Class Action Suit Filed Against Uber in California
On November 14, two anonymous plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Uber in the Northern District of California. The suit, filed on behalf of all women who have suffered sexual assault at the hands of Uber drivers, alleges the company’s lax driver screening endangers women on a daily basis.
According to the lawsuit, “Since Uber launched in 2010, thousands of female passengers have endured unlawful conduct by their Uber drivers including rape, sexual assault, physical violence and gender-motivated harassment. Recently, the number of reported sexual assaults and rapes of female passengers by male Uber drivers has sky-rocketed.”
It is important to note that the lawsuit points out this is not a matter of a few rogue drivers, but a pervasive system that allows predators access to vulnerable victims. Both plaintiffs were assaulted by Uber drivers; one in Miami and one in Los Angeles.
This is not the first time Uber has come under fire for allegations of sexual assault. The company settled another suit with two Jane Does in 2016, and settled a suit involving a woman who was raped by an Uber driver in India in 2015. With the popularity of the #MeToo movement, more and more women are coming forward with stories of harassment and assault from Uber drivers on Twitter and elsewhere.
The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that Uber:
- Misleads customers about the safety of its service
- Does not track driver conduct after hiring
- Uses low-cost and inadequate background checks for drivers
- Allows drivers to gain access to vulnerable victims
The plaintiffs are asking Uber to make changes to improve safety for women riders, including:
- A legal mandate that the company institute changes protecting future riders
- Stricter background screenings for potential drivers
- In-person screening and vehicle checks
- Implement fingerprint-based screening
- Insurance coverage for passengers
- Monitoring of drivers who veer off route or turn off the app during a ride
- Expert investigators to look into sexual assault and harassment complaints
The lawsuit also mentions measures Uber could have taken to prevent assault, including video surveillance in vehicles, criminal background checks every six months, and requiring all drivers to report any violent felony or restraining order within 24 hours to Uber.
Ride services like Uber are considered responsible choices for those who want to avoid drinking and driving. Unfortunately, if these companies do not screen and background check their drivers properly, they can unwittingly hire predators who will take advantage of the vulnerable.
You should feel safe when you call for a ride. If you were sexually assaulted, the lawyers at Taylor & Ring believe you and are here to help bring the perpetrator to justice. Call us today at 310.776.6390 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in and around the greater Los Angeles area.
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David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.