WARNING: UBER PASSENGERS REMAIN IN SERIOUS DANGER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Jan 06, 2021
Ridesharing services are dangerous. Today, studies reveal increasing dangers to the public involving Uber drivers driving while drowsy and Uber drivers contributing significantly to fatal motor vehicle accidents. See, e.g.,
(1) Berneking M, Rosen IM, Kirsch DB, Chervin RD, Carden KA, Ramar K, Aurora RN, Kristo DA, Malhotra RK, Martin JL, Olson EJ, Rosen CL, Rowley JA, Gurubhagavatula I, American Academy of Sleep Medicine Board of Directors. The risk of fatigue and sleepiness in the ridesharing industry: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. J Clin Sleep Med. 2018;14(4):683–685; and (2) “Ride-hailing services may be driving up traffic deaths,” written by Marcia Frellick and published by the University of Chicago News on July 9, 2019.
However, the most significant risk facing anyone opting to use ridesharing services like Uber remains the likelihood of being raped or sexually assaulted by the Uber driver.
Last year, Uber released its first Safety Report where the company acknowledges around 6000 sexual assault ridesharing passengers were victimized within a two-year period (2017-2018). For details, read our earlier discussion in “Uber Safety Report: 3000+ Ridesharing Sexual Assault Cases In 2018 With Two-Year Total Nearing 6000 Uber Sexual Assault Victims.”
Last month, Uber was fined $59 Million by the State of California for refusing to release sexual assault data to the California Public Utilities Commission. The judge ordered compliance with the release request within thirty (30) days. Read, “California fines Uber $59 million, threatens license over refusal to hand over sexual assault data,” written by Faiz Siddiqui and published by the Washington Post on December 14, 2020.
Today, no one can confirm exactly how great is the risk of rape or sexual assault for any passenger ridesharing in an Uber vehicle. What is clear is the danger remains.
WigRum: Leader in Seeking Justice for Uber Sexual Assault Victims
WigRum has long been a champion for justice against Uber rapes and assaults in Texas as well as the rest of the country. In October 2020, WigRum filed its latest in a series of personal injury lawsuits against Uber on behalf of Uber passengers suffering heart-wrenching bodily harm and psychological trauma as a result of being sexually assaulted while a passenger in an Uber ridesharing vehicle.
This case involves a female passenger who was sexually assaulted in the back seat of the Uber driver’s truck on Halloween 2018 in Harris County, Texas. Read the 2020 Plaintiff’s Original Petition here.
Public Warning of the Dangers of Assault When Opting for Uber Ridesharing Services
From our vantage point as a plaintiff’s law firm representing victims who have been injured in incidents involving ridesharing sexual assaults, we understand the very real danger posed to anyone who chooses to call for an Uber driver in 2021.
Uber passengers are being sexually assaulted in horrendously high numbers. These Uber sexual assault cases must be given individual attention and compassionate respect, as they may involve a range of sexual acts as well as range of resulting bodily injuries, caused either by intentional conduct of the wrongdoer or the negligence of the Uber driver.
In January 2021, we again issue the following warning that we first released in December 2019:
IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT UBER SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS ARE PROVIDED JUSTICE AND UBER IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE, EVEN AS THE COMPANY OBVIOUSLY ATTEMPTS TO MITIGATE FUTURE SEX CRIMES INVOLVING UBER SEXUAL ASSAULTS WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING IN ITS DECEMBER 2019 RELEASE AND ACCOMPANYING REPORT ON THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM.
For media inquiries or other information, please contact Jeff Wigington at (361) 885-7500.