Christina Spicer  |  October 21, 2022

Category: Legal News

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woman in passenger seat of rideshare car

Unfortunately, as riders continue to report assaults while using rideshare services and filing Uber or Lyft sexual assault claims, the Lyft versus Uber question may become more than just a question of “is Lyft or Uber cheaper?”

Many people may also wonder if these ridesharing services are safe to take alone at all.

Lyft versus Uber: What’s the difference?

There are a number of differences between the rideshare companies, including size. Lyft is a smaller company, according to a comparison by Investopedia, currently operating in the United States and Canada. Uber is much larger and operates across the world.

The rideshare companies are quite similar, Investopedia notes. Both are alternatives to traditional taxis or privately hired vehicles. Both utilize consumers’ smartphones to provide ride-hailing services. However, Uber was created several years before Lyft and, according to Investopedia, Uber has been subject to more negative press, from sexual harassment to employment disputes.

Both rideshare companies have been accused of failing to protect riders from assault, however.

Each company requires background checks for drivers, but they are not necessarily equal. Reportedly, Lyft requires two background checks, while Uber collects a background check and driving record check. Additionally, the Uber app provides the license plate numbers, description of cars, and a picture of the driver. In 2018, Uber announced its background checks would become a yearly process for drivers, per CNN.

Is Lyft or Uber safer?

Both companies have been accused of failing to keep its customers safe, with horrifying reports of the sexual assault of passengers by drivers in the past several years.

Though it is impossible to definitively say whether Lyft or Uber is safer, Alarms.org conducted a survey comparing Lyft verses Uber regarding certain factors that may make a woman rider feel more or less safe when using one of the rideshare services.

Alarms.org reports that, of the 500 women they surveyed, 23% said they had to report an uncomfortable experience with an Uber driver to the rideshare company. Around 15% said the same thing of Lyft. A percentage of women also reported that they were made uncomfortable by Uber drivers, with 10% being hit on and another 3% reporting that the driver had attempted to contact them after the ride. Some also reported assault or attempted assault.

Lyft had fewer reports of driver behavior that made riders uncomfortable, but still, a percentage of women say they were made uncomfortable by a Lyft driver, per Alarm.org. Both companies had clients call the police due to driver behavior. Indeed, Uber driver behavior resulted in 8% of the Alarm.org survey respondents calling the police, while 3% of Lyft passengers said the same.

uber app

Uber’s use of a driver’s picture, along with the location and make and model of the vehicle they drive, helps more women feel safer, according to the survey. In addition, hailing a ride from a woman driver also helps 45% of the women surveyed feel more secure; of the remaining respondents, 46% said that the gender of the driver makes no difference and 9% noted that they preferred male drivers.

In conclusion, Alarm.org recommended the ride-hailing services allow passengers to select the gender of their driver. The report notes that several women-only ride-sharing services have been created.

Rideshare safety tips

There are a number of ways for riders to help ensure their safety when using Lyft or Uber, say experts. Regardless of whether a rider chooses Lyft verses Uber, experts who talked to Marie Claire magazine recommended that riders use their instincts and not be afraid to not get into a rideshare that feels “off” or speak up and get out if the ride gets uncomfortable.

In addition, riders should make sure they are prepared if they plan to use Uber, Lyft or another rideshare. This means having a charged phone or other device and to consider taking a rideshare with friends or use a carpool version of the rideshare

Further, riders should become familiar with how the Lyft and Uber apps work. Both provide safety measures that can help keep a rider safe, either from an aggressive driver or in the event of an automobile accident. With either app, riders should have details about the driver and the make and model of their vehicle before they get in.

If the name of the driver or the vehicle doesn’t match, don’t get in, experts warned Marie Claire magazine readers. They also recommended that, if riding alone, riders should use the back passenger side of the vehicle, allowing the rider and driver to keep an eye on each other.

Despite the fact that rideshares are often used after a night at a bar or nightclub, experts warned that riders should not get so intoxicated that they fall asleep or their judgment is impaired. Awareness during a ride allows riders to set boundaries, demand to be let out, or call 911 if a rideshare becomes uncomfortable or dangerous.

Have any lawsuits been filed against Lyft and Uber?

Unfortunately, sexual assaults by drivers have been reported for both ride-hailing services, along with Lyft and Uber lawsuits.

In December 2019, Uber released a safety report revealing that it had received nearly 6,000 complaints of sexual assault between 2017 and 2018. The report came on the heels of a CNN investigation into the rideshare company over allegations that it tried to cover up reports of sexual assault.

Indeed, a number of lawsuits have been filed by passengers who say they were sexually assaulted or raped by Uber drivers. One lawyer told CNN that the company tried to sweep allegations under the rug for years. Further, the company often asserted that Uber tried to use an arbitration clause in its rideshare agreement to get the claims out of court, reports CNN.

Nearly two years after Uber’s report was released to the public, Lyft released its own safety report. The company says it found more than 4,000 incidents of sexual assault across three years of reports (2017–2019), according to The Washington Post.

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed by women who say they were sexually assaulted by Lyft drivers, per the Associated Press. The women also say that Lyft, a company that tried to differentiate itself from Uber’s “frat culture,” failed to handle their reports of sexual assault.

“They didn’t even really say sorry at all,” the plaintiff in one Lyft lawsuit told reporters. “They just said, ‘OK, well we’re going to send you your money back.’”

“I didn’t even get an email,” continued the woman who says she was raped by a Lyft driver. “It was crazy. They kind of just pushed it under the rug, and were like, ‘whatever.’”

Lyft lawsuits allege that the company failed to consider rider safety when it partnered with bars and clubs to promote the rideshare service, instead focusing on marketing themselves as the safe choice. The plaintiffs say that the company has tried to hide reports of sexual assault by its drivers and fails to conduct thorough enough background checks.

Filing an Uber or Lyft sexual assault lawsuit

A growing number of people are coming forward with allegations of rideshare assault against companies like Lyft and Uber. If you have experienced sexual assault while using a ride-hailing platform like Uber or Lyft, you may be able to file a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by sexual assault, but it can at least help to provide some financial compensation, as well as hold those responsible accountable.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a free Lyft, Uber driver sexual assault lawsuit investigation

If you or a loved one was sexually assaulted by an Uber or Lyft driver in the last two years, you may qualify to join this rideshare driver sexual assault lawsuit investigation. 

See if you qualify by filling out the form on this page for a free case evaluation by experienced sexual assault attorneys. 

Get a Free Case Evaluation

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

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