At the Hollingsworth Law Firm, our Houston personal injury attorneys know that rideshare services have become a common form of transportation in Texas and nationwide. Millions of riders schedule rideshare services like Uber and Lyft for various reasons, including what they perceive as a safe door-to-door ride from pick up to drop off.
What is becoming more common is these companies facing criticism for reported sexual violence and physical assaults against riders, which have led many users to file Uber and Lyft lawsuits to pursue compensation for their injuries.
Here, we discuss why sexual and physical assaults may be occurring in rideshare vehicles and what you can do if you are a victim of these traumatic circumstances.
Common reasons rideshare physical and sexual assaults occur in Texas may include, but are not limited to:
Rideshare services often involve one-on-one interactions in a relatively private and enclosed space. This can create an opportunity for perpetrators to take advantage of the isolated environment, making it easier for them to commit acts of assault without immediate intervention.
The relative anonymity of drivers and passengers in rideshare transactions can be a factor. Individuals may feel encouraged to engage in inappropriate or criminal behavior because they believe it is easier to escape identification or consequences.
While rideshare companies typically conduct background checks on their drivers, there may be cases where the checks are not thorough enough, allowing individuals with a history of violence or criminal behavior to become drivers.
In some cases, passengers may be impaired, so they schedule a safe transportation alternative instead of driving. This can contribute to increased inappropriate or aggressive behavior from drivers who exploit the rider’s vulnerable state.
Rideshare companies must continually enhance and implement safety features within their apps and vehicles, including in-app emergency buttons, trip tracking, and driver/rider identification verification, which can help improve safety and security.
In some cases, incidents of assault may go unreported or are not promptly addressed by rideshare companies. If there is a perception that reports will not lead to meaningful consequences, it may encourage perpetrators and contribute to additional sexual and physical assaults by drivers.
According to a report from Uber, users reported nearly 6,000 sexual assault cases to the company over two years. Lyft has not released similar sexual assault data.
Uber’s report found in cases of “non-consensual sexual penetration,” passengers made up 92% of victims over that period.
As riders who drivers have sexually or physically assaulted continue to report the incidents, more lawsuits are being filed against the companies for failing to prevent these traumatic incidents from occurring.
If you or someone you know is a victim of Uber and Lyft sexual assault, physical assault, unwanted physical contact, indecent exposure, or rape, we can help you enforce your legal rights to hold the company accountable for their driver’s actions.
Contact our dedicated Houston personal injury lawyers at the Hollingsworth Law Firm today by calling 713-637-4560 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
Our skilled bilingual personal injury lawyers and support staff represent clients throughout Texas on a contingency basis, so you never pay any legal fees unless we win your case.
If you are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve, so are we. Let us take the lead.
Yes. General aviation law applies to all civilian aircraft regardless of whether they are commercial or private. If you have been injured in a military aircraft accident, the legal standard will differ. Our airplane accident attorneys can help you understand which laws were violated during your crash, so you understand the complete scope of your personal injury or wrongful death legal claim.
Before our skilled airplane accident attorneys can pursue the negligent party that caused our client’s injuries or the death of their loved one, a complete investigation must be completed first. Common parties that are liable for airplane crashes may include the aircraft’s owner and/or operator, manufacturer, or maintenance suppliers, to name a few.
After an airplane crash, there are going to be multiple parties interested in making these tragic circumstances go away quickly. Many injured parties and/or their family members would like to put this traumatic experience behind them as well, but the reality is, the insurance company is not looking out for your best interests. Contacting an experienced airplane accident attorney will ensure your rights are protected from the start, and that you have access to the maximum compensation for your complete damages.
At the Hollingsworth Law Firm, our skilled airplane accident attorneys review all personal injury cases during free consultations, so it costs nothing to share your story with our legal professionals. If you have a viable personal injury or wrongful death case, our attorney fees are defined by a percentage of the amount of money that is recovered in your lawsuit. That means no upfront legal fees, and no fees at all if we do not win your case.
While an estimated 96% of all personal injury cases end in a settlement outside of the courtroom, our law firm founder, Steve Hollingworth, has been the lead attorney in over 50 jury trials as lead counsel in over a dozen different Texas counties. Should your case go to trial, we will be ready to aggressively pursue the positive outcome you deserve in front of a judge and/or jury. The insurance company will value a case more if they know the firm is willing to go to trial. At the Hollingworth Law Firm, we are more than willing — we remain trial ready.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is responsible for investigating airplane accidents in Texas and throughout the United States.
If you are involved in an airplane accident in Texas, seek medical attention immediately and contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Yes, you may be able to file a lawsuit against an airline if you are injured in an airplane accident.
If the airplane accident was caused by a third party, you may be able to file a lawsuit against that party in addition to the airline.
The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit after an airplane accident in Texas is generally two years from the date of the airplane accident.
Yes, you may be able to file a claim for wrongful death if a loved one dies in an airplane accident in Texas.
If an airplane accident occurs outside of Texas, the laws and regulations governing the accident may differ, so it is important to consult with a personal injury lawyer familiar with the laws in that jurisdiction.
Yes, you may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer of the airplane if it was a mechanical failure that caused the accident.
If the airplane accident was caused by air traffic control errors, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other responsible parties.
If the airplane accident was caused by weather conditions, it may be difficult to file a lawsuit, as weather is considered a natural occurrence.
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