Uber and Lyft are innovative transportation apps that allow individuals to request a driver whenever and wherever they are needed. While many people have benefited from the convenience and affordability of these platforms, there is also a dark side to them. Each year, thousands of passengers report that they have been victims of sexual assault at the hands of Uber and Lyft drivers. Apart from the resulting emotional and psychological trauma, these survivors are faced with medical bills, lost time from work, and more. Fortunately, Colorado Uber and Lyft sexual assault claims lawyers can help survivors win the compensation they need to offset these losses.
If an Uber or Lyft driver sexually assaulted you or someone you love, you are not alone in your fight for justice. It’s time to retain a dedicated law firm that is prepared to advocate for your rights and interests. Count on Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers.
Colorado Sexual Assault Injury Guide
- What Do I Do If I’m Sexually Assaulted in an Uber or Lyft in Colorado?
- Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for a Sexual Assault in Colorado?
- Who Else Is Liable for Sexual Assault in an Uber or Lyft Vehicle?
- Do I Need a Colorado Injury Lawyer to Help with My Sexual Assault Claim?
- How Often Are People Sexually Assaulted in Rideshare Vehicles?
- Serious Injuries from Sexual Assault
- Resources for Colorado Assault and Rape Victims
- Do You Have a Sexual Assault Attorney Near Me?
What Do I Do If I’m Sexually Assaulted in an Uber or Lyft in Colorado?
If you were the victim of a sexual assault during an Uber or Lyft trip in Colorado, we suggest taking the following steps immediately:
Report the Sexual Assault to Police
If the sexual assault just happened, you should report it to police by calling 911. This is especially critical if you have been threatened or you believe your attacker may return to further harm you. You may also visit your local police department if you feel comfortable doing so. Regardless, contact law enforcement to make a report about what happened.
Report the Sexual Assault to Uber or Lyft
Both rideshare apps have their own unique ways for customers to report incidents that occurred during their trips, including sexual assaults. It is important that you first write down as many details as possible about the assault that you can remember, especially since either company may later request additional details from you or your lawyer (or contest your claims). Writing them down now will enable you to preserve critical details that could come in handy later when seeking legal compensation.
For Uber, you can open the app, tap on “help with a trip,” and then tap on “report safety issue” on the details page of whichever trip in which the assault occurred. Then, you can write out the details about what happened.
For reporting to Lyft, a survivor should open their ride history in the app, select the ride in which the assault occurred, and then choose either “get help” or “request review.” This allows you to connect with a customer service representative through the app’s bot almost immediately.
Can I Sue Uber or Lyft for a Sexual Assault in Colorado?
You may be able to sue Uber or Lyft for sexual assault in Colorado depending on the circumstances surrounding your attack. These companies have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injuries, including sexual assaults, that may harm their customers. If Uber or Lyft were somehow negligent and thereby caused your attack, the company could be held liable for losses that you have suffered. It’s important to connect with a seasoned sexual assault injury lawyer in Colorado to seek the compensation you deserve.
Insurance Limits in Rideshare Claims
If the assault occurred during the trip, the rideshare platform in question may be required to cover your damages through its insurance policy. Uber and Lyft both carry insurance policies that pay for incidents which occur during trips, including in many cases sexual assaults. However, there are limits to what these insurance policies could be required to pay out. Negotiating a fair payout from the insurance company is typically the best option, but it is imperative that you have experienced legal counsel to assist you. Litigation may be necessary if Uber, Lyft, or their insurers refuse to work with you in good faith.
You should be aware that Uber or Lyft will likely do everything they can to distance themselves from the actions of their drivers, since they do not want higher insurance premiums resulting from payouts to victims. These companies consider their drivers to be independent contractors and will emphasize this point in their attempts to resist paying you. This is why you should speak with a Colorado injury lawyer for sexual assault if you were harmed during a rideshare trip.
Who Else Is Liable for Sexual Assault in an Uber or Lyft Vehicle?
