The convenience and comfort of a private ride at the swipe of a cell phone app has changed the way Los Angeles residents travel around the busy city. Riders have every right to anticipate respect and safety during their Uber ride. Sadly, riders are vulnerable to sexual assault by those they’ve trusted to deliver them safely to their destinations.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault during an Uber ride, the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at Martinian Lawyers understand how hard it is to speak out and move forward for the justice and accountability you deserve. Contact Martinian Lawyers to speak to a compassionate attorney who is more than ready to be your advocate and legal voice for the justice and compensation you deserve. Schedule your free consultation with an experienced Los Angeles Uber sexual assault lawyer today.
Why Martinian Lawyers May Be the Right Choice for Your Uber Sexual Assault Case In Los Angeles
The trauma of sexual assault is deeply personal. The team at Martian Lawyers understands the lasting harm and impacts on all aspects of life as a sexual assault survivor moves forward. By allowing our Los Angeles Uber sexual assault lawyers to become a voice for justice on your behalf, you can expect the following:
- A compassionate, assertive legal advocate at your side throughout the process
- A community-oriented law firm committed to combining empathy with action to bring justice and financial accountability to every client
- A personalized strategy to obtain a result that aligns with your goals
- A free consultation and contingency-based payment, so you pay nothing for our services until you’ve received compensation
California’s criminal justice system focuses on the critical task of punishing the wrongdoer and deterring others. Still, it is the civil court system that prioritizes compensating a sexual assault victim for the very personal physical and emotional impacts of sexual assault.
Understanding Sexual Assault During Uber Rides In Los Angeles
While Uber maintains that the vast majority of rideshare journeys end safely, the numbers mean little to an individual who becomes the victim of sexual assault. According to Uber’s own safety report, an alarming 2,217 sexual assaults by Uber drivers occurred in a single recent year. This number is widely believed to be underreported. Sadly, some sexual assault victims never come forward. The rideshare industry reporting describes Uber’s sexual assault cases as falling into the following categories:
- A driver engaged in the non-consensual touching of a passenger’s body parts in 1,401 reports (including touching an intoxicated or otherwise impaired passenger)
- Attempted non-consensual penetration occurred in 285 reports
- Non-consensual penetration occurred in 355 reported cases
- The non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part occurred in 385 cases
- Non-consensually kissing a sexual body part occurred in 385 reports
Unlike many cities that build upward due to small ground area, Los Angeles is spread out over 500 square miles, making Uber rides a tremendously popular way to navigate the city. For this reason, Los Angeles sees higher numbers of sexual assaults by Uber drivers than most other cities in the United States.
Does Uber Have a Legal Duty of Care to Passengers?
Uber and other rideshare companies commonly try to insulate themselves against direct liability for accidents and assaults by using independent contractors as drivers rather than employees. However, the courts have recently more firmly established that Uber and Lyft companies have a legal duty of care to their passengers. This means they may be financially liable if they breach their duty of care to passengers who rely on the service the company provides. An experienced legal investigator compiles evidence demonstrating Uber’s breach of their duty of care through the following:
- Failure to adequately screen drivers
- Failure to provide training
- Failure to adequately train and monitor drivers
- Failure to enforce safety measures
Ignoring prior incidents, failing to obtain driver history, and the lack of available safety measures to protect passengers from sexual assault open the door to liability against Uber.
Understanding Uber Sexual Assault Injuries
Sexual assault is always an egregious action, even when it’s comprised of non-consensual touching, which causes emotional harm. Some sexual assaults with non-consensual penetration are brutal and violent, resulting in significant physical injury as well as deep emotional harm. Common injuries with damages cited in Los Angeles Uber accident cases include the following:
- Bruises, welts, and scratches
- Abrasions and lacerations
- Head injuries
- Facial and dental trauma
- Broken bones
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Unwanted pregnancy
- PTSD, anxiety, depression, withdrawal from social activities, and sleep disturbances
- Loss of enjoyment of life
A successful sexual assault compensation claim against Uber not only holds a powerful company accountable for its failure to protect a customer, but it also helps the sexual assault victim to begin rebuilding their life with fewer financial anxieties, allowing them greater access to the resources they need to recover and reclaim their life.
What Damages Are Recoverable In Uber Sexual Assault Claims?
The criminal justice system punishes the wrongdoer, but it’s the California civil court system that pursues compensation for the victim’s injury-related economic losses and intangible emotional harm. A successful claim against Uber after suffering sexual assault does not erase the damage, but it’s a powerful tool to begin the recovery process. Common damages recovered in Uber sexual assault claims in California include the following:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical and counseling expenses
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for emotional damages
When someone else’s intentional wrongdoing causes you harm and a large company’s negligence fails to ensure your safety while using their service, you have the right to a sense of justice through financial accountability. Let our experienced team of Los Angeles Uber sexual assault attorneys guide you through the legal process.
Contact Our Los Angeles Sexual Assault Attorneys Today
A compensation claim after suffering a sexual assault during an Uber ride proceeds independently of criminal charges in the same case. The result of your civil liability case against Uber does not depend on a conviction in criminal court. You deserve representation by an assertive law firm that prioritizes your best interests and your recovery throughout the process. Call the Los Angeles sexual assault attorneys at Martinian Lawyers to learn more about your rights.
