According to a 2024 report by the U.S Government Accountability Office, three of the largest rideshare companies reported that approximately 4,600 incidents of sexual assault occurred during prearranged rides in 2019, the one year they all had publicly available data. However, because sexual assaults frequently go unreported, this number likely does not represent the full scope of sexual assaults in rideshares.
If a rideshare driver has sexually assaulted you, you have the right to pursue accountability, compensation, and justice for the physical and emotional trauma you endured. Contact Lehrman Law for a free initial case evaluation with a compassionate sexual assault attorney to learn how we can help you seek the financial and emotional recovery you deserve.
Common Types of Trauma Caused by Rideshare Driver Sexual Assault
Sexual assault inflicted by a rideshare driver can cause a wide range of physical and emotional trauma, especially if the assailant commits battery to facilitate the sexual assault. Examples of injuries that may result from a sexual assault include:
- Lacerations and bruising
- Dislocated joints
- Torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries and eye damage
- Sexually transmitted infections
Survivors of sexual assault may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can cause symptoms such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and loss of appetite.
Pursuing Financial Recovery After Rideshare Driver Sexual Assault
No one should have to endure sexual assault. If you are a survivor of sexual assault committed by a rideshare driver, pursuing a civil suit against the perpetrator can secure justice and compensation for the following:
- Costs of medical treatment, including hospitalization, surgeries, medications, and physical or occupational therapy
- Mental health treatment, including therapist appointments or medication for anxiety or depression
- Costs of long-term disability care if you suffer prolonged or permanent disabilities due to physical injuries
- Lost wages or income for the time you take off work to recover from the assault
- Lost earning capacity if you cannot return to work as a result of the physical or emotional trauma
- Physical pain and anguish from injuries
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Lost quality of life if you cannot participate in activities you previously enjoyed or perform daily tasks
Under certain circumstances, you may be able to pursue punitive damages in a sexual assault lawsuit against a rideshare driver. Florida law provides that a jury may award punitive damages if it finds that the rideshare driver acted with intentional misconduct. A jury may also award punitive damages if the driver intentionally pursued their course of conduct despite knowledge of the wrongfulness of such conduct and the significant risk of injury to the victim.
Pursuing Liability for Rideshare Driver Sexual Assault
Through a rideshare sexual assault claim, you can hold the driver who assaulted you liable for the harm and loss you’ve suffered because of their heinous actions. You may also have a claim against the rideshare company in certain circumstances.
Since rideshare companies have an independent contractor relationship with their drivers, they are typically not directly liable for the actions their drivers take in the course of their work. However, you may have a liability claim against the rideshare company if you can show that it negligently approved or retained the driver on the rideshare platform. For example, you might show that the rideshare company conducted an inadequate background check that would have uncovered details indicating the driver’s risk of committing assault. Alternatively, you might show that the company disregarded complaints about a driver that would have put the company on notice of the driver’s risk for committing assault.
What Should You Do After a Rideshare Driver Sexually Assaults You?
If a rideshare driver sexually assaults you, it is important to take prompt action to protect your health and your right to fair compensation. Here are some crucial steps you can take to protect your health and your rights:
- Report the assault to law enforcement as soon as possible so that police can investigate the case and arrest the rideshare driver if necessary.
- Report the assault to the rideshare company through the mobile application trip screen or the company’s customer service website.
- Seek immediate medical attention so healthcare professionals can preserve any forensic evidence and begin treating you for injuries and other complications from the assault.
- Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts for your medical and mental health recovery.
- Collect pay stubs or income statements to calculate lost earnings if you need to take time off work.
Finally, contact a sexual assault lawyer from Lehrman Law as soon as possible to discuss your options for pursuing accountability and compensation.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit for a Rideshare Sexual Assault?
Under Florida’s statute of limitations on intentional torts, you typically have four years to file a lawsuit against a rideshare driver who assaulted you. However, you may have only two years to sue a rideshare company for their negligence in hiring or supervising the rideshare driver.
Contact an attorney from Lehrman Law as soon as possible to ensure your claims are filed on time.
How Can Our Firm Help You Recover from a Rideshare Driver Sexual Assault?
You should not have to balance healing from the ordeal you endured with the frustration and complexities of pursuing a claim against the perpetrator. Let our firm assist you with your recovery by handling all the details of your legal claims and taking the stress of your case off your shoulders. Lehrman Law will fight for the compensation and justice you deserve by:
- Investigating your claims to recover evidence in support of your case
- Documenting your injuries and your financial and personal losses
- Identifying liable parties and evaluating your potential claims
- Handling communications and negotiations with rideshare company representatives or insurance adjusters
- Aggressively pursuing maximum compensation and justice for you, whether through a negotiated settlement or by going to court to hold your assailant accountable
Contact Lehrman Law Today to Discuss How Our Firm Will Pursue the Justice You Deserve
If you’ve suffered sexual assault at the hands of a rideshare driver, get the compassionate, dedicated legal advocacy you need to demand accountability and compensation. Contact Lehrman Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation, and let’s pursue justice together.