Sexual assault is a devastating crime regardless of where it takes place. Many passengers take Uber and Lyft because they feel safe, despite knowing if at all or how well the driver has been vetted by the company.
Neither Uber nor Lyft uses fingerprints or law enforcement to conduct background checks of its drivers. While Lyft conducts an in-person interview, Uber does not. This results in adults, teens and kids being driven by criminals behind the wheel.
In 2018, CNN reported that at least 103 Uber drivers in the U.S. had been accused of sexually assaulting or abusing their passengers over a period of four years. CNN found at least 31 drivers have been convicted for crimes ranging from forcible touching and false imprisonment to rape, and dozens of criminal and civil cases are pending. In June 2017, a Kansas City woman sued Uber after she was raped by a driver, claiming the company ignored warnings about the driver’s criminal history. In 2018, a resident of Washington, DC sued Uber for negligence and consumer protection violations, after she was sexually assaulted by one of Uber’s drivers.
Additionally, there is an option to share or pool the ride with other passengers. Since you never know who that passenger will be, it is never a good idea to share your ride with others. In 2016 a female passenger was viciously attacked by two men after using Uber Pool.
If you were sexually assaulted by an Uber or Lyft driver, or another passenger of Uber or Lyft, our attorneys have the knowledge and experience you need in both the criminal and civil courts. Contact us today for your free consultation.