Uber & Lyft Sexual Assault Victim Lawyer

If you sexually assaulted by a Lyft or Uber driver, contact Gerson & Schwartz P.A. to talk with a Miami Uber and Lyft sexual assault victim lawyer. Our team has over 48 years of experience helping crime victims. It is one of the top priorities of our firm. We will help connect you with victim resources, guide you during the criminal investigation against the Uber and Lyft driver, and represent you in a civil claim against the driver and/or the rideshare company. We are hearing of far too many of these cases, and we want to help you fight back against rideshare companies that are doing too little to protect their customers and appropriately handle claims of driver’s sexual misconduct.

To talk with one of our Uber and Lyft sexual assault victim attorneys in Miami, contact us through our online form or call (877) 475-2905 to schedule a free consultation.

Since ridesharing services have become popular, there have been a growing number of sexual assault allegations against drivers. Passengers have recounted stories of being locked into the vehicle, taken to remote places, and followed to their front doors or hotel rooms. Some passengers are able to flee, while others are harmed and raped. A CNN Investigation in 2018 found that at least 103 Uber drivers and 18 Lyft drivers in the U.S. had been accused of sexually abusing or assaulting a passenger since 2014. Not only are each of these allegations and numbers concerning, but so too are Lyft and Uber’s responses to the incidents.

A new lawsuit filed by 14 women alleges Lyft has mishandled a “sexual predator crisis,” USA Today reported. The suit alleges Lyft failed to use its own technology to protect vulnerable passengers. It also alleges the company had an inadequate response to reports of sexual abuse by its drivers.

The 14 women allege they were sexually assaulted by their drivers in 2018 and 2019. Five state they were raped. Only one victim was told her driver had been removed from the app. The other women fear the drivers who attacked them are still able to contract with Lyft, placing other women in danger.

The lawsuit alleges that Lyft has intentionally tried to downplay the extent of the problem by performing quiet, internal investigations and, in some cases, not cooperating with law enforcement.

If you were sexually battered, assaulted, or raped by an Uber or Lyft driver, and you believe the company’s response, was inadequate, contact a Miami Uber and Lyft sexual assault victim lawyer from Gerson & Schwartz P.A. right away. Rideshare companies, historically, do not want to take responsibility for their driver’s actions because these drivers are independent contractors. However, we do not let businesses get away with shirking their responsibility to their customers.

As of September 2019, Lyft was still behind in implementing safety features that Uber had already rolled out, according to USA Today’s report.

In the near future, Lyft passengers will have access to an emergency in-app button to quickly dial 911. Only about half of riders have access to this feature as of September. Uber rolled out the emergency button in May 2018.

Lyft was also behind Uber in implementing continual background checks for its drivers instead of annual checks and enhanced identify verification. Lyft declined to state how many drivers have been removed due to continuous background checks. Uber reported more than 30,000 drivers were removed since July 2018, USA Today reported.

According to CNN Business, both Lyft and Uber stated they would public safety reports with transparent figures regarding sexual assaults and other incidents. As of September 2019, neither company had done so.

After suffering a sexual assault perpetrated by a Lyft or Uber driver, it is important to speak with an attorney. A Miami Lyft and Uber sexual assault lawyer will scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the assault as well the safety measures that were or could have been in place at the time. This legal analysis may reveal that you have a legal claim against Uber or Lyft for failing to protect you.

Sometimes hailing a ride through the Uber or Lyft app is your only option or your best option from getting one place to another. We offer some safety tips you can take to reduce your risk of being attacked.

• Wait for the driver to confirm your name before you get in the car and close the door. Do not offer your name first. You can ask “what is my name?”
• Verify that the car that drivers up has the correct license plate and is the make and model listed in the app.
• Keep watch on the driver’s route and speak up if the driver goes off route.
• Keep the app open and do not be afraid to hit the emergency button or call 911 if you fear for your safety.
• Do not accept additional free rides from a Lyft or Uber driver that are not requested through the app.
• If the rideshare app has the ability to share your status with someone, send it to a friend or relative who can track your progress.
• Call someone while in the Uber or Lyft informing them that you are in the Uber and on your way to your destination. If no one picks up, leave a message or leave yourself a voice memo.
• Do not share personal information with your driver.
• Whenever possible, do not ride alone. Share a ride and go to the same destination as your companions.

Above all, trust your gut. If something seems wrong, do not get into the car. Or, if you are in a public place, ask the driver to drop you off early and end the ride.

If you were attacked by an Uber or Lyft driver, call Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (305) 371-6000, use our online form, or email us at info@gslawusaw.com. We will schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.