Ridesharing is immensely popular because it is affordable and convenient. Of all the rideshare options available, Uber remains one of the most frequently used, with over 103 million users worldwide.
As the number of people using Uber continues to rise, however, so do the accusations of sexual assault occurring while using these rideshare services. If you’ve suffered an assault as an Uber passenger in Ohio, an option you have is to file a lawsuit to receive compensation for your losses.
To do so, you need the help of our experienced Uber sexual assault lawyers. At Oliver Law Office, our women-led team knows what it takes to protect the rights of assault victims, and we can tailor our strategies to suit your personal needs. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.
Sexual misconduct and assault while using Uber services can include a variety of actions, including:
Essentially, sexual assault is when one person forces unwanted sexual contact on someone else. Although it can involve people of all genders, Uber sexual assaults usually refer to a male driver attacking a female passenger.
There’s a distinction made between sexual harassment and sexual assault. If a driver requests a sexual favor or makes crude sexual remarks to a passenger, that’s sexual harassment.
Uber users are in an enclosed space with someone they don’t know who has control of the car. They may be in an unfamiliar area and unable to tell if the driver is heading to an isolated or otherwise dangerous location. Sometimes, passengers who use ridesharing services do so after drinking alcohol, and often, they travel on their own.
All of these factors contribute to Uber users’ vulnerability. They have put their trust in a popular service, and unfortunately, some Uber drivers can take advantage of this trust.
The driver — or whoever committed the assault — can use physical force, coercion, or manipulation on such a passenger. They may overpower someone who’s intoxicated or who’s traveling alone or threaten them with violence if they don’t comply.
Other tactics can include refusing to drive passengers home, threatening their family and friends, or even supplying alcohol or drugs. They can also use strategies to instill shame and fear in passengers to keep them from reporting the assault.
Uber, Lyft’s and rideshare companies’ involvement in human trafficking cases has become another growing area of concern. In some reported instances, traffickers have exploited the platform to transport minors or other vulnerable people for abusive purposes. Uber, Lyft, and law enforcement agencies have acknowledged that traffickers find rideshares convenient for avoiding detection, particularly because drivers are often unaware of who they are transporting or why.
Despite the rideshare companies’ claims that it trains drivers to identify and report trafficking-related activities, recent cases highlight the platform’s limitations in preventing these crimes. Traffickers have reportedly used Uber and Lyft to transport unaccompanied minors across state lines, with some cases involving children who were taken directly to locations where they were exploited. Victims and their families have filed lawsuits against Uber and Lyft, alleging that the company’s lack of effective age verification policies and failure to monitor ride requests allowed these crimes to happen.
It’s essential to understand that not all sexual assaults result in physical injuries. In fact, 70% of rape victims sustain no physical injury during the assault. Although evidence of force can help when filing a claim, its absence doesn’t mean the assault didn’t happen.
Some physical injuries that can occur include:
The emotional trauma that accompanies Uber sexual assaults can be life-altering. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common. PTSD can leave you battling flashbacks and dealing with panic attacks, lowering your quality of life and requiring therapy to help you get through the trauma.
Depression is also a frequent consequence of these assaults. It can result in a loss of enjoyment of life, potentially impacting your relationships and career.
This is where filing a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator can help. By filing a lawsuit, you can seek damages to cover the losses you’ve sustained because of an Uber sexual assault.
Liability in these cases can be complex because Ohio law sees Uber drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. This means that the company has less liability if a driver harms someone. That doesn’t mean, however, that Uber can walk away from these claims.
Uber and other ridesharing companies owe their customers a duty of care. They have the responsibility to do everything reasonably possible to keep passengers safe. For example, the company has to thoroughly screen drivers to ensure they have no prior convictions, and it must take action if an accusation is made against one of its drivers.
Uber’s failure to take these steps has resulted in a number of civil lawsuits from women alleging their drivers assaulted them and that Uber knew about the problem but did not act. By not doing anything to protect passengers, Uber breached its duty of care.
Although financial compensation can’t undo what you’ve lived through, it can help you navigate the economic and non-economic losses you’ve suffered. For instance, you can receive compensation for medical expenses if you sustained a physical injury and require medical care.
In Ohio, these damages can also cover therapy sessions if you’re dealing with psychological trauma. If you need to continue therapy or get ongoing medical care, economic damages can also take care of these expenses.
Additionally, dealing with injuries and trauma can leave you unable to go to work, resulting in missing wages. You could receive compensation for the salaries, commissions, and bonuses you would otherwise have received through a lawsuit.
Non-economic damages compensate you for more subjective losses. An Uber sexual assault can leave you facing emotional and physical distress, including PTSD. You can get compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced through non-economic damages.
This includes loss of enjoyment of life. If you’re unable to live as you did before the assault, you can get compensation for that loss.
All claims can have their complexities, but Uber sexual assault lawsuits can be particularly complicated because there may not be significant physical evidence of the assault, and eyewitness testimonies are not usually available.
That’s why you need our skilled team of Uber sexual assault lawyers at Oliver Law Office in your corner. We have a proven track record of success in helping people who have suffered because of the wrongful or negligent conduct of others.
Our team can gather the key evidence to make a difference in these claims and clearly explain what occurred and why you deserve compensation. We also have decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies and can fight to ensure you don’t receive less compensation than you deserve.
If we’re not happy with the insurance company’s settlement offer, we can also take your claim to court. Large companies like Uber usually balk at the thought of facing a lawsuit in court, which could mean they come back to the negotiation table with a better settlement.
We can handle all of this for you so that you can focus on healing from what you’ve been through. Beyond our legal guidance, we also offer the support you need during this challenging time. You may feel overwhelmed and unsure of the steps you need to take, but you can rest assured that we are committed to helping you successfully navigate your future.
If you’ve suffered a sexual assault during an Uber ride, you may be able to file a claim to get compensation for what you’ve lived through. At Oliver Law Office, our seasoned team of women-led Ohio Uber sexual assault lawyers can help you fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Schedule a consultation to get started today.
