Uber and other rideshare services have significantly improved transportation, making it more efficient and convenient. Unfortunately, it also comes with some downsides, as the rate of sexual harassment and assault by Uber drivers is constantly on the rise. This has also increased the demand for Uber sexual assault attorneys across the country.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, you need to know the right steps to take to ensure you get justice. Sexual assault is a crime that shouldn’t go unpunished. This is because it will help the victim get compensated and will also discourage the offender from carrying out such actions again.
Therefore, below, we discuss the necessary steps you need to take if you are ever assaulted by your Uber driver.
Step 1: Ensure Your Well-Being and Safety
The first thing you need to do if you are ever sexually assaulted by your Uber driver is get yourself to a safe place. If you aren’t close to your home or that of your loved one, locate the nearest law enforcement agency or medical facility. Your safety and overall emotional and physical well-being should be your priorities.
Step 2: Preserve Evidence
Once you are safe, try to get evidence about the incident. Some evidence that may be relevant includes:
Clothing: Do not throw out the clothes you had on during the assault. They may contain DNA evidence. To avoid contaminating them, wrap the clothes in a plastic bag after taking them off.
Records and receipts: You may need these to collaborate on your story. Anything that has to do with ordering and using the ride may come in handy.
Text messages: These can also be used to collaborate on your story. It doesn’t matter if the texts were exchanged on the Uber app or another messaging platform. All that matters is that there’s proof the messages were between you and the driver.
Step 3: Get Medical Attention
In most cases, survivors may experience injuries during the incident. If this is the case with you, you’ll need to get medical attention. Even if you aren’t physically injured, it’s still advisable to go to the hospital.
A healthcare practitioner can provide help to prevent unwanted effects like STIs and pregnancy. They may also carry out a sexual assault forensic exam, also known as a “rape kit.” This is done to collect DNA evidence of the incident. However, you can decide not to have this exam done.
Step 4: Report the Assault to Law Enforcement
Contact the local law enforcement agency as soon as you can and report the case to them. Ensure you give them all the necessary information that will help them track the driver. This includes the vehicle information, location, date, and time of the assault, as well as the driver’s name. This step is very important; you’ll need a police report if you want to take legal action.
Step 5: Contact Uber
Uber knows these incidents happen, as they reported 141 rapes and 998 sexual assaults in 2020. Uber also knows it must protect the rights of its customers. Therefore, to ensure they duly handle the driver, you need to report the case to Uber.
To do so, open your Uber app, go to the particular ride’s trip details, click on “I had a safety issue,” and select the option that best explains the situation. You’ll need to provide relevant information, like the ride details and the driver’s name.
After your report, Uber will contact you, and you may need to provide additional information.
Step 6: Seek Legal Counsel and Press Charges
If you want, you can seek legal counsel and press charges. There are several steps involved in filing a civil lawsuit. But when you get a reliable lawyer, they’ll be able to guide you through the steps.
Getting sexually assaulted by your Uber driver is an experience no one wants to go through. But if it ever happens, using these steps will help you come out of the situation as safely as possible.