Women Suing Uber, Lyft Say Background Checks on Drivers Inadequate
Multiple women have filed lawsuits against rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft claiming that their drivers sexually assaulted them and that these drivers should never have been hired in the first place.
Ride-share companies are being blamed for using low-cost, inadequate background checks on drivers and failing to monitor drivers after they are hired for any violent or inappropriate conduct. Survivors of rape or sexual assault are oftentimes the women who called for a ride because they were intoxicated and unable to driver themselves home.
In fact, Uber promotes itself as a safe way home for both men and women who go out drinking. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) teamed up with Uber to promote using the ride-share service to get drunk drivers off the roads. The “Reasons to Ride” campaign
What happens after a sexual assault or rape?
Among the hurdles a survivor faces is proving their word against the driver’s account of what happened. That’s why it’s so important to take steps immediately to ensure that you have some sort of proof to support a criminal case as well as a civil case.
A victim of a sexual assault should contact both the police and Uber immediately after the incident. Uber should immediately remove the driver from its service so that no one else is harmed. Police will collect DNA evidence and if a link is found to the suspect they will likely be arrested, but other evidence could include witness accounts of what happened, photographs of the driver, video surveillance or physical evidence such as injuries or ripped clothing.
Once the suspect has been charged with the crime, they will be most likely be booked into jail pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Uber Sexual Assault and Rape Cases in the News
A CNN report released in 2018 stated that over a four-year period, at least 103 Uber drivers in the United States were accused of sexually assaulting or abusing their passengers. At that time there were at least 31 drivers convicted for crimes ranging from forcible touching and false imprisonment to rape. There are currently dozens of other criminal and civil cases of this nature that are pending in the courts, according to the CNN report.
Some of the cases include one seeking $10 million in damages against Uber and its driver Raul E. Rodriguez Vasquez. An anonymous victim filed the lawsuit in April 2018. The victim claimed physical and emotional injuries were suffered by her when the driver allegedly assaulted her. The lawsuit alleges that Uber “breached its duties” to the passenger because the failed to “warn her of the risk its services posed to women and in particular to women who had been consuming alcohol or who were intoxicated.”
In June 2017, a Kansas City woman claimed that Uber ignored one of their driver’s criminal history. The Uber driver allegedly raped the woman and the woman filed a civil lawsuit against Uber.
Another case filed in San Diego, California, involved a woman who was picked up after a night of drinking. The woman told the Uber driver she was going to vomit and asked him to pull over. Shortly after this she allegedly passed out in the back seat of his car and woke up while he was reportedly raping her. After she reported it the rape, the victim learned that the driver had a history of sexual assaults and rapes.
These are just a few examples of the sexual assaults against women by ride-share service drivers.
Most survivors of these types of assaults will file a criminal complaint, but they may also file a civil lawsuit against Uber, Lyft and the driver who attacked them. While this is something that can be done without an attorney, be aware that Uber or Lyft will likely fight it. One way they do that is to try and arbitrate the case before a judge in an effort to avoid court and minimize the financial losses to their company. This could seriously impact the results of your potential case.
Contact our Uber Accident and Sexual Assault Attorneys
Johnson Attorneys Group is here to help. We have the experience, knowledge and resources to help you with your California Uber or Lyft lawsuits. If you were hurt or sexually assaulted by a ride-share operator, contact us to request a free case evaluation. Contact us now to for a free consultation. 1-800-235-6801.
- Our law firm has experience with complex personal injury and sexual assault matters in California.
- We are committed to our clients and uphold and adhere to all of the California Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Our success rate is 98.7% and we have secured nearly $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above nor is it our intent to represent any of the parties. If you would like to contribute to this story, please contact us.
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