Over the past decade, Uber Technologies, Inc., has risen to a position of extreme prominence in the transportation industry. One of the pillars of Uber’s popularity is its guarantee to provide passengers with a safe means of transit.
Unfortunately, Uber now finds itself at the center of high-profile and highly alarming sexual assault litigation. Alleging that the company failed to protect its riders, the Uber driver sexual assault lawsuits reveal a corporate strategy of suppression, disregard, and negligence.
At Dolman Law Group, PA, our experienced Uber sexual assault lawyers want to help survivors acquire the accountability and compensation they deserve for the injuries they did not. For more information about our qualifications and services, consider contacting us today at (727) 451-6900 or filling out a contact form on our website.
Table of contents
- Common Damages In Uber Sexual Assault Litigation
- The Uber Driver Sexual Assault Controversy from 2014 to 2020
- Uber’s Mandatory Arbitration Policies
- Groundswell of Uber Sexual Assault Litigation Overwhelms Rideshare Titan
- Common Injuries in Uber Sexual Assault Litigation
- Why Choose Dolman Law for Your Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
- Contact Dolman Law Group for Help with Your Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Common Damages In Uber Sexual Assault Litigation
It is difficult to determine the average settlement figure for the ongoing Uber sexual assault litigation. None of the cases has yet to be resolved, and Uber went to great lengths to conclude earlier sexual assault claims with the utmost secrecy.
Nevertheless, many Uber sexual assault survivors are in pursuit of common damages for the injuries they sustained. In personal injury litigation, plaintiffs reserve the right to seek compensation for both economic and noneconomic losses they endured on account of another party’s negligence or misconduct.
In the context of the rideshare sexual assault lawsuits, survivors are seeking compensation for:
- Medical costs – past, present, and future
- Lost wages or income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
In order to determine a comprehensive and fair compensation figure, consider consulting with an experienced Uber sexual assault attorney today.
The Uber Driver Sexual Assault Controversy from 2014 to 2020
The many complaints filed against Uber emphasize the company’s continual failure to prohibit and punish sexual assaults perpetrated by its independent contractors. Instead of maintaining a close working relationship with appropriate law enforcement entities and investigating accused drivers, it withheld information and sought to suppress unfavorable publicity.
In the process, Uber jeopardized the safety of its riders and enabled dangerous individuals to commit horrific crimes. The decade-long history of Uber’s negligence and liability is ultimately characterized by lax background checks, insufficient safety protocol, and intentional misrepresentation.
Uber and The Failure of Safe Ride Fees
After its foundation in 2009, Uber received a high volume of reports from its riders which detailed harrowing incidents of sexual assault. In an effort to confirm its commitment to rider safety, the company instituted Safe Ride Fees in 2014.
Unfortunately, Uber failed to utilize the surplus funds to invest in more thorough background checks and workplace policies. Although the rideshare company advertised the fees as the first step in addressing heinous crimes, they failed to result in any meaningful protections for vulnerable passengers.
2019 Uber U.S. Safety Report
In a startling U.S. Safety Report published in 2019, Uber Technologies Inc. released formerly undisclosed information about the number and kind of sexual assault reports it had received between 2017 and 2018. The document came in the aftermath of a high-profile lawsuit brought against the company by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for withholding information on sexual assault.
Within the specified timeframe, Uber received 5,981 sexual assault reports from survivors across five categories of sexual assault, including:
- Non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part
- Attempted non-consensual sexual penetration
- Non-consensual touching of a sexual body part
- Non-consensual kissing of a sexual body part
- Non-consensual sexual penetration
2022 Uber U.S. Safety Report
In June 2022, Uber released the second of its two extant U.S. Safety Reports identifying rideshare sexual assault trends between 2019 and 2020. The report reveals a considerable decline in the overall rate of sexual assault incidents perpetrated by its contractors, which may be attributable to the overall decline in business during the pandemic.
Moreover, the report advertises Uber’s recent implementation of enhanced safety options for riders but does not state that it intends to employ more advanced features such as:
- In-car cameras
- The option to select female drivers
- Rigorous background checks
Uber’s Mandatory Arbitration Policies
At around the same time that Uber began to standardize the publication of Safety Reports, survivors of rideshare sexual assault began to file suit against the company. The development was a sharp departure from the earlier recourse available to survivors.
