Uber Prevails in Landmark Sexual Assault Case
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Uber has won a key trial over claims that the rideshare giant failed to protect its passengers from sexual assault.
The trial, which was held in California state court, involved claims that a passenger was groped and kissed by her Uber driver. The passenger went on to receive treatment for PTSD and eventually dropped out of college following the incident.
But a California jury determined that Uber itself was not responsible, as thousands of active lawsuits claim the company has failed to adequately protect its passengers from assaults and attacks by drivers.
The jury did determine that Uber had been negligent, but not to a degree that it was a factor in the incident at hand.
Trial Outcome Could Impact Other Uber Lawsuits
The outcome of this early trial could have an impact on many other pending rideshare lawsuits, which all involve similar claims that rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft failed to adequately protect their passengers from dangerous situations like sexual assault.
In addition to the cases in California, more than 2,500 Uber lawsuits have been grouped together at the federal level and are advancing through the legal process.
Early trials like the one that just ended in California can play a big role in the direction of other cases.
With so many lawsuits filed, a case going to trial can give both sides a better sense of the strength of their arguments and what may happen if they send similar cases before a jury.
The outcome of early trials can also impact potential settlement negotiations.
Although Uber’s win in the first trial is undoubtedly a blow to people who have filed lawsuits, more trials are on the horizon.
The first trial among the thousands of Uber cases in federal court is expected to go before a jury in the coming months.
While these cases focus on Uber, there is also litigation over similar claims involving Lyft. More than 100 of those cases have been grouped together in California court.
