Denver Rideshare Sexual Assault Lawyer

Denver Rideshare Sexual Assault Attorney Serving Colorado

Uber has reported that it received 3,824 reports of sexual assault committed by its drivers between 2019 and 2020. Lyft has released similar reports, with around 1,800 sexual assaults being reported in 2019. Passengers receive literally millions of rides from rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. A few states (Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts, and California) have launched investigations into Uber and Lyft, finding that the companies routinely fail to adequately screen their drivers. Even when a criminal history is known by Uber or Lyft, they may still hire the person as a driver.

Uber acknowledges the issues, and the company claims that it is currently working hard to reduce the number of sexual assaults, allowing passengers to feel safe. New safety features launched by Uber include tougher driver screenings, annual background checks, and an in-app emergency 911 button. The company says it is also testing a new in-app design that will stop giving Uber drivers a log of the pick-up and drop-off addresses of the passengers.

Lyft also claims to take the safety of its passengers seriously. Lyft now provides an in-app photo of the driver, a two-way rating system, a 24/7 response line, and real-time ride tracking. Safety-related concerns for Lyft riders are now being investigated by a Trust and Safety Team. Uber and Lyft both implement a third-party screening company known as Checkr—which conducts a seven-year criminal history for prospective drivers—for background checks. Unfortunately, these background checks are not as thorough as state and FBI fingerprint background histories—which both Uber and Lyft have refused to take advantage of.

To date, Uber has faced multiple lawsuits regarding allegations of sexual assault, and people have also taken legal action against Lyft due to sexual assaults committed by its drivers. Many of these lawsuits are ongoing, and hundreds of people have come forward in an attempt to hold the companies liable for their failure to protect their customers' safety. However, both Uber and Lyft classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees who work directly for the companies. By doing so, they may claim that they are not liable for actions taken by drivers against passengers.

Contact Our Denver Rideshare Sexual Assault Victim Attorneys Today

If you have been the victim of sexual assault by an Uber driver or Uber passenger, the law is on your side. Our ridesharing sexual assault lawyers have been protecting victims rights for decades, and we fight aggressively to hold abusers accountable for the damage they have caused. We can help you put your life together after a violent sexual assault. To learn more about your legal rights, contact The Gold Law Firm today for a free consultation at 303-694-4653.