Rideshare Sexual Assault Attorneys in Arizona, Texas & New Mexico
At Ruhmann Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys represent injury victims throughout Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico — including those whom rideshare drivers in the region have sexually or physically assaulted.
Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have become pivotal players in the transportation industry, giving passengers a sense of safety when scheduling their services. There is no doubt the ease of tapping an app to hail a ride for door-to-door pick-up and drop-off services in congested areas, after a night out on the town, or simply out of necessity is unmatched.
Moreover, seeing where the driver is on the map, their route to and from, and the ability to share your ride with a third party provides additional security. However, despite the measures put in place, these companies face criticism for reported sexual violence and physical assaults against riders. These instances of rideshare abuse have led many users to file Uber and Lyft lawsuits.
Here, we discuss why these assaults are happening and who is liable for the physical and emotional injuries the riders endure when they are victims of these traumatic circumstances.
Why Physical and Sexual Assaults are Occurring in the Rideshare Industry
Unfortunately, the ease of booking a rideshare vehicle has overshadowed the fact that passengers ride with a stranger when they get inside the vehicle.
Unlike taxi services, whose drivers must pass annual background checks, industry regulations, and licensing requirements, rideshare drivers are independent contractors who can become drivers by submitting their information online. Although rideshare drivers must pass a background check, the companies have only begun requiring follow-up background checks to ensure their drivers have not committed a crime that could jeopardize their riders since their last review.
Other reasons physical and sexual assaults occur in the rideshare industry include, but are not limited to:
- Riders use the services to avoid driving while under the influence.
Many people are lulled into a sense of safety when using a rideshare service because they assume the driver has their best interests in mind — getting them home safely. Unfortunately, when riders are under the influence, they are often vulnerable to sexual predators who take advantage of their condition. Impaired rideshare drivers are less likely to be able to protect themselves from these attacks. Victims of these horrific circumstances should never blame themselves but call the police right away to report the incident.
- Riders are not protected by additional safety measures in professional taxi services.
Rideshare drivers use their vehicles to pick up and drop off riders, which means they are standard passenger vehicles — not taxis that have dividers between the driver and the rider. In addition, most personal vehicles do not have dashboard cameras or vehicle tracking devices that alert the rideshare company that they have gone off course. This places riders in danger of physical and sexual assaults, or worse, being taken somewhere and fatally harmed.
How Often Are Physical and Sexual Assaults Occurring in Rideshare Vehicles?
According to a report from Uber, users reported nearly 6,000 sexual assault cases to the company over two years. Lyft has not released similar sexual assault data.
While passengers and drivers have been victims of rideshare sexual assault, passengers may face a greater risk of victimization.
Uber’s report found in cases of “non-consensual sexual penetration,” passengers made up 92% of victims over the recorded period.
As the Uber and Lyft scandals become more widely publicized, more survivors of rideshare assault are taking legal action. Uber and Lyft currently face hundreds of lawsuits filed by assault victims. With these lawsuits, survivors seek legal compensation, justice, and accountability.
Ruhmann Law Firm also focuses on the following practice areas:
- Bicycle Accident
- Bus Accident
- Car Accident
- Dog Bite
- Elder Abuse
- Hit and Run Accident
- Motorcycle Accident
- Negligent Security
- New Mexico Workers’ Compensation
- Nursing Home Abuse in New Mexico
- Oil Rig Accident
- Pedestrian Accident
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Texas Non-Subscriber Claims
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas Today
If you or someone you know is a victim of rideshare sexual assault, physical assault, unwanted physical contact, indecent exposure, or rape, you have legal rights and we can help you enforce them.
Contact our experienced rideshare assault attorneys at the Ruhmann Law Firm in Texas at 915-910-5600, New Mexico at 505-388-9500, Arizona at (915) 845-4529, or online to discuss your case during a free consultation. We are here to help provide you with the legal representation you need to pursue the rideshare company liable for your harm for the financial compensation you deserve.