Your Tulsa Uber or Lyft Sexual Assault Case - Holding Ridesharing Companies Accountable

Tulsa is an economic powerhouse, offering many job opportunities and affordable community living. People moving or traveling to this Oklahoma city often rely on rideshares as a convenient mode of transportation, but they may be taking more risks than they realize. Although rideshares are generally safe, thousands of reports of sexual assaults have raised concerns for passengers.

Sexual violence has long-lasting effects that may include depression, flashbacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Victims often require extensive support and treatment to move past the incident. The Oklahoma assault attorneys at Carabin Shaw hold rideshare companies accountable and get sexual assault victims the necessary compensation for treatment costs and lost wages.

Contact our team 24/7 at 800-862-1260 and speak to one of our English- or Spanish-speaking professionals. We offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t pay anything until we negotiate your settlement. We help victims of rideshare sexual assault pursue damages while they focus on their recovery.

For years, Uber kept reports of sexual assaults under wraps. The company released its first assault data in 2017, and Lyft followed suit in 2019. In its early years, Uber used a mandatory arbitration clause that required assault victims to enter into confidentiality agreements to receive a settlement from the rideshare company. The company kept incidences of sexual assaults out of the public eye until it scrapped the arbitration clause in 2018.

Between 2017 and 2020, Uber listed more than 9,000 sexual assault reports, ranging from nonconsensual touching of a sexual body part to nonconsensual sexual penetration (rape). From 2017 to 2019, Lyft reported over 4,000 attacks. While these numbers represent a proportionately small number of total rides by the companies, thousands of sexual assault victims were left with physical and emotional scars.

Sexual assault victims can hold their attacker liable for the incident and pursue damages through a civil case. However, an individual’s insurance coverage is often limited, restricting the amount victims can receive. Rideshare companies offer higher compensation potential, but Uber and Lyft try to use their drivers’ independent contractor (IC) designation to escape responsibility.

Despite the IC status, plaintiffs are proving ridesharing company liability for sexual assault. Lawsuits claim the rideshare companies have a vicarious liability when hiring drivers and negligence in hiring, supervising, and monitoring drivers has led to some attacks. Some of the specific claims made by attorneys in these lawsuits include:

• Inadequate driver background checks that don’t involve fingerprinting or interviews for identity verification
• Security screenings that only go back seven years, allowing drivers with an older criminal record to work for the company
• Lack of safety features like dash-cams or other recording devices that could act as a deterrent for assault
• Lack of cooperation with local authorities to report incidents and identify and punish drivers

A surge in Uber sexual assault litigation has led to the consolidation of lawsuits into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. An MDL coordinates similar litigation into a single forum, saving time and resources for all parties involved.

A sexual assault can cause physical injuries and emotional scars. Victims may have bills for medical treatment and ongoing mental health therapy. They may be unable to work for an extended time, leaving them without critical income at a time when expenses are rising. Damages from the liable parties can cover losses such as:

• Medical treatments
• Mental health care
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Decreased quality of life

An experienced lawyer will determine which damages you are entitled to and maximize your compensation so you can get all the support you need to recover from the attack and move forward with your life.

Sexual assault often leaves victims with devastating, long-lasting consequences. At Carabin Shaw, we understand those consequences and the critical importance of compensation to ensure you get all the support you need after an attack. Check our client reviews to see how we’ve helped victims just like you, and then call us today at 800-862-1260 for your free consultation.

For more information:

• Reuters
• Helping Survivors
• Cornell Law
• UNITED STATES JUDICIAL PANEL