California’s Uber and Lyft Sexual Assault
Uber and Lyft sexual assault cases feature assault committed by both the drivers and riders. Here’s everything you need to know about Uber and Lyft sexual assault in California.
Uber and Lyft sexual assault lawsuits and cases demonstrate a need for reform in rideshare safety measures. Victims of such cases are often eligible for financial compensation in California.
Uber/Lyft Sexual Assault Lawsuits
Uber and Lyft have both faced numerous lawsuits dealing with cases of sexual assault. In particular, Lyft has been confronted with new lawsuits that claim the company has dismissed female passengers and drivers’ potential vulnerability to sexual assault. A trial regarding the matter will begin in January 2022 and will feature hundreds of female plaintiffs. This mass tort action will tackle sexual assault-related issues with rideshare applications that are often reported yet poorly handled.
Related: What is Tort Law? Can I Be Compensated?
In regards to the upcoming trial, Lyft has stated that the company mandates all new drivers have criminal background checks prior to starting working as well as annually. Further, Lyft stated these background checks are done through Social Security number tracing, records from county and federal criminal courts, national criminal background checks, and reviews of the Department of Justice’s sex offender registry featuring predators from every state in the U.S. That being said, many victims of sexual assault have not received the justice they deserve and are therefore pushing for changes in how rideshare applications function.
Uber/Lyft Sexual Assault Cases
Uber and Lyft, amongst other rideshare companies, can be held legally responsible in cases that involve riders being sexually assaulted by the company’s drivers. Cases where Uber or Lyft may be liable are likely to occur if the company could have done more to prevent the incident from happening; an example of such would be the company having had the ability to improve safety measures used for hiring drivers. Overall, Uber and Lyft are responsible for ensuring their companies operate as safely and effectively as possible. Uber or Lyft sexual assault victims are entitled to financial compensation. Cases that deal with these victims receiving financial compensation from the rideshare companies vary, and the damages available for the plaintiffs can take the form of:
Economic damages
Economic damages can deal with medical bills. These usually include hospitalization fees, cost of medication, cost of surgery, and any sort of necessary treatment. Further, economic damages can deal with property loss. An example of this can include a victim losing their phone in a sexual assault attack or altercation. Moreover, loss of income can be sought if a person experienced income loss due to emotional or physical injuries sustained as a consequence of the assault.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages deal with compensation for nonmonetary-related matters. This can include emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other factors that cannot be measured monetarily.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages are awarded when cases feature behavior that is so despicable, courts decide to make an example out of the situation. Thus, these damages are awarded on top of other damages. For example, if a Uber or Lyft driver behaved in a particularly harmful manner, punitive damages would be meant to influence Uber or Lyft to improve conditions, such as their hiring process.
Related: What Are Punitive Damages & When Are They Awarded?
Uber Drivers Sexually Assaulting Passengers
The Uber Safety Report is the report Uber uses to track sexual assault cases. In the years 2017 and 2018, this report revealed that 5,981 sexual assault allegations and 19 deaths caused by physical assault took place. Furthermore, this report revealed both drivers and riders had been subject to sexual assault. Thus, Uber sexual assault cases are now dealing with issues related to the company’s workplace safety, especially since a majority of sexual assault victims are female, and 19 percent of Uber’s drivers are female. There are five categories for the Uber sexual assault allegations, including:
- Sexual penetration without consent
- Kissing a non-sexual body part without consent
- Kissing a sexual body part without consent
- Attempting sexual penetration without consent
- Touching a sexual body part without consent
How Her Lawyer Can Help: Contact Us
If you or a loved one experienced sexual assault in an Uber or Lyft in California, contact us. Her Lawyer has attorneys who specialize in such cases, and can help victims of rideshare sexual assault receive the justice they deserve. Get your free consultation with one of our experienced sexual assault attorneys today!