Sexual Assault by an Uber/Lyft Driver

Ridesharing Sexual Assault Lawyers

CNN reports that 103 Uber drivers and 18 Lyft drivers have allegedly forcibly touched, kidnapped or raped passengers over the past four years.  Passengers receive literally millions of rides from rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. A very few states (Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts and California) have even launched investigations into Uber and Lyft, finding the companies routinely fail to adequately screen their drivers. Even when a criminal history is known by Uber or Lyft, they may still hire the person as a driver.

Uber acknowledges the issues, claiming it is currently working hard to reduce the number of sexual assaults, allowing passengers to feel safe. New safety features launched by Uber include tougher driver screenings, annual background checks, and an in-app emergency 911 button. The company says it is also testing a new in-app design which will stop giving Uber drivers a log of the pick-up and drop-off addresses of the passengers.

Lyft also claims to take the safety of its passengers seriously. Lyft now provides an in-app photo of the driver, a two-way rating system, a 24/7 response line, and real-time ride tracking. Safety-related concerns for Lyft riders are now being investigated by a Trust and Safety Team. Uber and Lyft both implement a third-party screening company known as Checkr—who conducts a seven-year criminal history for prospective drivers—for background checks. Unfortunately, these background checks are not as thorough as state and FBI fingerprint background histories—which both Uber and Lyft have refused to take advantage of.

To date, Uber has faced three lawsuits regarding allegations of sexual assault, two of which the company settled, and the third was filed last November. The most recent case involves nine women who claim Uber drivers sexually assaulted them on separate occasions—assaults which occurred across the United States in different states.  Of the 103 Uber drivers accused of sexual assault, 31 have been convicted. Of the 18 Lyft drivers accused of sexual assault, four have been convicted. Additional drivers have pending criminal and civil cases over accusations of sexual misconduct.

Contact Our Denver Sexual Assault Victim Attorneys Today

If you have been the victim of sexual assault by an Uber driver or Uber passenger, the law is on your side. Our ridesharing sexual assault lawyers have been protecting victims rights for decades and we fight aggressively to hold abusers accountable for the damage they’ve caused. We can help you put your life together after a violent sexual assault. To learn more about your legal rights, contact the Gold Law Firm today for a free consultation at (303) 694-4653.