Until May 2018, Uber employed mandatory arbitration policies which restricted pathways for accountability and compensation to third-party judgment. Procedurally, rideshare sexual assault survivors were relegated to negotiating with Uber out-of-court. One of the consequences of the mandatory arbitration policy was silencing survivors and diminishing negative publicity for the company.
With the removal of mandatory arbitration, individuals in pursuit of justice enjoyed access to:
- Third-party mediation
- Arbitration
- Open court litigation
Groundswell of Uber Sexual Assault Litigation Overwhelms Rideshare Titan
With the suspension of the mandatory arbitration policy, survivors of sexual assault began to seek accountability and compensation in court. The result has been two high-profile sets of litigation against Uber. Other rideshare companies such as Lyft are also facing their own Lyft sexual assault lawsuits due to similar problems with riders being assailed by drivers.
Although Uber’s Chief Legal Officer has signaled a new and rigorous approach to addressing sexual assault claims, the company has thus far failed to deny liability and prevent the establishment of an Uber sexual assault multidistrict litigation in California federal court.
Rideshare Sexual Assault Litigation in San Francisco County Superior Court
In July 2022, Uber faced a series of lawsuits from survivors of sexual assault who allege that they were subjected to a litany of unwanted advances and horrific attacks from Uber drivers. The prominent law firm that filed the initial complaints has said it currently represents 550 clients and is actively investigating an additional 150 claims.
The allegations outline in graphic detail the battery, stalking, and false imprisonment perpetrated by Uber independent contractors and the company’s preference for lax security screenings despite receiving an influx of incident reports. Relying upon multiparty complaints to enroll novel plaintiffs, the litigation is located in the San Francisco County Superior Court.
Federal Panel Consolidates Additional Uber Lawsuits into MDL
The second set of rideshare sexual assault lawsuits recently received approval from the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML). The JPML is a federal court that accepts, considers, and resolves requests for case consolidation throughout pretrial proceedings.
In multidistrict litigation, plaintiffs alleging common injuries against a common group of defendants conjoin their cases for important pretrial phases, including the discovery process and settlement negotiations. In early October 2023, the JPML granted the plaintiffs’ request and transferred the Uber MDL to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Although both parties must now attend to procedural matters, the presiding judge, Charles R. Breyer, will likely request plaintiffs’ counsel to submit a master complaint after a leadership structure has been approved. An MC would enable new plaintiffs to enroll in the MDL through a short-form complaint, streamlining an otherwise burdensome process.
Common Injuries in Uber Sexual Assault Litigation
Participating in multidistrict litigation does not deprive a plaintiff of their right to individual representation. In fact, if neither party can agree to a pretrial settlement figure, individual cases are remanded to their courts of origin.
This important procedural provision ensures that individual plaintiffs can seek a unique compensation figure commensurate with their injuries. In the context of rideshare sexual abuse, survivors of violent assaults are actively seeking accountability for Uber’s facilitation or enabling of:
- Kidnapping
- False imprisonment
- Rape
- Stalking
- Sexual battery
- Other sexual assault
Why Choose Dolman Law for Your Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
At Dolman Law Group, PA, we believe that the survivors of sexual Uber driver assault deserve accountability and compensation for Uber’s misconduct over and continual mishandling of sexual abuse. Fortunately, our talented legal team of sexual assault lawyers possesses familiarity with multidistrict litigation and the procedural complexities it involves.
Before helping you to enroll in the Uber MDL, we can perform intricate but necessary tasks, including:
- Accessing medical records
- Compiling a well-substantiated initial complaint
- Calculating compensation figures
- Filing legal documents
Whether you need advice on how to proceed with your rideshare sexual assault claim or assistance with enrolling in the new MDL, our goal is to inform you of your rights and work tirelessly to protect them.
Contact Dolman Law Group for Help with Your Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Uber not only knew about the sexual assault crisis it caused but preferred to minimize instead of mitigate the incidents. Now that Uber sexual assault survivors are actively seeking accountability, Dolman Law Group wants to help.
The talented team of qualified Uber driver sexual assault lawyers at Dolman Law is on standby to offer you the same degree of attentiveness and care we have provided to over 40 thousand previous clients. Given the state-specific statutes of limitation that establish a legal deadline by which your Uber or Lyft lawsuit is eligible, the sooner you schedule a free consultation the better.
If you have any questions about the eligibility of your Uber sexual assault claim, the process of enrolling in the Uber driver sexual assault MDL, or potential entitlements, consider contacting us today at (727) 451-6900.