Sexual Assault Lawsuits Against Uber and Lyft: Q&A With Attorney Sam Hoefs
Editors carefully fact-check all Consumer Notice, LLC content for accuracy and quality.
Consumer Notice, LLC has a stringent fact-checking process. It starts with our strict sourcing guidelines.
We only gather information from credible sources. This includes peer-reviewed medical journals, reputable media outlets, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts.
Thousands of Uber and Lyft passengers are suing the rideshare companies for failing to protect them from experiencing sexual abuse from their drivers.
Sexual assault survivors say rideshare companies failed to implement safety precautions to protect their passengers, despite knowing that the abuse was taking place for years. These survivors often experience physical and mental trauma from abuse, as well as financial losses.
Attorney Sam Hoefs with the law firm Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn is on a committee working on the Uber sexual assault litigation.
In this Q&A, she discusses why people are suing rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, what injuries they’re suing for and what to expect if you file a rideshare lawsuit.
Q: What are the main allegations in sexual assault lawsuits against rideshare companies?
Survivors of sexual assault are filing lawsuits against rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, alleging that they were sexually assaulted, harassed or kidnapped by their rideshare drivers during Uber or Lyft rides.
They allege that Uber and Lyft have known for years that there were hundreds of sexual assaults involving their apps annually, but that each company chose to prioritize rapid growth over the safety of rideshare users, like the plaintiffs in these cases. Among other things, they allege that Uber and Lyft represented their apps as safe while, at the same time, they failed to take necessary steps to keep bad actors from driving for Uber or Lyft and keep sexual assaults from happening.
Q: What injuries are people suing rideshare companies for?
Survivors are suing Uber and Lyft for sexual assault, harassment or kidnapping they experienced while riding with Uber as passengers, as well as any resulting physical, emotional or mental injuries, including medical or mental health diagnoses (such as anxiety, depression or PTSD).
Sexual assault means any physical or attempted physical conduct that is sexual in nature and committed without a person’s consent.
Q: Who are the plaintiffs in rideshare sexual assault lawsuits?
The plaintiffs in rideshare sexual assault litigation are women and men who were sexually assaulted by their rideshare driver during the course of a rideshare ride or upon arriving at the destination. The plaintiffs in these cases are only people who have experienced sexual assault, harassment or kidnapping and do not include individuals who experienced non-sexual conduct (i.e., verbal altercation, carjacking) or those who were assaulted by another passenger.
If you are interested in pursuing a rideshare sexual assault case, you should speak with an attorney who specializes in rideshare sexual assault litigation. Because lawsuits against rideshare companies are proceeding in different courts based on the rideshare company involved and the location of the incident, it is important for you to share where the incident occurred and whether the driver worked for Uber or for Lyft.
Q: What damages can sexual assault survivors claim in a rideshare sexual assault lawsuit?
The plaintiffs in rideshare sexual assault lawsuits are seeking damages to compensate them for the sexual assault, as well as any lost wages or medical and mental health care incurred as a result. They are also seeking punitive damages to hold the rideshare companies accountable for their actions.
Q: Do all cases go to court?
If you file a lawsuit against Uber or Lyft, your case will be filed in either state or federal court. However, filing a case does not mean that case will necessarily go to trial. In fact, most civil cases resolve without trials.
Q: What evidence will lawyers need to file a claim?
Lawyers handling rideshare sexual assault lawsuits typically start by obtaining a copy of the ride receipt for the ride during which the incident occurred, as well as a copy of any report made to law enforcement or the rideshare company, if a report was made. They will also need to obtain medical and mental health records for any treatment obtained in relation to the sexual assault.
Not every survivor of sexual assault reports their assault or seeks the same treatment. It is important to have a discussion with your lawyer about your unique story so they can gather the evidence that pertains to your case.