A growing number of people are becoming concerned about the risks of using ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft.

These transportation services are widely used, which is why it is important to discuss often uncomfortable issues, such as Uber driver sexual assault, so people can be informed and stay as safe as possible.

In some cases, survivors of Uber driver sexual assault may choose to file a lawsuit against Uber.

Uber driver sexual assault claims

Ride-hailing giant Uber “received 5,981 allegations of serious sexual assault in the U.S.” from 2017 through 2018, according to a report released by the company in late 2019 and reported by NPR. Claims of assault include a number of allegations, such as unwanted touching, nonconsensual kissing, and rape.

“One of the unfortunate but sad truths is that sexual assault, sexual violence is far more prevalent in American society than a lot of people recognize,” Uber chief legal officer said Tony West told NPR. “That exists in companies, it exists in classrooms, it exists on university campuses and homes. Uber’s not immune to that.”

Uber driver sexual assault was the center of most of these claims, with passengers claiming they were assaulted by their driver.

Riders were the reporting party in about 56% of these cases, while drivers reported about 45% of claims.

However, Uber notes, “reporting party” is here used as a proxy for potential victims, but is not wholly accurate: About 99.4% of rider reports of nonconsensual sexual penetration were about riders who were victims, while 66.7% of driver reports reported themselves as victims.

Nearly two years after Uber’s safety report was released, fellow ride-hailing company Lyft finally released its own report, showing more than 4,000 assaults reported between 2017 and 2019.

How to protect against Uber driver sexual assault

Uber’s report showed female-identifying survivors made up 89% of those who reported nonconsensual sexual penetration.

One of the issues facing women, in particular, when defending against sexual assault is the societal conditioning to be polite even in the face of harassment and assault.

Protecting oneself is more important than being polite, so consumers should make use of the tools at their disposal to stay safe, according to The Washington Post.

These safety tools include those provided by Uber, such as a “panic button” built into its app that allows passengers and drivers to connect to emergency services and a trip sharing feature that lets riders send their trip information to a friend or family member.

Uber is also planning to start audio-recording rides for safety purposes. When possible, making trips with at least one other passenger can offer strength in numbers.

As of December 2019, the company had removed more than 40,000 drivers from its platform since 2018 due to improved screening technology that checks drivers’ criminal histories and driving records, according to The Verge.

Before an Uber ride, riders receive their driver’s name and picture, along with the make, model, and license plate of the car.

(While some might wish they could request a female Uber driver, that could cause as many problems as it solves, with the possibility of some passengers requesting a particular gender not for their own safety, but in order to harass the driver.)

Riders should make sure the details of the car and rider match the information provided by the app before getting into the vehicle. They also should make sure the driver knows their name before getting in, since Uber shares rider names with the driver.

Filing an Uber driver sexual assault lawsuit

A growing number of survivors are turning to litigation over Uber driver sexual assault, according to The Verge.

Lawsuits allege the company failed to prevent Uber driver sexual assault, and some claim the ride-hailing company failed to adequately respond to reports of Uber sexual assault from victims.

Survivors of sexual assault while using Uber or another ride-hailing app may be eligible to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by sexual assault, but it can at least help to alleviate any financial burden associated with medical expenses and more. Uber sexual assault lawsuits can help hold the perpetrator accountable, and can also help ensure that they are not allowed to drive for Uber in the future.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially over something like sexual assault, 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.

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