorded the driver returning later that night and trying the windows and doors in an attempt to get in.

A Bethesda man, posing as a rideshare driver, demanded money from a woman who hired him to transport her home. She told him she had already paid through the app and didn’t owe him anything. He then followed her into her building’s elevator and tried to steal her purse. He also forced his way into her apartment and robbed her. It turned out that he was an imposter who was not employed by a legitimate company.

Taking Precautions

You can take specific precautions when you engage a rideshare service to lower your risk of attack, harassment or other confrontations with your driver, although ultimately, it is the rideshare company’s responsibility to screen its drivers to keep you safe. Some of the measures you can take to maximize your security are:

• Wait for your ride in a safe place, preferably indoors.
• Compare the car and driver to the information provided by the company before entering the vehicle.
• Make sure the license plate numbers match your information.
• Follow along on a map app as you ride to confirm you are traveling where you want to go.
• Do not give the driver your personal data such as your phone number.
• Do not provide the driver with payment information; the company handles that, including the tip, remotely.
• Share your rideshare information, your destination and your ETA with a friend.
• Have a friend riding with you whenever possible.

If You Are Assaulted

If your rideshare driver attacks you, call the police immediately. It is important to make a report while the details are fresh in your mind. For this same reason, you should contact your Lyft driver assault lawyer as soon as you are able. Your attorney can help you write down a clear narrative of the events as you remember them, contact the rideshare company to report the incident and provide the compassionate, caring legal support you need.

Your attorney can work to protect your privacy. As your advocate with the rideshare provider and the civil court, your driver assault lawyer can also negotiate a settlement that reflects just compensation for your medical care, property damage, and pain and suffering related to the assault.

Why You Need an Attorney

Lyft and other rideshare providers such as Uber are large, international companies with dedicated legal teams. You need your own experienced legal advocate who knows how to deal with corporate lawyers effectively. In addition, as the victim of an assault, you need time to focus on recovery rather than the complexities of personal injury law.

Contact us at Rizio Lipinsky Heiting for the help you need. We have a track record recovering hundreds of millions in personal injury compensation for our clients, and we are committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us at 888-292-8888, or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free initial consultation today.