The Uber or Lyft driver may be held civilly liable for injuries inflicted upon a victim during a sexual assault. Civil liability is not the same as criminal liability; the former concerns monetary damages an individual is ordered to pay, while the latter involves criminal punishment such as imprisonment.
Do I Need a Colorado Injury Lawyer to Help with My Sexual Assault Claim?
Dealing with Uber’s or Lyft’s lawyers and insurance companies is a daunting task if you have no experience with the law. As mentioned above, these companies will take steps to avoid and deny liability and so will their insurers. You can expect the attorneys representing Uber, Lyft, or their insurance companies to contest your claims of sexual assault and try to pin blame for the attack on the driver. If the driver retains legal counsel, you can expect that person’s attorney to do the same.
Holding rideshare companies and drivers liable for sexual assault requires a thorough understanding of the relevant statutes, rules of civil procedure, rules of evidence, discovery procedures, and more. A person who is inexperienced with such matters will be at a serious disadvantage when facing the rideshare companies, insurers, and the lawyers who defend them. You should therefore speak with a knowledgeable Colorado sexual assault attorney right away.
How Often Are People Sexually Assaulted in Rideshare Vehicles?
Both Uber and Lyft have released data that provides insight into just how many individuals are sexually assaulted each year during trips.
Uber’s US Safety Report indicates that 2,717 sexual assaults took place from 2021-2022. These assaults only involve what the company considers the five most serious types of sexual assault:
- Non-consensual sexual penetration
- Attempted non-consensual sexual penetration
- Non-consensual kissing of a sexual body part
- Non-consensual touching of a sexual body part
- Non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part
According to Lyft’s Safety Transparency Report, from 2020 to 2022, there were 2,651 instances of the same five types of sexual assaults as those included in the Uber report.
Since the data is limited to the above categories and time periods, the actual numbers of sexual assaults are probably higher.
Serious Injuries from Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a violent act that leaves victims with major injuries all over their bodies. Some of the most common physical injuries include:
- Genital injuries or damage
- Lacerations
- Bruises
- Sexually transmitted diseases or infections
- Unintended pregnancies
- Abrasions
- Skin irritations
- Bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
However, the extent of the victim’s injuries go beyond the physical and into the emotional and psychological. Survivors of sexual assault also report the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Self-harming behavior
- Suicide attempts
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Social withdrawal
- Substance abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
These injuries often require medical, psychological, and therapeutic treatment that could include hospitalization, medication, testing, counseling, and other procedures. Survivors could lose significant time from work during their recovery and may find it difficult to return to work depending on the physical, emotional, and other effects of their experiences. In some cases, survivors may miss out on future earnings and benefits due to their inability to work at the same productivity level as before the attack.
In addition, victims are likely to experience long-term problems such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These so-called non-economic damages, while more difficult to quantify, are nonetheless real. Victims may be able to seek compensation for them along with the above economic damages.
Resources for Colorado Assault and Rape Victims
If you have been the victim of sexual assault or rape in Colorado, there are individuals and agencies ready to work with you on getting the help you need. A good place to start is the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Their website maintains a number of resources for sexual assault and rape survivors.
The Colorado Division of Central Services also has a list of state and national websites and hotlines you can connect with to get help. Lastly, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the country’s largest organization devoted to stopping sexual violence and assisting victims of it, has a hotline, online chat, and other services available.
Do You Have a Sexual Assault Attorney Near Me?
A Colorado sexual assault lawyer can help you seek legal compensation if you were assaulted by an Uber or Lyft driver. That’s where the law firm of Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers comes in. For your convenience, we have offices located in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Greeley, Grand Junction, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton.
Call The Strong Arm® Today for Compassionate Counsel After an Assault in an Uber or Lyft
Nobody deserves to be victimized during an Uber or Lyft ride. If you were, our legal team is ready to hold the at-fault parties responsible for their role in allowing and causing your injuries. Get started by reaching out to The Strong Arm. You can contact us today to get started on your legal claim.
