Uber sexual assaults are becoming a growing epidemic that the company is refusing to acknowledge. Around 4 sexual assaults occur by a driver every week. An extensive report from the last two years shows a shocking number of rapes, attempted rapes, gropings, and unwanted kissing.
About Uber
Launched in 2010 in San Francisco as a private care service. Yet, it is now the most valuable privately-held tech startup in the world. It is valued at $70 billion and operates in 630 cities worldwide. Uber provides 15 million rides a day. An app downloaded on a passenger’s phone will match him or her up with a driver. The driver will then bring the passenger to the destination. There isn’t any direct exchange of money since it is automatically charged to the passenger’s credit card.
Uber Sexual Assaults Increasing
The startling 84-page report revealed several shocking statistics. The number of rapes has increased in the past two years. There were 229 reported in 2017 and 235 in 2018. This is just the number of reported rapes. Experts show that many women and men never report their Uber sexual assaults. There were nearly 600 attempted rapes, 3,000 groping reports, almost 800 unwanted kissings to breast, buttocks or mouth. Uber received almost 6,000 reports of sexual assault between 2017 and 2018. These numbers are a lot higher than the company has led the public to believe.
No Accountability
Uber has done little to protect men and women from Uber sexual assaults. However, the public realizes this. The company suffered a record quarterly loss of $5.2 billion and needed to lay off 350 employees in the third round of cuts. But, this doesn’t protect the men and women who suffered an assault at the hands of an Uber driver.
One female passenger described a ride in July 2017 when her Uber driver at the end of the ride opened her door and jumped into the back seat with her. “He said, ‘I just need two minutes with you, baby,’” she said. She escaped the car and made it home safely. Yet, when she opened the app six months later, she noticed that her attacker was still driving for Uber.
Uber says that more than a million prospective drivers failed to make it through their screening process during 2017 and 2018. However, this just isn’t true. After the company receives a notice of a sexual assault, Uber doesn’t contact law enforcement unless directed by the victim. Officers only responded to less than 30% of incidents of Uber sexual assaults.
Get Help
After a sexual assault, it’s hard to know how to react. There is physical and emotional pain. Plus, you may be confused about what steps to take. At The Michael Brady Lynch Firm, we can help bring closure to rideshare sexual assault survivors. Compensation could be available. These claims can help prevent future victims and hold these companies liable for their negligence.